Long ago, consumers would have to flip through huge print directories to look for businesses that might offer the products and services they wanted.<\/p>\n
Using a search engine is not only faster and easier, but provides so much more than a name and phone number. Businesses can showcase their address, their hours, reviews and more.<\/p>\n
Your mission as a brand should not only be making sure you show up in search results, but that to optimize the information that gets presented to potential customers in search results.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for a Google My Business guide to help with that, you\u2019ve come to the right place \u2013 this post will tell you everything you need to know about that service, which is now known as Google Business Profile.<\/p>\n
Unless they already have a brand in mind, most consumers will start their shopping journey by using Google\u2019s search engine or even Google Maps.<\/p>\n
Google Business Profile (previously Google My Business) is a tool that allows brands to\u00a0help Google\u2019s algorithm to respond<\/b>to those search queries with the most appropriate matches. It\u2019s a self-serve mechanism that can allow you to boost how visible you are on Google\u2019s most popular marketing channels.<\/p>\n
Google evolved its approach from a separate Google My Business app to Google Business Profile to allow companies to directly manage their information in apps such as its search engine and Google Maps. The tips that follow tell you everything you\u2019d want to find in a\u00a0Google My Business guide<\/b>, but offers the most up-to-date information related to Google Business Profile.<\/p>\nBenefits of using Google Business Profile<\/b><\/h3>\n
If you haven\u2019t set up your\u00a0Google Business Profile<\/b>yet, now is the time. You\u2019ll enjoy benefits that include:<\/p>\n Given it was a tool designed with small businesses in mind, Google Business Profile setup is straightforward enough that you don\u2019t need any special technical or marketing skills. Here\u2019s how it works:<\/p>\n Log into your Google account: This should be a business account, not a personal account. If you\u2019re setting up an account for the first time, use your work e-mail address and fill out all the basic fields.<\/p>\n You may have an existing profile that Google created on your behalf.<\/p>\n The current profile owner has three days to respond to requests to claim the business. If your request is approved, you\u2019ll get a confirmation e-mail with a link to take ownership. If you\u2019re denied ownership, you\u2019ll still receive instructions on how to appeal the decision with Google. Google has warned, however, that the option to claim a business is not always available.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve finished setting up or claiming your Google Business Profile, you\u2019ll need to let Google review it to\u00a0ensure the information is accurate<\/strong>\u00a0and doesn\u2019t mislead consumers in any way.<\/p>\n This process will begin when you see a \u201cGet verified\u201d button and click on it.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll be asked to choose a method to be notified about the status of your verification. This can include getting a phone call, a text message with a verification code or receiving an e-mail message. Brands can also record a short video with details about their business to get verified as well.<\/p>\n Wait. The verification process can take up to five business days. If for some reason your information was not accepted, you\u2019ll need to go through the verification process again.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re verified you may want other members on the team to get involved. Under the settings area in your profile you\u2019ll see an area called \u201cPeople and access.\u201d When you click \u201cadd\u201d on the left-hand side, simply fill out their name and e-mail address to send an invitation. Once they accept, they will be able to edit and manage your company\u2019s profile.<\/p>\n Before the name of the service was changed, search experts referred to Google My Business optimization. This is still an important area with Google Business Profile, and images are a natural place to start. We\u2019re all innately attracted to photographs when we\u2019re looking up information. That\u2019s why your Google Business Profile not only needs to describe your products and services in words. Pictures can tell an even more compelling story, but only if you create and edit them with care.<\/p>\n Use this checklist\u00a0<\/b>to review your images before uploading them to a Google Business Profile listing:<\/p>\n That last tip may require further explanation. When you\u2019re adding images to your profile, put yourself in a consumer\u2019s shoes. What will help them make a decision to learn more about your brand and even make a purchase? The answers will vary depending on your business, but think about using a cover image that captures something unique about your brand, whether it\u2019s an image of your main location and logo, the inviting interior of a physical store, your most popular or namesake product or even a team image that showcases the people customers will meet.<\/p>\n Always review\u00a0<\/b>Google\u2019s content guidelines and policies\u00a0<\/b><\/a>as you select and optimize images for your profile.<\/b><\/p>\n Though you may initially set up your Google Business Profile manually, you can work with a trusted partner to automate and optimize your data to ensure your listing gets seen.<\/p>\n With\u00a0Highstreet.io\u2019s business listing management service<\/a>, for instance, scheduling profile updates and distributing data directly to Google becomes a simple, turnkey process.<\/p>\n Companies have often conducted searches like \u201cexpand Google My Business reach,\u201d and no wonder \u2013 you want to get as many\u00a0prospective customers<\/b>\u00a0considering your business as possible.<\/p>\n Think of your Google Business Profile almost as you would your web site. The most you add to it \u2013 whether it\u2019s new products you\u2019re carrying, the latest photos or some fresh customer reviews, the more likely it will show up in Google Search and Google Maps. Make sure your listing is also attached to your staff\u2019s e-mail signatures and on your e-mail newsletter, if you have one.<\/p>\n The dashboard provides you with a consolidated view of everything that\u2019s happening on your Google Business Profile. Check it frequently to make sure you and other members of the team aren\u2019t duplicating efforts, and that your profile is free of errors or typos.<\/p>\n The dashboard will also show reviews as they come in, which we discuss in more detail below.<\/p>\n Marketing your products and services provides consumers with an important source of information, but it\u2019s not the only source they care about.\u00a0Reviews help address some of their most common questions<\/strong>\u00a0and can convince them your brand\u2019s offerings are a good fit for their needs.<\/p>\n With enough positive reviews of three to give stars, your\u00a0Google Business Profile becomes a selling tool\u00a0<\/b>that can increase revenues and turn more customers into repeat buyers. Reviews also attend to attract increased traffic to web sites because they contain valuable information, particularly for local searches.<\/p>\n You can encourage customers to write reviews by directly asking them on sales receipts and in follow-up emails. If you operate physical stores, staff can suggest it when they offer positive feedback in person. Some companies even set up\u00a0displays with QR codes that take customers directly to your Google Business Profile<\/b>to leave a review.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, not all reviews are genuine \u2013 on Google or elsewhere. Sometimes fake reviews come from people simply trying to cause mischief online, but others are part of schemes to defraud customers or mislead them in some way. That\u2019s why questions like \u201chow to remove bad reviews from Google My Business\u201d were a standard part of any Google My Business guide.<\/p>\n Establish a\u00a0regular schedule to periodically look through any reviews<\/strong>\u00a0you\u2019ve accumulated as part of your Google Business Profile. If you read one that seems to come from a bot or contains false and malicious information,\u00a0report the review to Google.<\/a>A self-serve process will allow to share the necessary information to have fake reviews removed, and to get information on the status of your request.<\/p>\n This is another best practice that would have been any Google My Business guide and which continues to apply:\u00a0People who discover your brand through a Google Business Profile<\/strong>\u00a0should never see information that is out of date or no later accurate. You may move a physical store to another location, for instance, or even change your primary business phone number.<\/p>\n Whatever you have to revise, just log into your account and profile, and then select the \u201cEdit\u201d button (This may be called \u201cEdit Business Information\u201d within Google Maps).<\/p>\n Simply make your changes and save them, just like you would if you were writing a document.<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re making minor or temporary adjustments, use the same \u201cEdit\u201d button to avoid confusion or disappointing customers who may be looking your company up in a hurry on Google Maps, or as part of a comprehensive search on their desktop.<\/p>\n Most businesses are constantly introducing new products, updating their physical locations or expanding into new markets. Editing your profile is almost like spreading the news on a community bulletin board.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re in Edit mode, scroll to the area designated for images and videos. You\u2019ll be able to upload or in some cases drag and drop content directly into your profile.<\/p>\n Depending on the size of your organization and number of stores, look for the \u201cBusinesses\u201d option in your profile settings. From there, you can choose \u201cCreate Group.\u201d You\u2019ll be able to click on \u201cAdd Locations\u201d from there, and can include detailed contact information for each one.<\/p>\n Of course, it can become onerous to manage multiple listings simultaneously, so consider\u00a0working with Highstreet.io to connect to the Google API.<\/a><\/p>\n As with any other business tool, your Google Business Profile can require careful handling. Here are some tips to follow<\/p>\n Suspensions are usually due to what Google perceives as a violation of its guidelines. If this happens, you can use the\u00a0Google appeals tool<\/a>\u00a0to share any evidence about why your account should be reinstated. You\u2019ll be able to check the status of your appeal in your My Account area.<\/p>\n Google offers a dedicated site where you can easily look up the most common issues businesses have with their profiles. This self-service approach also includes a community area where other business owners can ask questions to their peers and look up answers to previous queries.<\/p>\n Your Google Business Profile should be part of a strategic sales and marketing strategy that simplifies and streamlines the shopping journey. This also includes the use of Local Inventory Ads (LIAs), which you can run on Google to show customers what you have in stock at a nearby store.<\/p>\n\n
Setting up your Google Business Profile account<\/h2>\n
How to create an account<\/h3>\n
How to claim a business on Google Business Profile<\/h3>\n
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How to claim a business on Google Business Profile<\/h3>\n
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How to get access to an account managed by someone else<\/h3>\n
Step-by-Step guide to verify Google Business Profile<\/h3>\n
Step One:<\/h4>\n
Step Two:<\/h4>\n
Step Three:<\/h4>\n
How to add a manager<\/h3>\n
Essential image guidelines for Google Business Profile<\/h3>\n
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Enhancing your Google Business Profile visibility<\/h2>\n
How to drive traffic to your Google Business Profile listing<\/h3>\n
Using dashboard for better management<\/h3>\n
Managing Google Business Profile reviews<\/h2>\n
What to do if you receive fake reviews on your Google Business Profile<\/h3>\n
Maintaining Your Google Business Profile<\/h2>\n
How to edit information<\/h3>\n
Updating business hours and address<\/h3>\n
Adding photos and videos to Google Business Profile page<\/h3>\n
How to add multiple locations on Google Business Profile<\/h3>\n
Troubleshooting common Google Business Profile issues<\/h2>\n
How to handle a suspended Google Business Profile account<\/h3>\n
How to contact Google Business Profile support<\/h3>\n
Connect your Google Business Profile to Merchant Hosted Local Storefronts and grow sales<\/h2>\n