As a business owner, you already know how important business listings are. Not only do business listings provide valuable contact info to your customers, but they also improve your business’s SEO.
Having a properly created business listing on Google is very important since it is the most popular search engine in the entire world.
- Google processes over 40,00 search queries every second.
- This translates to over 3.5 billion searches per day.
- Which equals over 1.2 trillion searches each year across the world.
If you want your business to have a strong presence on Google, it’s important to understand how to use it. Google offers various tools, including the ability to create a Google My Business page and Google+ account. While the two platforms are both hosted by Google, it’s important to understand that they are not the same.
Google My Business
Formerly referred to as Google Places For Business, Google My Business is all about connecting businesses with customers. It is a platform for you to list business information such as your address, operating hours, telephone number, and website. One of the most important features of a Google My Business page is that this is where customers will leave reviews and feedback for your business. Therefore, a Google My Business (GMB) page is the perfect starting point for expanding your digital presence.
Business Information
Use your GMB page to give customers a quick snapshot of what your business has to offer.
- Location
- Let Google know where your business is located so it can add it to Google Maps. This will be extremely useful for customers to find your business.
- If you are a new business, Google may verify your location by sending a postcard to it. The postcard should arrive within 3-5 business days. On it, you will find a code that you will type into your GMB page. Once verified, your business will officially appear on Google Maps.
- Let Google know where your business is located so it can add it to Google Maps. This will be extremely useful for customers to find your business.
- Hours of Operation
- Provide business hours for every day of the week.
- Add special hours for holidays when your normal work hours may differ.
- Provide business hours for every day of the week.
- Telephone Number
- We recommend using your actual phone number instead of a tracking number. That is because if your tracking number ever changes or expires, it’s likely that you will forget to change your GMB number as well.
- Link to Website
- One of the best parts of GMB is sending more users to your website!
- Services
- If your business specializes in particular services, list it here. The more information you can provide to GMB, the better. You especially want to list any services that are competitive advantages, such as free delivery or complimentary car washes.
- Accessibility
- Highlight features of your business that allow you to better accommodate your customers. This includes wheelchair accessibility, free WiFi, and veteran or woman-owned.
- Payments
- List all payment methods that your business accepts. This is very helpful for customers to know before stopping by, especially if your business is cash-only.
- Business Description
- Give viewers a quick overview of what your business has to offer and who you are! You only have 750 characters, so keep your description short, simple, and to the point.
- Opening Date
- Customers like knowing how long a business has been around, so be sure to include your start date.
- Add Photos
- When glancing at a GMB, users like being able to see what the business looks like and the people who work there. You can add a profile photo (which is typically the company logo), a cover photo, and additional images of the office, your products, and the staff. Photos will increase your business’s legitimacy and build trust with new customers, making them feel more comfortable about visiting your business.
- Reviews
- Did you know that 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a friend’s recommendation? Your Google My Business page is where customers will leave reviews and feedback for your business, so make sure it’s working. Having more reviews will help your overall SEO and help convince new customers to give your business a try!
Google+
Google+ (Google Plus) is Google’s version of a social network. Like Facebook, it offers a feed of posts based on a user’s preference. Similar to Twitter, users can follow certain people and businesses that you find interesting.
Google+ is not just for businesses like GMB is. Instead, it is there to inspire conversations and social sharing for anyone with a Gmail account. Google+ offers business profiles with features designed specifically for certain industries. Brands can even sponsor communities that users can then join.
Since it is owned by the world’s largest search engine platform, Google+ posts are immediately indexed into search results. Google+ is not the most active social network, but because it is a part of Google, it still holds many benefits and posting regularly can increase SEO and digital visibility.
In a Nutshell: GMB vs. Google+
Conclusion: Do I Need a GMB and a Google+ ?
Do you need it? No. Should you use both platforms? Absolutely.
Google is a huge player in the digital marketing industry, so any free tools and platforms they provide should be utilized. Your GMB will give customers helpful information and lead to new customers discovering your business. Your Google+ will be where you can showcase more photos of your business or share updates on industry developments or community involvement.
Above all, both Google+ and GMB will work together to provide content for Google, helping to increase your business’s SEO.