You’ve probably heard of Google My Business (or GMB, for short). But what is it, exactly? In short, GMB is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google’s various platforms—including Maps, Search, and YouTube.
GMB makes it easy to control how your business appears in search results, on Maps, and your business’s Google+ page. Plus, it provides insights into how customers interact with your business online. All this information is valuable for marketing purposes and can help you make informed decisions about how to reach your target audience best.
If you’re new to GMB, don’t worry! This how-to guide will teach you the basics of setting up and using your account. By the end, you’ll be a pro at managing your business’s online presence. Let’s get started!
Getting Started with GMB
The first step is to create a GMB account. You can do this by signing into your existing Google account or creating a new one. Once signed in, go to www.google.com/business and click “Start now.”
Next, you’ll need to verify your business. Verification is important because it ensures that the information about your business is accurate. It also allows customers to find your business more easily online. Google will send a postcard with a verification code to your business’s physical location to verify your business. Once you receive the postcard, simply enter the code into the GMB platform and click “Verify.”
If you can’t wait for the postcard to arrive or don’t have a physical location for your business, other verification options are available. You can verify your business instantly by phone or email—although these methods may take longer to complete than postcard verification. You can also choose to verify later, although this isn’t recommended as it could impact the accuracy of your listing.
Creating Your Listing
After you’ve verified your business, it’s time to create your listing! Start by entering basic information about your business, such as its name, address, and hours of operation. Then add some photos and videos so potential customers can get an idea of what your business looks like inside and out. Lastly, add a description, so customers know your products or services.
As you’re creating your listing, keep in mind that accuracy is key—the more accurate the information you provide about your business, the easier it will be for customers to find you online. Also, remember to use keyword-rich descriptions and titles so potential customers can easily find your listing when they search for businesses like yours on Google Maps or Search.
Now that you’ve created your listing, it’s time to start managing it! Google My Business makes it easy to track how customers are interacting with your listing and make changes as needed to improve performance over time. For example, you can view customer reviews and edit store hours directly from the GMB platform. Plus, if incorrect information appears on your listing (e.g., an old phone number), you can request edits directly from within GMB.
Google My Business is a powerful tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across various Google platforms—including Maps, Search, and YouTube. If you’re new to GMB, don’t worry! This how-to guide will walk you through the basics of setting up and using your account so that you can start taking advantage of all that GMB has to offer.
