How a Google Listing Can Help Your Business

When it comes to creating an online presence for your business, all of the websites and platforms to list your business on can be overwhelming. It can be tempting to let some of them slide to the wayside, but building a strong online presence doesn’t have to be difficult to maintain.

There’s one free tool that everyone’s familiar with - and you likely use every day - that you don’t want to skimp on: Google My Business.

By claiming your business on Google, you open up a world of possibilities.

• Things you can do once you claim your Google My Business listing:

• List and edit hours of operation, including those for holidays and special events.

• Post photos, videos, offers, and updates on your business.

• Allow customers to book services right through your Google listing.

• Respond to public customer questions and reviews of your business.

• Answer customer messages that come in via Google search or Google Maps.

• View analytics on how customers interact with your business.

Once you’ve activated your account, you will need to add or confirm the basic information about your business like your hours of operation, phone number, photos, and an overview of your business. If you want to activate a messaging option for customers, be sure to set that up within your Google My Business dashboard.

As with most online platforms, keeping your information up to date and posting regularly is key. Be sure to set up notifications so you know when a new user reviews your business or asks a questions so that you can get back to them as quickly as possible.

What tips have you found to work for interacting with customers through Google? We’d love to hear your successes in the comments!