Google My Business is a service that enables you to put your business information on Google Search, Maps, and Google+ so that your customers can find you across multiple devices. Their service provides your potential customers with quick, easy access to information like directions, hours of operations, or your phone number, not to mention building a solid, local SEO that can directly impact your business. A properly set up and managed Google My Business account is probably one of the most important investments that you can make. Setting up your Google My Business account is fairly easy to do, but for optimal return, there are some important items to get right. Here are four quick tips to keep in mind as you set up your account.

Confirm Your Company’s Info

This may seem obvious, but the importance of confirming your company’s address, hours, and business category cannot be overstated. The simple reason to do this is to ensure that your customers know how to contact you, but there is another important aspect that some people overlook. You see, Google also uses this information to confirm your website information.

Why is this important?

An important ranking factor on Google is that your information is similar across different places on the web. For example, if the phone number on your site doesn’t match the number on your Google My Business listing, then it can cause problems with your rankings.

Add Pictures

Adding pictures may be an optional part of your setup, but including photos relevant to your business as well as your logo can be important for a number of reasons. The most important reason is to give your clients a sense of trust with your company. Including before and after photos of home improvement projects and restorations can be a good way to build that trust, as well as demonstrate your skill-set firsthand. A secondary, but no less important reason is that 60% of consumers are more likely to contact your business when an image shows up in their local search results. Adding photos to your page can give potential customers that nudge they need in your direction.

Make Your Introduction Count

Your introduction paragraph is often the only thing potential clients will see when choosing one service over another, so it’s important that yours is impeccable. A good introduction describes everything relevant about your business but does so in as few words as possible. It is the “hook” upon which you catch your customer’s attention, leading them ultimately into contacting you. Remember that clients on the internet are looking for fast information and often a large single paragraph will be enough to turn someone away. Be sure to use subheaders and bullet points when you can to break up paragraphs and showcase the different services that you provide.

Manage Frequently

Google My Business is, unfortunately, not a “set it and forget it” application. Make sure that you keep your profile, information, and photos updated and accurate—don’t forget to list any company or description changes as soon as possible. Also, be sure to ask for and keep up with the reviews on your page. As I’ve described in a previous blog post, reviews are very important to Google, and for client conversion. Be sure to maintain a friendly and upbeat tone, even when a negative review has been posted about your business, this proves to future customers that you are willing to go the extra mile for your customers.

In summary, Google My Business can be a powerful tool if used correctly. Remember these four things at setup, and you’ll be fine. Confirming your company’s information ensures that Google will make use of your entire web presence, adding pictures generates interest, a snappy introduction can do wonders to draw new customers in, and management of your Google My Business site is key, so keep these things in mind as you set up your account. If you need help with the setup and or management of Google My Business send us an email or give us a call and we will be more than happy to help!