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On Google My Business: Utilizing as a Marketing Tool

May 11, 2021

In parts one and two of this multi-part blog series, we went over some of the many details associated with Google My Business and its importance for many areas of online marketing, especially local SEO. Abbreviated GMB, Google My Business is a vital area for online marketers to be aware of, particularly in terms of claiming their local listings and capitalizing from all the related resources available here.

At Be Locally, we’re happy to provide clients with numerous local SEO services, including assistance with Google My Business as-needed. While parts one and two of our series went over some of the basics on setting up and managing your GMB dashboard, today’s final entry will look into the specific steps that should be taken – often in coordination with our pros – toward utilizing GMB as one of your primary marketing tools.

Google my business marketing

Business Model and GMB Eligibility

First and foremost, you must clarify your simple business model – are you a brick-and-mortar business, a home-based business, a service area business or some hybrid type? This will usually be simple enough to define.

Once you’ve done so, you will be able to determine your specific eligibility for Google My Business. There are specific rules laid out in the GMB guidelines for how you will represent your business depending on which type it is.

Details and Claiming

Before you even create your profiles, double-check all the important details about your business: Name, address, operation hours, phone number, business categories and any other data that will be listed as part of the GMB profile. Ensure there are no errors or problems here.

Now it’s time to create and claim a profile for each of the locations you will be marketing for your business – and there may be situations where you can set up additional listings even for a single location, such as if multiple departments are present. Consult the GMB guidelines and be sure you’re providing accurate, quality information while creating profiles.

Managing Live Listings

Once you’ve pushed your listings live, you have to manage them. There are numerous tasks within this realm, from continuously analyzing your categories for performance to uploading quality photos, responding to reviews, populating Q&A sections, adding videos, keeping to a Google Posts schedule and also continuously investigating new features that might improve your listing performance.

Continued Education

Finally, your education with GMB is never truly finished. Google is constantly pushing out new features and changing how the platform works, and it’s vital to keep track of this using social media, SEO newsletters and specific conversations with our SEO team, who will assist you with numerous GMB areas.

For more on Google My Business and how to utilize it to the greatest possible benefit, or to learn about any of our SEO, PPC, web design or other services, speak to the staff at Be Locally today.

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