It’s no longer a surprise that more and more people rely on Google to answer the questions they have. As a matter of fact, it’s almost always the first place they go to when looking for information. Search Engines have become such an important and influential part of people’s lives to the point that they consult Google first before they visit their doctor for that chronic cold. Funny, but true right?
Now if you’re a Small Business Owner that wants to take part in the magic that Google brings, luckily for you this is no longer a dream! Google has now become a big part of how users discover products and services, and this is an important first step in growing your business.
WHAT IS GOOGLE MY BUSINESS?
1. GIVE GOOGLE YOUR COMPLETE IDENTITY
2. VERIFY YOUR GOOGLE MY BUSINESS LISTING
As soon as you have completed filling in the required information for your Business, you’ll need to verify your listing to ensure Online visibility. The simplest way to do this is submitting your physical address to Google. This way, they can send you a postcard which contains a verification code. This is Google’s way of verifying that your Business is really listed at the address you’ve claimed. It also stops people from falsely verifying addresses they don’t operate at. Until your listing gets verified, your Business won’t be visible Online, and you cannot edit anything.
3. REVIEW YOUR REVIEWS
Another advantage of using Google My Business is the review function that allows your Customers to leave feedback on your Business. Reviews are very important for any business as they hold a lot of power in influencing your Customers. Many service-based Businesses rely on reviews to prove their legitimacy.
However, it’s a double-edged sword. Positive reviews are fantastic for a Business but sometimes you will get bad ones that lower your overall average. Monitoring and reviewing your reviews will ensure your Business is taking on any feedback you might be receiving.
To optimise your Google My Business listing, you should respond to every review, good or bad, because it shows you value Customer feedback. An active business on Google is a trustworthy and reputable one. It shows that you care about your Customers!
Bad reviews aren’t the end of the world. You can use negative reviews to help you develop your services, work on enhancing your brand, and assists you in understanding your Customers. In turn, this will help you grow your Business. Your Customers experience matters, if you listen you’ll improve it continuously.