Have you set up a Google My Business listing?

If not we would strongly recommend that you do.

Separate to any PPC activity, businesses can create a Google My Business (formerly Google Places) listing, most companies are unaware this additional advertising is available and what’s more, there’s zero cost involved.

Maximise your exposure on Google by creating one, it’s easy to do.  The additional listing helps ensure your business shows up on local searches, provides extra opportunities for traffic to your site and helps customers find you on any device.  The added bonus is a Google+ page is created for your business at the same time.

As an example, if you search for Printers in Basingstoke ‘Colour Inc Ltd’ gets the first position in the Google My Business listing, pretty good considering it’s free!

 

Here’s how in just 5 easy steps:

1 Visit: http://www.google.com/business.

Click on the blue ‘Get on Google button.

You will need a Google account (GMail) to set up or amend an existing listing.  You will be prompted to log in to Google.

2 Type in your company name:

If listed, you can amend the listing by clicking on it.  If not listed click on ‘Add your Business’.

Once you click to add you will be prompted to provide the location for your business, phone number and category.  If you do not have an office location you can tick the box “list your company as a service area business”.  You can then set up an area using postcodes to define it.

3 Once basic details have been added, at the end of the process Google will need to create a Google+ page from which you can manage your listing.  In order to do this you must tick that you are eligible to manage the business listing and agree to the terms and conditions.

4 The final stage is to verify the business.  In order for the listing to go live Google needs proof that this is a legitimate business to avoid fake advertising and listings.  There are two options, the first to verify by phone to the number on the listing (a code will be phoned through which you then enter).  Alternatively Google will send a postcard by post which takes 1-2 weeks with information on next steps to verify the business.

Only by verifying the business will you gain a free Google Advertising listing.

5 Fill in the basic business info to the Google+ page – address, contact numbers, website.  Add your logo and an introduction to your business.  Keep the introduction short – too long and it will be cut off in Google My Business search results.  Add keywords within your introduction to help your listing be found in relevant search queries.

At any later stage it’s worth maintaining the Google+ page by adding in key information as the Google My Business listing you have created will  link to this page.  In the left hand menu select Google+ page:

Here you can add:

  • a professional business photo
  • ‘Your Story’ information on the background of your business (similar to an ‘About Us’ web page)
  • Links – very useful to encourage traffic to your blog, Twitter, certain web pages etc.
  • Photos/videos, it is important to make the page visual, images of products, services, case studies will greatly enhance the page
  • Regular update posts – share fresh business news or promote your events

If you need to know more information about Google My Business contact us and we’ll be willing to help you set up an account for your business.