In recent years Google has provided a number of tools to help businesses promote themselves through search results: Google+, maps, Google+ Local and Google Places to name a few. Managing all these and achieving consistency throughout each tool was always time consuming and a bit of a nightmare. Thankfully Google recently introduced ‘Google My Business’ which brings all of these tools into one, easy to manage dashboard.
Google+ is a social media platform that allows companies to post information about themselves (work hours, who you are, what you do etc). It also allows you to post content, the difference with Google+ being that the content can rank in search results in instances where your website may not. If people interact with your content (it is shared, reviewed or reposted) it can have a much bigger impact on your search engine ranking than any Search Engine Optimisation.
Maps is perhaps the most commonly used tool, everyone has used this feature whether it be trying to locate a business or looking for directions to tomorrow’s meeting. By registering your business with Google maps it will ensure your business appears when people are viewing the area in which your business is located. You can also include contact details and your web address in the listing.
Google Places allows business to create a map listing and also display company information and contact details in search results. Users can also review your business, the more favourable and frequent the reviews, the more impact this has on your search ranking.
Google is targeting this free service to businesses eager to reach out to the many customers seeking information about them, businesses of all shapes and sizes can register for the service but it is perhaps most useful for small to medium sized businesses looking to improve their visibility.
Through a dashboard, business owners can provide information about their business, including hours, contact information, and other data that will make it easier for customers to find crucial information about them in a Google search.
The end result is that a business’s information displays in search results, on Google Maps, and on Google+, along with the ability for customers to post reviews. Google My Business members will also be able to respond to reviews posted on Google+ directly from their dashboards, keeping everything in one place.
Google My Business’s dashboard lets business owners easily keep their business information up-to-date. If business hours change or the business moves to a new address, that information can be changed easily and immediately.
Through the dashboard, a business can build an audience. My Business introduces built-in analytics help businesses see how customers are interacting with their Google+ pages, including reviews and +1s. The dashboard also pulls in information from the business’ Google Analytics account and YouTube channel. If a user has an AdWords account, key statistics will be provided in the dashboard, as well.
We would be pleased to talk through the options with you, give us a call on 0161 831 7199.