If you run a business, then you should be considering whether your Google My Business page is set up and how it can be improved. Setting up a Google My Business page may sound cumbersome but it’s really not that difficult to do. It can quickly become an essential part of your marketing plan. Here are 5 steps to help you set up a Google My Business Page.
Step 1: Create the page
It’s simple to set up a Google My Business Page. All you have to do is go to the Google My Business website and sign in with your Google account. If you don’t already have an account, then you must register for one before setting up your business page.
The next step is to fill out the form. This may seem a little overwhelming at first, but it’s actually quite straightforward. All you have to do is select your business from the list of options, then provide your business name and address and any other information you can think of. When you’ve entered this information, scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will see a check box saying ‘I confirm that I: Own this location’. When you’ve checked the box, click ‘Create Page’. Your page will be created.
Step 2: Improve the number of reviews
When your page has been created, it is essential that you work on getting reviews for it. This can be done in a number of ways in many places online. First of all, you should try and get reviews on your own website as this will also help Google to find your business online. You can also ask your customers if they would be happy to leave a review for you. You should also try and review as many local businesses as possible and give them a favorable review. If you do this, it will have the same effect as Google as it will show up on other users’ search engine results when they look for similar businesses.
It is good practice to also set up social media accounts and get links from local Google Maps listings as you are likely to get more reviews this way. If you can get a link from a local television station or newspaper, then this is even better as these sites are very credible and your Google My Business page will improve as a result.
Step 3: Optimize your website for Google
The next step to setting up your business’s Google My Business Page is optimizing your website for it. You can do this by using local keywords in the title, description and slug of any pages on your website that are relevant.
You should also do some research on your local area. This will enable you to create more targeted search keywords so that you can rank higher in Google Maps and in the ‘Knowledge Panel’.
Step 4: Create a video on YouTube
Creating a video on your YouTube channel can help as well. This is because videos now appear in the Knowledge Panel and can help to promote your business for free. Creating a video about your business will also help with local rankings in Google Maps.
Step 5: Set up Google+ and Google Places for Business
When you have finished setting up your Google My Business Page, the final step is to sign up for a Google+ account. You should link this account to your other social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) so that you can cross-promote your business on these websites too. It is also good practice to follow your customers and see what they are talking about. This can generate some new ideas for your marketing plan.
It is a good idea to set up your business on Google Places for Business as well. This will allow you to appear in local search results and be found easily by consumers who are looking for local business services and products.
By completing these 5 steps, you can set up a Google My Business Page and make it more visible online.
