Did you know that Google processes 40,000 searches per SECOND? That’s around 3.5 billion searches a day. We head to a bar, we use Google Maps to get us there. Then we Google some reviews, perhaps search Google Images to check out what the place looks like in advance… and a quick look under Google News to double-check there’s no bad press!
Google has become a part of everyday life for millions of people
around the world and any good SEO
company in New York knows it is business-critical that websites
are optimized to Google’s algorithms. Now Google my Business is another
essential tool that all businesses should utilize. If you’re looking for a web design company in NYC,
Hummingbird Web Design offers web-marketing services to Long Island and the
Tri-State. However, the steps detailed below apply to any business,
anywhere.
What is Google My Business? And how do you set it up? We’ve got
you covered in this quick ‘how to’ guide.
What is
it? The basics:
Google my Business allows businesses of all sizes to appear across
Google’s range of services – especially in search engine results pages and on
Google Maps. In a way, it levels the playing field for smaller businesses and
arguably provides “free advertising” of sorts when properly set up. A search
for “Shoe shop near me” (or indeed “near work, home or “in Brooklyn”) will
return smaller businesses alongside multinational giants – without the massive
capital outlay usually required to appear alongside such huge businesses.
It provides your customers with a wealth of easily accessible
information on your company which will make them more likely to engage with
your brand and furthermore. Google my Business links to your Google Analytics
so you can manage your company’s online presence in a single place. Digital
bliss!
And the best thing? It’s super simple to set up. Once you’ve
verified your business details you are half way there.
Here’s how
in 3 easy steps:
- ‘Get
on Google’
Head to www.google.com/business and click “Start now”. Make sure you’re signed into your business Google account or email (if you don’t already have one, you will need to set up a gmail account)
- Search
Search for your business name and address
Then get back to basics: Check the address is correct, as well as
the name of your business. A pop-up will appear – be sure to click ‘I am
authorized to manage this business”
- Verify
Clicking on “Mail me my code” will alert Google to send an
authorization code to the business address you confirmed in the previous step
(see why It’s so important now?!) Once you receive this code, simply type it in
on your Google my Business page and you’re all set! The verification code is
sent as a postcard, delivered to you by your postmaster, not email. Therefore
it must be a physical address, your business address – and not a P.O. box
address.
Good
housekeeping
To get the most out of Google my business, it’s useful to follow
these tips:
- Add a picture – the logo of your business makes the most sense. You can add images of your headquarters/ store/ office etc. too if you like, to add a little more color and personality to your account
- Take the tour – Once verified, the opportunity to take a virtual tour around Google my Business will pop up. As a species becoming dominated by convenience and speed of service, we have a tendency to ignore such yours – this time, take the opportunity! It’s a quick, informative and worthwhile step that will give you a good grasp of the basics. What’s not to love?
- Download the app – for added convenience and to manage your account on the go, you might find it useful to download the Google my Business app. Available on Apple and Android
- Check regularly – actively update your account and check your analytics – a tool is only as useful as the validity of its information
We hope you found this useful. As a web design and SEO Company in Port Washington, we know
that a company is much more than its online presence – but a good website
properly shared and optimized for maximum exposure can make a huge difference
to the success of a business. Google My Business is a great first step that we
strongly recommend every small business to undertake. But remember
– it all starts with a strong website. Give us a call today to get
started. 516-883-3851
Leave your questions and comments below.
Leave your questions and comments below.
This is the syndicated
copy of an original article posted at https://hummingbirdwebdesign.com/google-business-simple-3-step-set/