What is Google My Business and how to use it?
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 7:00 am
For several years, the American giant Google has placed particular importance on local searches and its Local Pack , given the strong growth in so-called “nearby” searches. Among the many tools it offers to local businesses, to support them in managing and optimizing their online visibility , Google My Business is undoubtedly the one you can't do without!
In this article, we'll learn what Google My Business is buy bosnia and herzegovina cell phone number list and how to use and optimize it to maximize your local visibility and increase your in-store traffic .
1. Google My Business: what is it?
2. Why create a Google My Business listing?
3. How to appear first in Google My Business?
4. How do I manage multiple Google business listings?
Conclusion
google-banner
Google My Business: what is it?
Google My Business is a free online tool created by the American giant Google in 2014.
Its goal? To help all kinds of businesses, both large brands with points of sale and local businesses, to manage and improve their online presence , regardless of their sector of activity or status.
How? By giving them the possibility of creating establishment files and referencing them in search results . These Google files are real digital showcases for businesses. They can enter their information such as the name of the establishment, its activity, its address, its opening hours, its telephone number, its website, its photos and videos, as well as call-to-action buttons to facilitate interaction with Internet users and encourage them to get in touch (request directions, call, online review, reservation or appointment, send private messages, redirect to the website).
Generally speaking, Google My Business allows businesses to:
gain visibility on Google,
position yourself more easily at the top of search results ,
attract new customers.
In addition, Google My Business offers Internet users the possibility of:
find a nearby point of sale that meets their needs,
consult the opinions of other Internet users,
be guided to this point of sale .
Where do Google My Business listings appear?
When a user performs a local search , Google serves up the most relevant and informative business listings. These listings appear across Google's platforms, giving users multiple ways to find local businesses.
Here are the 3 locations where your establishment is likely to appear, on desktop or mobile, thanks to a well-completed Google My Business profile:
From Google Search via the Local Pack . The local pack corresponds to the area of Google where the first 3 local results are displayed following a user's query.
capture-google-local-pack-organic-store
Google Local Pack preview for
the query “organic store Rennes”
From Google Maps , allowing users to easily find local businesses and navigate to their location.
capture-cards-Google-local-search-Google Maps
Overview of Google listings following a
local search for “restaurant Rennes” on Google Maps
From Google Assistant , allowing users to ask questions and get information about local businesses through voice search.
What criteria does Google use to display your business profile?
Google uses a specific method based on its algorithm to rank the best results based on local searches by Internet users.
Here are the 3 criteria studied by Google to display your establishment in local search results:
Relevance
Relevance refers to how well a local business listing matches the search terms a searcher is using . To be as relevant as possible, be sure to provide complete and detailed information on your business listing.
The distance
This criterion corresponds to the distance between the establishment and the place indicated in the search . If the user does not specify the location in his query, the distance is calculated based on the data available concerning his geographic position.
The prominence
Prominence is based on the reputation of the establishment and is evaluated according to the information available on the Internet (links, articles, directories, etc.). Emblematic and historical places, museums, luxury hotels, as well as large brands are therefore more likely to take advantage of this criterion during a local search.
Google also considers the number of reviews and ratings of a business to assess its “prominence.” Positive reviews with comments therefore have a powerful influence on Google’s local ranking and help improve your business’s positioning in local search results.
Among these online reviews are reviews from Local Guides , a global community of over 120 million users, verified by Google, who regularly post reviews and comments on businesses’ Google My Business listings . Local Guides reviews
are distinguished by their orange badge and are given more prominence by Google’s algorithm. That’s why it’s important to collect and respond to them.
Who can use Google My Business?
Google My Business allows any business owner or manager to manage their online presence through a Google business listing.
This service is available to all types of physical establishments, whether small, medium or large, such as restaurants, stores, real estate agencies, hotels, hair and beauty salons, service providers, etc. Companies offering home delivery services are also eligible.
On the other hand, you will not be able to benefit from the Google My Business platform if you only carry out your activity online.
Whether you own a single brick-and-mortar business or a network of businesses, you can use Google My Business to manage all of your online business listings and showcase your products and/or services locally.
Who can edit information on a Google My Business listing?
First of all, the administrator or owner of the Google business profile can of course modify their own information as they wish, but they are not the only ones who can do so!
Google itself also reserves the right to directly modify the information in your business listing based on various sources such as directories, the trade and companies register, data
on your website, etc.
Users also have a role to play since Google gives them the possibility to “suggest edits” on your business profile directly from the browser (name of the business, opening hours, telephone number, address, category, adding photos). User suggestions are reviewed by Google upstream to ensure their accuracy before being published on your business profile. Owners and administrators can of course respond to user suggestions to provide additional information or explain why a suggestion was rejected. Good to know : be aware that if a user suggests an edit and Google then approves it, it will be published by default on your business profile! As an administrator or owner of your business profile, you must therefore be responsive and vigilant.
In this article, we'll learn what Google My Business is buy bosnia and herzegovina cell phone number list and how to use and optimize it to maximize your local visibility and increase your in-store traffic .
1. Google My Business: what is it?
2. Why create a Google My Business listing?
3. How to appear first in Google My Business?
4. How do I manage multiple Google business listings?
Conclusion
google-banner
Google My Business: what is it?
Google My Business is a free online tool created by the American giant Google in 2014.
Its goal? To help all kinds of businesses, both large brands with points of sale and local businesses, to manage and improve their online presence , regardless of their sector of activity or status.
How? By giving them the possibility of creating establishment files and referencing them in search results . These Google files are real digital showcases for businesses. They can enter their information such as the name of the establishment, its activity, its address, its opening hours, its telephone number, its website, its photos and videos, as well as call-to-action buttons to facilitate interaction with Internet users and encourage them to get in touch (request directions, call, online review, reservation or appointment, send private messages, redirect to the website).
Generally speaking, Google My Business allows businesses to:
gain visibility on Google,
position yourself more easily at the top of search results ,
attract new customers.
In addition, Google My Business offers Internet users the possibility of:
find a nearby point of sale that meets their needs,
consult the opinions of other Internet users,
be guided to this point of sale .
Where do Google My Business listings appear?
When a user performs a local search , Google serves up the most relevant and informative business listings. These listings appear across Google's platforms, giving users multiple ways to find local businesses.
Here are the 3 locations where your establishment is likely to appear, on desktop or mobile, thanks to a well-completed Google My Business profile:
From Google Search via the Local Pack . The local pack corresponds to the area of Google where the first 3 local results are displayed following a user's query.
capture-google-local-pack-organic-store
Google Local Pack preview for
the query “organic store Rennes”
From Google Maps , allowing users to easily find local businesses and navigate to their location.
capture-cards-Google-local-search-Google Maps
Overview of Google listings following a
local search for “restaurant Rennes” on Google Maps
From Google Assistant , allowing users to ask questions and get information about local businesses through voice search.
What criteria does Google use to display your business profile?
Google uses a specific method based on its algorithm to rank the best results based on local searches by Internet users.
Here are the 3 criteria studied by Google to display your establishment in local search results:
Relevance
Relevance refers to how well a local business listing matches the search terms a searcher is using . To be as relevant as possible, be sure to provide complete and detailed information on your business listing.
The distance
This criterion corresponds to the distance between the establishment and the place indicated in the search . If the user does not specify the location in his query, the distance is calculated based on the data available concerning his geographic position.
The prominence
Prominence is based on the reputation of the establishment and is evaluated according to the information available on the Internet (links, articles, directories, etc.). Emblematic and historical places, museums, luxury hotels, as well as large brands are therefore more likely to take advantage of this criterion during a local search.
Google also considers the number of reviews and ratings of a business to assess its “prominence.” Positive reviews with comments therefore have a powerful influence on Google’s local ranking and help improve your business’s positioning in local search results.
Among these online reviews are reviews from Local Guides , a global community of over 120 million users, verified by Google, who regularly post reviews and comments on businesses’ Google My Business listings . Local Guides reviews
are distinguished by their orange badge and are given more prominence by Google’s algorithm. That’s why it’s important to collect and respond to them.
Who can use Google My Business?
Google My Business allows any business owner or manager to manage their online presence through a Google business listing.
This service is available to all types of physical establishments, whether small, medium or large, such as restaurants, stores, real estate agencies, hotels, hair and beauty salons, service providers, etc. Companies offering home delivery services are also eligible.
On the other hand, you will not be able to benefit from the Google My Business platform if you only carry out your activity online.
Whether you own a single brick-and-mortar business or a network of businesses, you can use Google My Business to manage all of your online business listings and showcase your products and/or services locally.
Who can edit information on a Google My Business listing?
First of all, the administrator or owner of the Google business profile can of course modify their own information as they wish, but they are not the only ones who can do so!
Google itself also reserves the right to directly modify the information in your business listing based on various sources such as directories, the trade and companies register, data
on your website, etc.
Users also have a role to play since Google gives them the possibility to “suggest edits” on your business profile directly from the browser (name of the business, opening hours, telephone number, address, category, adding photos). User suggestions are reviewed by Google upstream to ensure their accuracy before being published on your business profile. Owners and administrators can of course respond to user suggestions to provide additional information or explain why a suggestion was rejected. Good to know : be aware that if a user suggests an edit and Google then approves it, it will be published by default on your business profile! As an administrator or owner of your business profile, you must therefore be responsive and vigilant.