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What’s Google My Business?

Google My Business (GMB) is a quick, easy and free tool for business owners. It helps customers find you, drives traffic to your website, increases your ranking and reach and makes sure you maximise your online brand presence.

When someone searches for a local builder or specific business name, a box shows up in the Google results with a business profile. This includes all your contact information – a website link, business address and phone number, photos, reviews and opening hours. This information comes from Google My Business. If you don’t already have an account, there has never been a better time to get one.

Kay explains: ‘It’s the best way to get found. Google My Business is connected to the Google interface and maps integration, making it the first thing your customers notice when searching for you and your business.’

GMB is a powerful tool if you want to be found. But it isn’t just finding you that GMB makes easy. It’s an opportunity to promote a professional and relevant business brand to potential clients. In fact, research from the Small Business with Google website shows that businesses that verify their information with Google My Business are twice as likely to be considered reputable by consumers.

Reaching your audience

So why is a Google My Business Page good for reaching more customers? ‘Although your information can be found on your social channels and website, GMB indexes the content you provide for consistency across Google Search Engines and maps,’ explain Kay. 

‘Your customers can also leave a review, providing your target audience confidence in the market. GMB Posts can entice more users to click on your website by providing up-to-date information about your business, your offers and most importantly, what you do. Increased clicks to your website and a higher click-through rate on your GMB profile raises your SEO.’

According to Google, 86 per cent of consumers rely on the internet to find a local business and 
60 per cent of smartphone users have contacted a company directly using the search results in the click to call function.

Business marketing benefits

Google My Business works within your business marketing strategy and is essentially another platform where you can interact with customers, expand your presence, create posts and access lead generation analytics.

Ensure all aspects of your profile are completed, including good-quality relevant images and up-to-date information. According to Google, businesses that add photos to their Business Profiles receive 42 per cent more requests for directions on Google Maps and 35 per cent more clicks to their websites than businesses that don’t. 

The dashboard gives you comprehensive insights on how customers search for your business, search queries used to find your business and how many leads you received from your GMB profile and from where.

While posting as often as Facebook or Instagram isn’t necessary, you will need to put some time into the platform. Kay explains, ‘Google advises that regular updates help ensure the most accurate information with your potential clients. You should post on GMB at least once a week.’

For more digital marketing advice from Kay Ridge, join the 2022 HIA Conference. Register now!

Easy set-up

HIA member Gary Stark, who runs Stark Building Solutions, recently set up Google My Business. 

‘I must admit, I wasn’t sure about setting it up myself. It wasn’t hard, but I did have a bit of help. We have started to see more traffic to the website and increased calls to us directly. So far, we manage posts in house, but I can see the benefit of having someone do it for you.’

How to sign up for Google My Business

Kay Ridge

• Go to Business Profile Manager. Create an account
• Enter the details of your business
• Select business category, i.e. builder
• Choose location (do not reduce your client location by putting your suburb but instead the city/region where you are prepared to work
• Enter contact information
• Click Finish
• Google will now want to verify your business by sending you a postcard. When you receive the postcard, follow the instructions and enter your verification code.

Meet Dash Social’s Kay Ridge

Kay has spent the past 25+ years working across multiple industries across corporate and government sectors and advocating for small businesses.

Her Brisbane business Dash Social is a social media management agency. Kay and her team create everything from strategy to content creation and implementation. The team at Dash helps their clients grow their brand reputation, engage their audience, create lead generation and a loyal customer base.
For more information, visit Dash Social