More than 90% of the search engine market share is dominated by Google. So much so that it has become the eponym for the very thing. Millions and billions of people run Google searches every day. People trust it for any and every type of search they make. The same stands true in the case of online shopping. This is why Google is central for most businesses when it comes to search engine optimization. Still wondering why your small business needs Google My Business? This article answers just the question.
But before coming to that– What is even Google My Business?
Google has a type of directory listing for businesses. However, it is not a particular website or something. It appears when prospective customers search for a particular business type/name. For example, if a person sitting in Bangalore would search for digital marketing services, Google may show up a list of digital marketing agencies in Bangalore that it thinks are best.
Having a Google My Business account basically allows you to manage your organization’s presence across Google. How’s that beneficial for your small business? Read below to find out.
Small businesses need Google My Business because…
# Manage your business across Google
Whether you have claimed it or not, there is a big chance that your business is already on Google. So, it is better to manage how searchers view it.
When you search for your business on Google’s listing, you may find that things like address, timings, etc. are already added. You can correctly edit them and add other valuable information about your business. This way, you will be able to manage your business across Google.
# A cost-effective way of digital marketing
After you have claimed your business, Google allows you to add descriptions, photos, videos, and so much more. This way, your Google My Business account can become a content marketing and advertising platform for you. The best part is, you won’t have to spend a penny on it!
However, if you can spare some, Google has some quite affordable advertising plans for your business. And this is how you get your hands on some cost-effective digital marketing.
# Add to the trustworthiness of your business
Google dominates the search engine market because people trust it. They use it for almost all possible types of queries, including business-related ones. Therefore, if people find your business listed by Google, they’d be a lot more comfortable engaging with it. It’d be even more so if you manage to get your business on its Local 3-Pack.
# Get listed on Local 3-Pack
To facilitate its mobile users better, Google keeps on improving every day. However, one of its major improvements has been its Local 3-Pack. If you don’t know what it is-
When you search for a local business, you may find a four-sided figure containing 3 business results at the top of SERP. Each result would have its name, contact details, location on the Google map, and some other information along with it.
This doesn’t only help local searchers but also local businesses. It’s been found that businesses listed among these three results enjoy high traffic (both online and offline).
Having and optimizing a Google My Business account can increase your business’s chances to appear on the local 3-pack manifold. As a result, it helps you get the best out of your search engine optimization.
# Chat with your customers
People tend to engage better with those businesses which are conveniently approachable. Having a Google My Business account allows customers to easily interact with a business through chatting. Hence, you will be able to respond to your prospective customers’ queries in real-time and potentially turn them into your buyers. All you’ll have to do is turn on this feature and people will the message button readily available.
And this way, you will also be able to practice conversational marketing to your benefit.
# Showcase your best products
Google allows business owners to post photos and videos of their goods and services. Hence, through your Google My Business account, you’ll be able to showcase the best of your products and services. Moreover, along with product name, photo/video, and features, you can also add a 100-300 words long description. And all of this comes with a Call To Action button.
Conclusion
Reading the points above, you will find how Google My Business can be extremely useful for small businesses. It allows you to take search engine optimization and digital marketing to a different level by allowing you to manage your presence across Google. Moreover, it adds to your business’s credibility and trustworthiness. Along with that, it paves way for content marketing and conversational– all this with practically zero cost. Therefore, if you don’t have an optimized Google My Business account for your small business, it’s time that you do now!
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