Google Business Listings Bolster Online Presence

If you don’t have a Google My Business page, you’re missing out on an easy yet essential marketing tool
Google Business Listings Bolster Online Presence

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It’s important that online search engine users be able to find your company. Simply put, this is how most consumers make their purchasing decisions: They use Google to identify local vendors or service providers, perhaps take a moment to peruse ratings and reviews, and ultimately make a choice based on the options that Google lists.

This requires your company to have a strong website, of course, but something else I recommend is starting a Google My Business page.

Google My Business at a glance

You’ve probably seen Google My Business listings on the web, even if you didn’t know them by that name. When you conduct any kind of a local business search, Google will provide you with some listings — the names of local businesses that meet your search criteria. Under the business name, you might see a website link, contact information, hours of operation, and a Google star rating, which is based on customer reviews. This block of information is what’s known as a Google My Business listing, and your company should have one of its own.

Why? Having a Google My Business listing makes it easier for your company to be found. Google itself has noted that “the average well-maintained Google My Business listing gets five times more views than listings which haven’t been claimed by their owners.”

Claiming your Google My Business page

How do you get a Google My Business listing of your own? It’s really quite simple. Start by doing a search for your company name. More likely than not, Google will provide you with some search results that include a listing for your company. When you see it, look for the option that says, “Are You the Business Owner?” Click it to claim it.

If you don’t see your business listed, you’ll have to build a listing from scratch, but this, too, is simple. Sign into the Google account you wish to be associated with your business, then go to www.google.com/business. Select the option that says “Start Now.”

Google will need you to provide some information about your business, all of it very basic — address, phone number, etc. Be sure to spend time double- and triple-checking spelling and accuracy here. Also, be sure to type your business name the way you want it to be displayed to Google search engine users.

Google will need to verify your identity, and you’ll receive some options for doing so. The easiest one is to have Google call you on your phone, which will take mere seconds.

Once your business is verified, your listing will be live and Google will ask for some additional information. Once again, it’s straightforward — hours of operation, etc.

One more thing: You’ll be encouraged to provide both a profile image and a cover photo for your company’s Google My Business account. The recommended dimensions for the profile image are 250 x 250 pixels. For the cover photo, aim for 1080 x 608.

The whole process is very quick, and it’s an incredibly easy way to produce an essential online listing for your company. Don’t miss out on this vital marketing step.


About the author
Amanda E. Clark is the president and editor-in-chief of Grammar Chic Inc., a full-service professional writing company. She is a published ghostwriter and editor, and currently under contract with literary agencies in Malibu, California, and Dublin, Ireland. Since founding Grammar Chic in 2008, Clark, along with her team of skilled professional writers, has offered expertise to clients in the creative, business and academic fields. The company accepts a wide range of projects and often engages in content and social media marketing, drafts resumes, press releases, web content, marketing materials and ghostwritten creative pieces. Contact Clark at www.grammarchic.net.



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