What is Google My Business (GMB)?

In addition to being a great place to find things, Google offers a Google My Business listing that is a valuable tool to help you connect with potential customers. If you own or manage a business, you can set up a free listing on Google that will allow people to more easily find what you offer. And (when used correctly) that listing can become a powerful marketing tool to help your phone ring more often with prospective customers!

Interested? Keep reading to learn more about a Google My Business listing and how to set yours up today!

Why Do You Need A Google My Business Listing?

You need a Google My Business listing and account for a few reasons. One of the most important reasons is that a properly set up listing can help people who are searching for what you offer find your business quickly and easily. This means more people learning about your business and reaching out to get connected. 

A basic GMB listing is valuable for sharing information about your business, location, hours of operation, contact details, and more. And a fully optimized listing and management account can become one of the best tools in your marketing arsenal (which is why we recommend using a Google My Business management service for business owners). 

Let’s break down the components of Google My Business and how each element can help you stand out and get your phone ringing with more potential customers!

The Listing

Just like the old yellow pages, when people need a service or product, they start by looking for companies that offer what they need. Today, those searches take us online to type in keywords that will hopefully connect us with the right business and people in our area!

A Google My Business listing is your basic entry into Google search results. When you create a business profile, your business details are included in local Google, Google Local Pack, and Google Maps results.  

Without a proper profile on Google, your customers likely won’t be able to find you, no matter what they type. Even a fully optimized website can be boosted with the support of a Google My Business profile. Your listing includes a description of your business and relevant information, such as an address, phone number, hours, and services.

One of the interesting things about a listing on Google is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be created by the business owner or a marketing team member. Google may collect information or utilize input from users to create a general listing, which is why the next element is critical to be able to manage the details of your listing!

Google My Business Account

Whether you set up your listing or one was created using your basic data, a Google My Business account is an essential next step that allows you to claim and manage your profile. With Google My Business management capability, you can more easily update your information, add specific service details, and utilize your profile as a marketing tool. You can also correct any incorrect information that may be added by users (details such as your general location, hours, services, or contact information).

Managing reviews, questions and answers, and general content is a great way to begin optimizing your listing and reaching more people. The more complete (and accurate) the listing, the better. 

 With a Google My Business account, you can also receive alerts and notifications about what’s happening on your profile so you can better manage what people see and what you want them to know! You can even get helpful reminders to update hours and closings on holidays or about messages, reviews, events, special offers, and more.

Review Source

Another great feature of your business profile on Google (which is more readily available to you with a Google My Business management account) is the review section. We’ve all heard about a company that sounded great, then gone online to read bad review after bad review. If customers don’t like working with you or have had terrible experiences, they choose to share online; it can be challenging to change the first impression of future potential customers. On the flip side, if someone finds your business for the first time and sees dozens or more positive reviews of how great you are and how wonderful it was to work with you and your team, the chance of getting a phone call or sale goes way up! 

Google has become a go-to source for reviews that feature a rating and space for details, which is why having a process in place to request and monitor reviews through your profile is a game changer. 

SEO Resource

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is how you gain more visibility on that coveted first page of Google results (or other search engines). When you show up on the first page of search engine results, you have a much higher chance of getting seen and receiving a phone call, sale, or visit from that potential customer. On average, 80% of all leads come from the first page of search results.

One unique feature of a Google My Business account is the ability to support your SEO. Google’s powerful search engine and a properly optimized listing can help your business get noticed, boost your website’s ranking and traffic, and lead to more calls and conversions (the gold standard for online marketing). To make that happen, all the business information you provide must be accurate and consistent with your other online directory listings (such as Facebook, BBB, Yellow Pages, and more)! Without this step, your rankings won’t increase, and you’ll show up less often, missing out on all the leads you deserve.

Marketing Tool

What better way to share what you want people to know than a highly visible listing that you can easily control? Your Google My Business management account allows you to promote services, specials, events, and more to both local or global audiences. 

Think of your Google My Business Profile as an awesome sandwich board that makes people want to try you out. Instead of a local sign that only catches the attention of passers-by, you’ll be instantly connected to people that literally searched for you! Google My Business Management is one of our most popular services because it supports visibility and growth so well!

How Do You Get Started?

If you’re ready to capitalize on a Google My Business account, keep reading for how to take the first step.

Set-Up

Like most Google services, you’ll need to log into a Google account to begin your listing setup (if you don’t have one, you can easily create one). Once you’ve done that, you can log into the Google My Business platform and search for your business name. Don’t see your business listed? That’s ok! You can add your business name and then follow the prompts to complete your setup. 

The category of your business, address and contact information are just some of the things you’ll need to know to fill out your business profile fully. Once you’ve completed the next step, you’ll be able to add additional details to optimize your Google My Business listing.

Verification

One of the great things about Google is that it cares about the information it delivers. Valuable websites with accurate information are given more credibility (and higher ranking on search engine results) than websites without correct or current details. When it comes to a Google My Business profile, Google takes the extra step of verifying the information you add, specifically your address. 

One verification method includes receiving a postcard with a unique code to validate your business profile. This step means that you won’t be able to gain complete control over the listing until that postcard arrives and you enter the code you received. In other cases, you may be able to validate your business via email, text, phone call, or through a live video call.  

Instant verification can occur, usually if you have already verified your website with Google Search Console. For example, If you verify your matching website before you add or claim your profile, no “Get verified” prompt shows. You can usually edit your profile and connect with customers immediately. An eligible business that manages ten-plus profiles for locations of the same business may be eligible for bulk verification. 

No matter what step you use, the good thing about this part of the process is that it keeps others from easily claiming your business and adding the wrong information to your profile!

Aspects Of A Listing

Besides the basic details about your business (name, location, website, and contact information), a Google My Businessprofile has many ways to convey your value and market your business. Don’t underestimate the importance of verifying your key details – but once you’ve done that, keep going. 

Photos are a great way to promote your service, location, and more. This is especially true when you use professional, clean images that encourage visitors to scroll through what you’ve shared. Whether you’re a restaurant owner that can share a menu preview or a dog groomer that can share happy pet pictures, photography on your listing is a great way to optimize your profile.

As mentioned above, reviews help potential customers know if they can trust you. And with Google, reviews include ratings and details that customers can submit. The more positive reviews you have, the better, so we recommend implementing a process to ask your clients for a review routinely (it’s even something we assist with in our Google My Business Management service because we know the value). Use your dashboard to get a link that you can easily share, which will quickly take the user to the right place to sing your praises! Once you get a great review, be sure to reply and stay engaged on your profile. The same is true if you get a negative review. How you handle a concern or conflict can add to your credibility if done well!

Your Google My Business profile also allows you to promote events, services, specials, and more. By staying active and up to date, you can attract attention and give potential customers a reason to call or visit your website (especially when they’re comparing you to other businesses who may have a basic or outdated profile)!

Management And Optimization

Google My Business management, whether done in-house or by a professional, is a great way to build on the momentum of your new profile. With our management and optimization service, we monitor and complete the steps outlined above, in addition to analyzing data insights, local SEO, and more. With Google, you can continually refine your content to reach more people, rank higher, and get those organic results that will help you achieve your marketing and growth goals!

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about your Google My Business listing? Keep reading for a list of common questions and answers from the BullsEye Internet Marketing specialists!

Can I put my business on Google for free?

Yes! You can list your business on Google and create a profile for free. Your free listing will include valuable details for people searching for what you offer. These details include your contact information (such as a website, phone number, and email), location, hours, and more. 

Once your business has been verified, you can add additional details to promote what you do. The more accurate and detailed your listing, the better!

How do I register my small business on Google?

Start by logging into a Google account to begin your listing set-up (you can create a Google account first if you don’t have one). 

Next, log into the Google My Business platform using your Google login (Gmail, YouTube, etc.). There you can edit your profile. If your business profile is not already listed, you can add your business name and then follow the instructions for completing the profile. Before you start, you need to know your business category, location, and contact information. 

After your profile is verified (which usually requires getting a code via postcard and entering it online), you’ll be able to add even more details that will help you show up and market your business!

Is Google My Business worth it?

Absolutely! Google is the world’s largest search engine, and almost all searches for business services and products start online (97%, to be exact). If you’re not listed on Google, you’re missing out on a ton of daily traffic – and thousands of opportunities to be found by your potential customers! 

We recommend all business owners have a complete – and optimized – listing on Google to maximize their search results and increase the number of calls from people that want what they have to offer!

How do I access my Google My Business?

To access or view your Google My Business listing, you can simply go to Google and search for your business name. You may need to create your profile if you don’t see it in the results. 

To manage your Google My Business listing (and make changes), go to log into your Google account (https://myaccount.google.com) and log into your account.

Is Google My Business still available?

In 2022, Google renamed Google My Business (or GMB) to Google Business Profile (GBP), and the Google My Business mobile app was retired. The functionality (and importance) of a Google Business Profile is the same as the old GMB option. Today, you can view your profile through the Google Maps mobile app, your Google account, or Google search. 

How do I manage my Google business account?

To manage your Google My Business listing (and make changes), go to log into your Google account (https://myaccount.google.com) and log into your account. 

Is a Google account to manage my business free?

Yes! It’s totally free to create a Google account and a Google My Business profile on Google. You can also manage it for free. Typically, you’ll only have to pay for marketing services on your profile that are not included, such as pay-per-click advertising or professional management and optimization. 

How do I get into my Google My Business account?

If you’re logged into your Google account, you can access and manage your Google My Business account by clicking on Google My Business. If you don’t see your business listing under the details, double-check that you’re logged in to the account associated with your business. 

What is the difference between Google My Business and Google Business Profile?

In 2022, Google renamed Google My Business (or GMB) to Google Business Profile (or GBP). The functionality (and importance) is still the same.