Looking for benefits of Google My Business profile?
In today’s crowded digital marketplace, gaining a competitive edge and establishing a strong online presence is vital. Of the many digital tools and platforms available, Google My Business (GMB) stands out as one of the most strategic and useful — especially for local businesses.
From well-established corporations to fledgling start-ups, a fully optimized GMB profile can bring a wealth of benefits, enabling businesses to thrive in the ever-changing, interconnected world of today and tomorrow.
I mean, come on, it is the year 2024, and we know it is no longer enough for a business to merely exist online — the digital age dictates that it is now an absolute must to secure a stronghold on one of these invaluable platforms. It is probably very risky (we strongly believe so) to just set up your website and let it marinate without adding some spices. And then you sit there in front of your computer, wondering why there is no growth or traffic to your storefront.
GMB plays a key role in aiding local businesses to develop their geographical reach and establish their credibility as they do.
Here we will unpack the 5 pivotal benefits the platform provides.
Increased Visibility in Local Searches
Optimal Exposure: GMB ensures that when potential customers make relevant searches in your area your business is the first they are directed to. Because Google is the obvious top search engine, for the majority, for the most effective online visibility your GMB profile must be well-optimized.
Local SEO Boost: By furnishing GMB with the latest and most accurate information about your business, such as address, phone number, and business hours, you are in turn allowing your site to rank that much higher in local search results. It is a wellknown fact that having a well-run GMB profile is one of the quickest ways to make sure your business ends up in the top three local results.
Improved Trust and Credibility
Improved Credibility and Trust: A verified profile is Google’s way of greenlighting it as trustworthy and real. The simple representation of seeing your business with a verification badge on Google Search or Maps, will build an innate trust and suggest to customers that you are a dependable and established company.
Customer Reviews: GMB actively encourages customers to leave business reviews and ratings; these can provide concrete endorsement of the standard of your products or services; they build your business\’s visibility, reputation, and trust with potential customers; and, by actively managing your reviews and responding to them, you demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and transparency in your business\’s operations, and, in so doing, you can build yet more credibility.
Free Marketing and Lead Generation
Cost-Effective Promotion: As mentioned, GMB is a platform that your business can use to list and be found, without having to invest highly in your advertising, so, whether you are a small local business, or a large business with multiple locations, this is a major boon in effective, cost-efficient promotion.
Multimedia Integration: Listing your business with GMB is much more than just giving it a glorified Yellow Pages entry. By using your GMB account, you can upload photos, create videos, and even execute virtual tours, allowing potential customers to make their own informed decisions about the authenticity, success, and quality of your business before they even visit your website or storefront. This can be a compelling form of free lead generation.
Customer Engagement and Reviews
Direct Communication Channel: GMB makes establishing a direct channel of communication between business and customer a piece of cake. Features like messaging make it as easy to ask questions, make a reservation or appointment, and offer feedback, as it is to respond on the business’ end. Providing well-timed responses to inquiries and feedback shows you’re committed to good customer service — and boosts loyalty, gets repeat business and referrals.
And a conversation right then and there? It could make the difference that a customer who would have walked out the door becomes a customer for life.
Manage Reviews: GMB allows you to manage reviews from your customers or prompt them to leave a review in the first place. Asking for feedback from your customers lets them know that you value their opinion and that you’re genuinely interested in improving – even if the review is a little sour. You can personally respond to reviews, letting customers know that you are committed to their happiness. When reviews matter (and they do!), show your potential customers that you care what they think and are willing to prove it by publicly admitting when you screwed up.
Valuable Customer Insights
Analytics and Metrics: GMB gives businesses insights into their customers and how they are using their profiles like the total views you are getting, how many clicks to your website or to get directions, and how many calls you are generating directly from the search results pages. Track your customer activity, identify trends or areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to improve your online presence.
Performance Tracking: There are so many things GMB helps you manage, so this is where this feature comes in handy. If you make changes to your GMB profile or your website or your business and it ends up impacting your online presence, you need to be able to track that to know what’s most effective so you can leverage that knowledge later. It’s just so easy to get better over time this way – with tangible data to make more informed decisions.
And there you have it folks! If you’re a business owner, GMB is a must to build a strong online presence with your organization. You’re able to make your organization more visible to not only potential clients, but also to current clients as well.
As a result, you have more credibility when you have a GMB listing. You have another place for free marketing. But, most of all, you know more about your customers, so you can speak to them more clearly and attract more of them, over time. This type of service benefits organizations of all sizes, from a small local shop to a large multinational brand.
Now you know benefits of Google My Business profile, Contact Tectera a leading SEO agency in Toronto to setup your Google my business profile page.