Google My Business Secrets

The amazing gift from Google.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a very unassuming business interface from Google that makes optimising websites with black hat, white hat or top hat optimisation a thing of the past. Today we look at 11 secrets that will move your GMB (Google My Business) ranking right up there in your local area.

You are no doubt aware of it, as anytime you search for a service, you would of been given search results that include local businesses. Over the past year, google have made listing your business for free a very easy process and most businesses are not taking advantage of all the free benefits.

I can’t believe how many businesses are missing out on an amazing gift from Google.

Why Do Google Do This For Your Business?

If you have been around on the web for several years and know of Matt Cutts, you will be aware, Google have wanted to encourage accurate, relevant facts. Recently they provided Google Search Console which is a helpful business tool with friendly analytics. Since building Google Maps and its offering of local information, having accurate business information is vital for Google. So who could be better placed than YOU to write and claim your business. Google deliver accurate helpful results, and you get local business exposure. So here is some of the things that you need to know.

11 Google My Business optimising secrets

1. Claim your business, it’s there for you to own, you will need to confirm ownership, normally through responding to a postcard from Google.
2. Make sure your business name, address and all contact details are consistently the same on all of your social media accounts as well as your web site pages.
3. Makes sure you reply to all your reviews by thanking them and responding to any questions asked.
4. Claim your short names URL. You can adapt it. Initially there were a few issues, but these have now been fixed by Google. Your Business Profile will be a lot easier to access and send out as a link that’s usable.
5. Do keep your business entry updated with the correct opening times.

Google My Business secrets continued…

6. Make sure you have been entered into the correct categories, descriptions and business area. Sometimes other visitors may have put their own edits forward, so review them too.
7. When you write your posts or promotions, make sure you make the first sentence an attention grabbing statement. This is where you can really sell. Use high quality images and offer genuine promotions. Make sure the link button works and send them to a designed landing page on your website.
8. When you optimise your Business description area it’s a chance to differentiate your business from your competitors. Try and think how it sounds to a new customer when you read it out loud. Don’t waste space on statements that mean nothing. Avoid using capital letters throughout. Don’t overuse keywords and do not use links other than your email address.
9. Make sure you offer a special welcome offer. This became available in mid-2019. Most haven’t yet discovered this optimising secret from Google. So use this as an advantage to reward potential customers who follow you.
10. Make sure you discover Googles bespoke Marketing Kit for your business. This enables you to professionally print invites and encourage Google reviews. Initially Google were printing and sending these out in the post, sadly they have recently stopped this and given you the ability to self-print.
11. Google wants you to keep uploading new photos. Upload your logo now as it will get great exposure on your business profile. Adding videos too is given a high importance. Photos added by business owners will be published instantly.

3 New Google My Business Secrets

Google is constantly releasing new features. So I wanted you to know about a couple of other new features that have come out in the last few months. Here are 3 recent Google My Business Secrets that you may of missed.

Quote Button

Google my business has now added the ability to ask for a quote. The “request a quote” button is easy to setup. Just make sure you have the Google My Business app installed on your mobile phone. Then enable the “request a quote” feature. This will then show as a button on your business. This feature gives potential customers the chance to directly ask for a quote on any of your services.

Add an offer

You can now add an offer to new followers. The idea is to encourage brand loyalty. So to increase your number of followers, [provide them with an offer. For example 10% off first purchase or a £50 off your next purchase as a coupon will help encourage those that are contemplating going with you as a client and may just give them the incentive needed.

Questions and answers

Questions and answers have long been on the google my business setup. But it now uses your replies on previous Q&A’s and your comments to reviews from customers to auto suggest answers to any questions asked. This can be great if you have several Q&A’s and reviews. So make sure you add these in preparation.

No new client will need to go to your website in 2020…that’s not a bad thing though!

All the people that used to go to your website to get your phone number or your address, get directions, check out pictures of your business or read testimonials, they can see all of that in your Google My Business profile.

Some new visitors may feel your website isn’t a necessary place to go for initially, but your website is still a central place to build trust. If you need a new website or would like your business optimised on Googles official page using our expertise, then get in contact with us.