If you own a business, you are undoubtedly already aware of the power of Google for raising awareness and enticing new customers. But another layer of your SEO strategy that should not be ignored is Google My Business.

Google My Business allows you to input data about your organization and control how that information is displayed within Google properties, such as the search engine results page and within Google Maps. It’s free to use and can be set up in minutes, but if you still need to be convinced on the benefits of Google My Business, check out our top 4 reasons to get started below:

1. Search engine real estate
When you create a profile on Google My Business, you are equipping Google with a wealth of information about your organization, and this is used to create something known as a ‘Knowledge Panel’ on the right hand side of the search engine results page. This allows your company to take up more space in the browser window, giving you an advantage over competitors.

2. Central management
One of the biggest advantages of managing your business information through GMB is that you can make updates in one dashboard, and these changes are immediately implemented across all other Google locations. You can update your holiday opening hours, add new information such as a phone number and upload photos of your location or products. According a recent survey by Google, businesses that add photos to their listings receive 35% more clicks through to their websites than businesses that don’t .

3. In-depth reporting
Once you have a profile in Google My Business, you can also gain access to Google’s reporting dashboard, which displays valuable information such as the number of searches for your location or website address. One particularly valuable insight is to see how many people called your business directly from the phone number within your knowledge panel. You can then use this information to create optimized Google Adwords campaigns based on reported consumer behavior and preferences.

4. Customer service
Google My Business also allows your customers to leave reviews on your business, which you can then monitor and respond to through the dashboard, as well as answering any questions about your company. This provides valuable insights into your customer experience, as well as demonstrating a high standard of customer service through your responses.

The advantages of Google My Business are indisputable. By setting yourself up as a verified organization, you are not only allowing customers to find you more easily, but also taking control of your brand image on the platform. Businesses that verify their information with Google My Business are twice as likely to be considered reputable by consumers . If you’d like help managing your Google My Business account, click here for our rate: https://johnlui.hk