Google My Business 2.0 is Coming - Features of Google My Business

Features of Google My Business

What does Google My Business offer business owners? Here's a few of the most popular features:

Insights: Google’s dashboard provides key looks into customer activity and interaction, allowing businesses to learn what’s working—and what’s not—on their listing. In addition, it can help them understand their community better as they target new customers. How did searchers find your business? Where did they come from? How are your photos performing? Google My Business insights highlight the answers to these questions and helps businesses optimize and improve over time.

 

Posts: Easily post custom updates and offers on your local listing, inviting customers to make return visits and engage further with your business. Updates can be made anytime from your phone, tablet, or computer for on-the-go maintenance. Not sure what to post about? Try a few ideas we know customers will love, like limited-time offers, contest promotions, and partnership announcements.

Bookings: Allow customers to schedule an appointment or book services directly from your listing with a simple click. Integrated scheduling partners help you easily organize, track, and manage your bookings in one place.

Review Management: Did you know? 91% of consumers read online reviews, and 84% of people trust reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends. Online, reviews are everything. Engage customers in two-way communications as you receive and respond to reviews.

Q&A: Respond to customers’ direct questions about your business and pin frequently-asked inquiries for easy viewing. 

Photos: Strong visuals are crucial for good first impressions—and they’re key to a more well-clicked business listing. Google My Business allows you to upload your best photos and videos to entice customers to visit you.

Accuracy Across the Web: Google is Google. It powers so much of the internet, and many third-party sites use Google for their info. Meaning, the business info you post on your Google My Business listing helps disseminate consistent and accurate info about your business across the web.

Research shows that 60% of consumers have searched for a business at least six times in the last year. So if your business checks these initial boxes, Google My Business could help you become a more accurately represented, visible, and visited business. Ready to set up your GMB listing? Let’s walk through the process step-by-step

 

GMB Posts:

Think of GMB Posts in a similar fashion to posts on Facebook. GMB offers another avenue to provide potential customers with info about your business.

Where Do Google My Business Posts Appear?

GMB Posts appear in the posts tab for users on mobile and on Google My Business Websites. According to Google, posts may also appear on Maps, Search, and the Overview tab for listings based on various signals.

What Can Posts Contain on GMB?

Posts can contain text, photos, and videos.

Types of GMB Posts

Right now there are 4 types of posts:

·         What’s New Posts: These are posts containing general info you want to provide to the public.

·         Event Posts: If you’re planning on being involved in an event in some fashion then you can use this post to promote that. These types of post require:

·         Title

·         Start/End Dates/Times

You can also add a photo/video to posts like this, CTAs, and other information.

·         Offer Posts: If you’re offering any type of promo deal you can use this type of post to let people know.

·         Product Posts: You can use these to really highlight a specific product your business sells. For example, a clothing store may highlight a particular line of shoes they carry.

 

Conclusion:

What's the point of a GMB listing if it doesn't lead to more business? Once you’ve got your business verified, you can visit your Google My Business dashboard and start updating info, uploading photos, and providing potential customers with useful information, like your business hours and attributes (e.g. free wifi, kid-friendly). The more information you supply, and the more you maintain the listing, the better.

Google My Business is an essential tool for local business owners. Within just a few minutes, you can have your listing verified and start showing up in searches from local customers trying to find a business like yours.