Google My Business: How Do You Get Customers to Find You on Google Maps and in Search?
In the digital era, an online presence is a must for every business. But when it comes to businesses with a physical location – a store, a clinic, a restaurant, a law office, or even service providers who come to the customer (like plumbers or electricians) – there’s one tool that changes the rules of the game: Google My Business. This free, powerful Google tool lets you appear prominently on Google Maps and in local search results – exactly when potential customers are searching for your services in their area. Let’s understand what Google My Business is and why it’s critical to your business’s success.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is essentially a business profile on Google. You create and manage it for free. It displays all the important information about your business directly in Google’s search results and on Google Maps – exactly when someone searches for you or similar services nearby. You can see your business on Google displayed prominently. Many people also search “Google My Business, what is it” to understand its potential.
An everyday example
Imagine this: A potential customer searches Google for “Italian restaurant near me” or “beautician in Rishon LeZion”. If your Google My Business profile is set up well, your business will appear at the top of the local search results. That includes your location on the map, phone number, opening hours, reviews and photos. It’s the most direct way to bring new customers right to your door!
Why is Google My Business critical to your success?
- Strong local visibility: It’s one of the most important tools for promoting local businesses. It ensures your business on Google appears in geographic searches, especially on mobile – when people search for businesses “near me” or “nearby”.
- Increasing physical and digital traffic: Registering your business on Google with an optimized profile brings more phone calls. It also increases visits to your website and more physical visits to your business.
- Credibility and trust: A complete, up-to-date Google business profile with positive reviews conveys credibility and professionalism. Customers are more likely to choose a business with a high rating and detailed information.
- A competitive advantage: Many businesses still don’t use the full potential of Google My Business. That’s a huge advantage for you.
- A communication tool with customers: Customers can contact you directly from your business profile. They can ask questions and get quick answers.
How to set up and manage a Google My Business profile: step by step
Opening Google My Business is relatively simple. It requires accuracy and care.
- Opening an account and verifying:
- Go to the Google My Business site. Search Google for “Google My Business“.
- Start the process of adding your business. Enter the exact business name, address, phone number and main category. The category should best reflect your service (for example: “Italian restaurant”, “dentist”, “cleaning company”).
- The verification stage: Google must make sure you really own the business. Usually, verification is done by sending a postcard with a verification code to the business’s physical address. Once you receive the postcard, enter the code in the system. There are also other verification options, like phone or email, but these are less common.
- Optimizing the profile – fill in everything!
- Accurate, complete details: Make sure all the details are correct: full address, exact opening hours (including holidays!), phone number and website. This is the foundation.
- Additional categories: Add as many relevant subcategories for your business as possible. The better Google understands what your business does, the better it will match you to searches.
- Business description: Write a short, concise and inviting description of the business and its services. Include keywords relevant to your business.
- Quality photos: Upload professional, high-quality photos of the business inside and out. Add photos of your products, services and team, and even your logo. Photos catch the eye and increase trust.
- Services and products: Detail the main services or products you offer.
- Service areas (if relevant): If you’re a service provider who comes to the customer (and doesn’t receive customers at a physical location), define your service areas.
- Managing reviews – the profile’s gold:
- Encourage customers to write reviews: Send a direct link to your Google business profile. Ask for a review at the end of the service, or put up a sign in your business. Positive reviews are a powerful recommendation.
- Respond to every review: Whether it’s positive or negative, respond to every review. It shows that you’re attentive, caring and professional. Responding to a negative review, when done right, can even improve your image.
- Using posts and additional features:
- Posts: Publish updates, deals, events or news from your business directly on your profile. It looks like a social media post and appears in your search profile.
- Questions & answers (Q&A): Answer customers’ common questions directly on your profile. You can also add common questions in advance.
Google My Business as a promotion tool (local SEO)
A Google business profile is a landing page in its own right. It’s an integral part of local SEO. Google gives enormous importance to the information in this profile when deciding which businesses to show for local searches. The more accurate, complete and up to date your profile is, and the more positive reviews you get, the higher you’ll appear in local search results and on Google Maps. Remember, customers searching for a business “near me” are usually at advanced stages of buying, so a presence here is key to success.
Advanced tips for getting the most out of it:
- Review the insights: Regularly check the data Google My Business offers. How many people searched for you? Where did they come from? How many called or got directions? This is valuable information.
- Adding more managers: If you have a marketing team or work with an agency, give them access to manage the profile.
- Matching your business name across the web: Make sure your business name, address and phone number are completely identical everywhere they appear online (website, Facebook Page, business directories). This is called “NAP consistency” and it’s very important for local SEO.
- Log in regularly: Sign in to Google My Business regularly. Track the data, respond to reviews and update information. If you run into difficulties, remember there’s also Google My Business support available through Google’s help center.
- Editing your Google My Business profile: Update your profile on an ongoing basis. Changes to opening hours, new services or recent photos – all of these are important for staying relevant.
In summary, Google My Business isn’t just another marketing tool. It’s an essential digital asset for every business with a physical location. Registering your business on Google and managing this profile correctly can boost your visibility on Google. It will bring you new customers and strengthen your reputation. Don’t neglect it – it’s the key to local searches!
At WSO, we’re SEO experts, including full optimization of Google My Business profiles. If you want to make sure that your business on Google** appears at the top of local search results, attracts the right customers and maximizes its business potential, contact us today! We’ll be happy to build you a comprehensive strategy that combines all the digital tools and boosts your business.
