The New “Google My Business”
We are often asked “How do I get my business on Google?” Well finally, Google has given us an easy one-stop-shop to manage our business information online.
On June 11, 2014, Google Inc. announced a new service being offered called Google My Business. It consists of a collection of tools that enables your business to directly connect with customers for free and allows them to find you on Google Maps, Google Search and Google+. With desktop and mobile applications available, customers can locate and/or contact your business regardless of what type of device they’re using – computer, tablet, smart-phone, etc.
Google has finally managed to get everything interconnected so that once a business has signed up and “gotten on Google” they will now be able to find all of the various Google Powered services for business in one location. In the past, managers struggled with various Places, Analytics, and AdWords accounts. This step is a much-needed unification of those services.
More Than Google+
While the new service makes it easier for businesses to share their information on Google+, businesses are also encouraged to add photos to their profile, set up virtual tours and add or edit information such as location/address, telephone number, hours of operation or whatever they’d like.
Google My Business also provides the perfect place and opportunity to read customers’ Google reviews and to respond to their comments. Perhaps the most important advantage to joining Google My Business, however, is being integrated into Google’s huge reach across the entire Internet spectrum and having your business name and details show up automatically on Google+, Google Search, Google Maps and more.
In addition, tied into Google Analytics, the Google My Business service will give you great insight into a list of important analytics such as how people are finding your business online, what parts of your pages they’re clicking on, their physical location when seeking directions on Google Maps and more. All this can be of great use to businesses in learning important information about their audience, about how their content is being received and other engagement and demographic data.
If you need some help getting things in order in the new Google My Business, feel free to contact me and I’ll get you squared away.