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You Did Claim Your Google Listing, Right?
The Sprocket Report
Google is not the only search engine, but it sure wields a lot of clout and it offers a lot of nifty services for business owners. The Google My Business listing is one of those services you should be taking advantage of.
Like everything else in our fast-paced digital world, Google My Business (GMB) has changed a lot since its first incarnation. If you haven’t looked into GMB lately, you may not be aware of what’s new and if you have never looked into GMB, now is definitely the time to do so!
Of course you have to take the good with the bad when you use a free service, but there is more good for your business than bad. Also, you may not have much of a choice since GMB listings can also be generated without your permission. You can claim ownership if there is already a listing for your business that you didn’t initiate, but of course it’s best if you are the owner from day one.
Here’s what you should know about Google My Business:
Pros of GMB
- It’s free to have your business listed
- Your listing includes a map, reviews, Q&As and other info
- It boosts your local reach
- The listing shows up in the Knowledge Panel box in the appropriate Google search results
- It’s one more way to help your customer find you
- You can add photos, a description, hours of operation and other pertinent information
- You can post special offers, blog posts and other timely content in your listing
- There are “call now” and “make appointment” buttons built in
- GMB provides analytical insights about how your listing performs
- It’s always a good SEO decision to play along with Google
Cons of GMB
- GMB is only for businesses that have a brick-and-mortar location or that service in a specific locale
- Special offers and blog posts have to be added live in the “Latest Post” option instead of scheduled ahead
- The “Latest Post” lapses after seven days
- ANYONE can edit your listing – seriously, ANYONE
Since so much of your GMB listing can be crowd-sourced, best practices say you should check in on a regular basis to answer questions, respond to reviews, look for spammy edits and to update your Latest Post. Yes, it’s another task in your routine, but you’re getting a solid digital marketing boost in return.
You can get started right now with your GMB listing at the Google My Business website.
But if claiming, updating and maintaining your GMB profile is simply too far down on your must-do list, just give us a call. We’d be happy to take care of it for you!
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Kate Gingold
I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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