There’s no way around it: In today’s digital age, businesses need to have a strong online presence in all the right places in order to be noticed, bring in new customers and retain existing customers.

With a digital marketing strategy that combines social media, search engine optimisation (SEO), content, and other proven tactics, you can build an online brand that attracts customers and establishes credibility for your business. Today we want to talk about a newer player in your digital tool kit, Google My Business.

In this article, we’ll explain how Google My Business works and why it should be an essential part of your online brand, as well as some handy tips for getting started.

What is Google My Business?

Even if you didn’t realise it at the time, you’ve almost certainly used Google My Business in your personal or professional life.

When you search for a company name or services near you, you may notice a list of relevant businesses displayed alongside the search results. When you click on one of these company names, you’ll see a Google My Business “business profile,” which includes key details about the company, such as:

• Company name
• Location and contact details
• Google reviews and ratings
• Website
• Social media profiles

If you run a business, you can set up your profile to ensure this information is accurate and relevant to your potential customers.

Benefits of using Google My Business

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of Google for local businesses. Every day, Google processes around 5.6 billion searches, many of which are initiated by potential customers actively seeking out products and services near them.

As a business owner, this is a critical point in the buyers’ journey — and you need to make the most of it. Having an up-to-date profile on Google My Business will help you get noticed by the right people at the right time.

“Google My Business occupies too much space under brand search to be ignored,” stated Shannon Hadley, acclaimed Managing Partner at RealClicks., finishing ardently, “Businesses need to take management of this platform seriously.”

With an effective brand search strategy (that includes a robust Google My Business profile), you can introduce your company to highly motivated buyers and help them feel more comfortable doing business with you.

Incorporating Google My Business into your social media strategy

In addition to providing practical information about your company (like location and contact information), Google My Business also acts as a social media platform in it’s own right for your current and prospective customers. Here’s how:

Just like other social media sites, Google My Business allows users to add reviews, post photos, follow your business, and send messages to your company’s account. Plus, customers can interact with you and each other by asking or answering questions about your business.

By giving your customers the option to interact with you and their fellow customers, your brand will appear more trustworthy and authentic. It’s a valuable opportunity to make your business stand out at a critical point in your customers’ buying journey.

Separately, you can also use Google My Business to link to your company’s other social media accounts. It’s a useful feature that encourages your customers to interact with you on their preferred platform — whether that’s Google, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram. Positively, once you’ve earned their follow on any of these platforms, you can stay in touch and keep your brand top of mind.

Getting started with Google My Business

Google My Business is free to use. But to get the most from your profile, it’s important to have an effective strategy behind it. For the best results, it’s a good idea to work with an established marketing agency that understands the ins and outs of this critical acquisition channel.

At RealClicks, we help our clients set up and manage their Google My Business profiles to appeal to their target buyers and drum up more business. In short, we know what works and what drives results.

Get in touch with RealClicks today to learn more about our services and discuss a game plan for getting your company noticed with Google My Business.