What Is Google My Business?
Have you ever used Google to find a new restaurant to try or look up auto shops near you? If you have, then you’ve probably seen My Business in action. When Google thinks a user is looking for a business, the search engine returns two types of answers:
- Regular listings that you might find with any query. These are the listing you’re trying to rank for when you work on SEO.
- Google My Business pages at the very top. These aren’t links to business-owned websites; instead, they’re listings that Google has created to tell its users about your business.
They may include a description, location, contact info, a link to your website, reviews from Google users, and more.
These listings super convenient for users because they offer tons of information about your business, all in one place. They can also help you get local visibility above and beyond other SEO methods. My Business comes with a dashboard where you can manage your listings for multiple locations all in one place. Getting customers to go from “I’m hungry” (or “I need new shoes,” etc.) to standing in your store has never been easier.
Why You Need To Claim Your Listing
So if Google wants to do the work of creating a listing for your business all on its own, do you really have to do anything at all?
No, but you should.
Here’s the thing: Google does its best to get your information right. It pulls information from your Google accounts or website and makes guesses based on user behavior. But sometimes the superbrain get it wrong.
Luckily, Google gives you the opportunity to set that listing straight. All you have to do to edit your business listing is claim it.
How To Claim Your Google My Business Listing
Step 1: Sign into your Google My Business account here. If you don’t have an account yet, you’ll need to create one. Don’t worry, it’s easy.
Step 2: Find your listing using the search box and select it from the list or the map view. If you can’t find your business, Google may not have created your listing yet. Just click “Add Your Business” to start from scratch.
Step 3: Verify that you actually own the business. Depending on your preference, Google will either call your business or send you a letter with verification information.
Step 4: Edit your details. Here’s where you get to tell Google what’s what. Make sure your hours, location, contact, and other information is accurate. Add a description that appeals to your ideal customers. If you don’t have any reviews yet, you can confidently launch a campaign to encourage customers to start talking about you now that they know how to find you.
Are you making it easy for customers to find you? Our Assessment Packages can help you find and optimize your listings. Get started today!
