Everything About Google My Business

Every business desires more discoverability, hence more footfall and sales. Hence, more and more businesses sign up for GMB (Google My Business) to improve their online presence and make it easier for their customers to find them. 

People use Google to find products or services that they want to buy or, at the very least, are interested in. With GMB, your products and important information about your business, like your contact information, address, website, and much more, are shown on Google.

If you want to reach out to more of your targeted audience, a GMB listing is the place for you.   

Updating your contact information, creating visual content, and hosting client testimonials and feedback become a breeze with Google My Business.

What Is Google My Business

Typically, most businesses operate offline, i.e., they have a designated space where the employees work and interact with their customers. 

Throughout the course of a business, every organisation invests in marketing in order to generate leads and gain more customers. With the advent of Google My Business, this has been taken care of to a generous extent.

Simply put, Google My Business is a free tool that lets you customise your business’ presence on Google Search and Maps.

It lets you add important information about your business, like the name, address, and hours of operation. You can also monitor and control customer reviews. 

You may think that having a website and social media presence is one of the best ways to connect with customers, but having a Google My Business account still wins. 

A well-fitting example of this is customer reviews. 70% of consumers  tend to visit a store because of information found online, while 90% of people read reviews before purchasing.

Since Google is a highly trusted search engine in the world, having your business listed there brings a myriad of advantages.

And if you are starting with Local SEO, Google My Business is where you can direct your early focus.

Why is Google My Business important for your business

Apparently, Google My Business gives you the opportunity to connect with your customers, let them know about your business, and encourage brand recall. It is a must-have for businesses these days, and we’ll let the statistics do the talking.

The best thing about GMB is that it gives businesses a boost in customer acquisition in the long run without having to do a lot of work. It doesn’t cost a penny to open a GMB account, making it an invaluable resource for your company.                                                              

 On weekdays, local businesses receive 94% of calls from GMB. 

• Boosts online presence:

 As a business, you’d always want to be present everywhere and 24*7. Guess what – GMB does exactly that. It enables your business to appear on Google Maps and local search results (hence striking off local SEO from your list). Results? This makes you omnipresent without putting in a lot of effort. 

• Provides accurate information: 

With GMB, you can manage and update your business information, such as address, phone number, hours of operation, and website. This ensures that customers can easily get in touch with you and know when to visit your business.

• Enhances customer engagement: 

Customers don’t mind taking a minute or two to leave reviews, ask questions, and view photos of your store or office. This leads to more customer engagement and helps you build a strong reputation online.

• Increases website traffic: 

GMB allows you to add a website link to your listing, which helps drive traffic to your website and increase conversions.

• Cost-effective marketing: 

GMB is entirely free, which means you get to promote your business while getting leads online. 

In summary, Google My Business helps businesses be found online, manage their online reputation, and gather valuable data and insights.

How To Create Google My Business Account

Now that you know about Google My Business and the benefits it brings to the table, it’s time to get things rolling. 

• To create a Google My Business account, follow these steps:
• Go to https://www.google.com/business
• Click on the “Start now” button.
• Fill out your business name, address and phone number. If your business has a physical location, ensure to check “Yes”.
• Verify your business. Google may send a postcard to the address provided with a verification code.
• Once you receive the verification code, enter and it verify your business.
• Add details about your business such as categories, services, photos and descriptions.
• Set up a Google account in case you don’t have one.
• Publish your listing and manage your business information.

That’s it! Your Google My Business account has been made, and you can now use it to manage your online presence and reach new customers.

Moving Further: Verifying Your GMB Account 

Well, there are several ways to verify your GMB listing:

1. 1. By Mail
2. 2. By Phone
3. 3. By Email
4. 4. Instant verification
5. 5. Bulk verification
6. 6. Video verification

1.By Mail

If verification by mail is available, you can choose this and Google will send you a verification code. To confirm that your business is at the listed address, you must enter your unique code.

Step 1: Request your code

Step 2: Go to your Business Profile. Learn how to find your profile.

Step 3: Click Get verified and then Postcard.

Step 4: Make sure the address is correct, and then request the code.

Step 5: Enter your verification code.

While you’re following these steps, make sure to follow these instructions. 

• Don’t share your verification code with anyone, even if it includes third parties that manage your business on Google.
• While you wait for your code, it’s best that you do not edit your business name, address, or any other information.  
• Do not request a new code. 

Note: It may take about 14 days to receive the postcard and several more days to verify the listing after entering the code. In case you never received the postcard or it gets lost during transit, you can request another code. 

2. By Phone 

To verify your Google My Business listing by phone, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log in to your GMB account

Step 2: Click on the location you want to verify.

Step 3: Click Verify now.

Step 4: Select the “Verify by phone” option

Step 5: Google will call you with a verification code

Step 6: Enter the code on the screen to complete the verification process.

Note: In some cases, you might need to provide additional information or documentation to verify your business listing.

3. By Email 

This alternative allows you to initiate your Google My Business, 

Step 1: Sign in to Google My Business and select the location you’d like to verify.

Step 2: Click the Verify now button.

Step 3: Select Email from the verification options.

Step 4: Fill out the verification form and click Send.

Step 5: Check your email for a message from Google My Business with a verification code.

Step 6: Enter the code into the verification form in Google My Business and click Submit.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your Google My Business listing will be verified.

4. Instant verification

Time is a precious asset, indeed. If you want to expedite your verification process, you can opt for the “instant verification” option, and here’s how to do it. 

But do note that it does come with strings attached. If you’ve already been verified with Google Search Console, this process becomes a cakewalk.

If your business is not listed in Google Search Console, here’s what you’ll need to follow the standard verification process by mail or phone.

5. Bulk verification

Some businesses operate through multiple locations, so getting them verified individually can take a lot of time. 

This is why Google My Business has the bulk verification option, where you can get verification for multiple branches done at once. 

6. Video verification

Tip: If you begin verification on a computer, you may scan a QR code to continue on your mobile device.

Step 1: Tap Get verified, followed by “Capture video.”

Step 2: Start recording by pressing the Start button. Follow the procedures and record your video.

Step 3: cording by tapping, and then the video should be uploaded.

Step 4: Await review

Google typically takes up to 5 business days for reviews to be completed. You will be notified if your video has been validated. 

If the video technique fails, the “Get verified” button will appear. You can try another verification method.

Note: Don’t forget to remove your video post verification. Navigate to your Business Profile on Google Search. Discover how to locate your profile.Click More Menu at the top right, then Advanced Options, “Video Uploads”, then “Remove videos”.

Conclusion

Now that you know what Google My Business is and what its benefits are, you’re good to go. Not having GMB will only make you miss out on 24*7 online presence, leads and customer reviews. 

Before getting started with your GMB listing, make sure that you follow each step thoroughly to avoid delays in the process.

Want us to optimise your business profile on Google? We’ll help you right away. Our Local SEO solutions in New Zealand can assist you in taking your business on Google, overcome hurdles in verifying and getting the presence you deserve.

FAQ’s – 

1. Is google my business only for local businesses?

Yes, Google My Business (GMB) is primarily intended for local businesses that serve customers in a specific geographic area. 

But it is not confined to just local businesses. Organisations that don’t have a storefront but are in regular contact with customers can also consider GMB. 

However, there are some exceptions to this axiom. For example, businesses with a physical storefront can use GMB to manage their online presence and connect with local customers.

In general, if your business serves customers in a specific geographic area, Google My Business can be a useful tool for managing your online presence and connecting with local customers. 

2.  How long does it take google to verify your business?

According to GMB, it may take up to 7 days or even 2 weeks for verification. The time for verification varies depending on several factors, such as the verification method you choose, the accuracy and completeness of the information you provide, and the workload of Google’s verification team in your region.

• If you choose the “postcard” verification method, the process typically takes 5–14 days. 

• If you choose the “phone” verification method, it could take a few minutes.

• In “instant” verification, the process could be completed within minutes.

It’s worth noting that some businesses may experience delays in the verification process, especially if there are issues with the information provided or if there are many verification requests in your area. If you haven’t received a verification code or confirmation from Google within the expected timeframe, you can contact Google My Business support for assistance.

3. How much does google my business cost per month?

It doesn’t cost anything to use Google My Business. It is a free tool from Google. However, optimising Google My Business is a part of Local SEO services. You can get in touch with an SEO agency or a Local SEO expert according to your budget.

4. Is Google my business worth it?

GMB is free, gives you a massive online presence and an opportunity to connect with your customers, and above all, you get a significant boost in local SEO. GMB is easy to manage and doesn’t require a lot of time. So yes, it is worth it.