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by Doug Sewell
Google My Business is one of the easiest ways to get your business found by potential customers. In fact, local listings will show up as the number one spot on Google 93% of the time in local search. From an SEO perspective, Google My Business is critical to search engine visibility. Including NAP (name, address, & phone number) consistency.
Keep Your Google My Business Listing Up To Date
It’s important to keep your listing up to date. Just because a Google My Business listing is verified doesn’t mean it’s a “one and done” kind of deal. Businesses have noticed after approximately six months of inactivity, a listing may go unverified. Google representatives have stated they may un-verify a listing as this ensures Google’s local listings are always up to date.
Add Photos of Your Business and Services
One of the easiest ways to keep your listing up to date is by adding pictures of your services. This should be something you want to do anyway!
- Restaurants can show off their food, atmosphere, and pictures with customers and staff.
- Home remodelers can show how they made a home owner’s dream kitchen come to life.
- Doggy day cares can put up photos of some cute pups.
Doing this not only adds to your business’s credibility online, it drives user engagement.
Let your customers know you’ll be uploading pictures to your Google Maps listing. Tell them to check it out. While they are looking for themselves in your pictures, they may even leave you a 5 star review. It helps create a better relationship between you and your customers.
Update Your Hours of Operation
Update your hours of operation! This can make or break a happy customer. If a place of business is closed for any reason, and their Google listing says they’re open, then there’s going to be an upset customer when they arrive finding out the business isn’t open.
Now, the customer no longer has the motivation to use your services or product again. They may feel rejected because the business didn’t update their hours and bring their business elsewhere. It’s something so small and quick to do.
Google My Business also allows you to create “special hours” for specific dates such as holidays as well. Google won’t know whether you’re closed on Thanksgiving Day, so be sure you update it.
Connect Your Google My Business Listing to Your YouTube Account
YouTube is another avenue for free advertising that your business can’t afford to let go. According to YouTube’s official statistics, YouTube reaches more 18 – 49 year olds than any cable network in the United States. Considering YouTube is a free service, this is a great way to get today’s generation of mobile users to see your business!
More than half of all YouTube views come from mobile devices. The number of hours spent watching YouTube videos is up 100% year over year! Get a professionally made commercial created. Make testimonial videos. Get Do-It-Yourself projects on there. Be active and creative!
Create an Interactive Panorama Through Google Street View
While Google’s monumental efforts to keep Google Street View up to date is a big undertaking, you can help Google get more up to date imagery. If you’re a new business, then it’s likely Google’s Street View will show an outdated business. Google offers various options for you to get updated imagery on your listing.
Get even more imagery by making Google Street View photos of the inside of your business! Let your customers know what it’s like to be at your business before they even drive. It may help them make the good decision to use your services over someone else’s.
Final Note on Google My Business
Google wants your business to succeed, and they make a lot of tools to help you get there that don’t cost you a dime. Townsquare Interactive helps you verify your Google My Business listing. We will walk you through how to get your listing updated, and will make updates for you. We make sure your listing is both up to date and active.
By utilizing Google’s free services with the assistance of Townsquare Interactive’s passion for helping local businesses, we put you in a great position to make a lasting impact on your neighborhood.