How To Claim Your Google My Business Page FREE!

"How To Claim Your Google My Business Page FREE!" A few days ago I told you that, if you are a local business owner or someone who owns a local business, then you need to be claiming your Google My Business page (GMB). It is extremely important to you and your company showing up in the local search results. If you know anything about SEO and local search engines, then you know that local search is essential to your business. Why? Because local search will bring you more customers and more business and more traffic and more leads and more money. If you don’t show up in the local search results, then you won’t get any of that traffic.

How To Claim Your Google My Business Page FREE!

If you haven’t already, then you need to claim your Google My Business page. When you claim your page, you will need to verify your business location. To claim your page, go to Google My Business and get started. It’s easy, and it only takes a few minutes. What do I need to know about claiming my business? To claim your Google My Business page, you will need to request a post card from Google mailed to the address of the business. It must be a physical street address, not a PO box. The post card will have a verification code printed on it. Once you receive the code, login to you GMB account and click on verify, then enter the code from the post card.

After You Verify Your GMB You Need To Optimize It

Now that you have a verified GMB listing it's time to start optimizing it. Here are the areas you need to focus on to maximize the effectiveness of your GMB.

Go to the Info tab and fill out as much as you can for the following items:

1. Category: Limit to 3
2. Business Address: Make sure your location is 100% accurate and your map pin is in the correct location
3. Service Areas
4. Hours: Hours you are open
5. Phone
6. Website: Enter your website address
7. Appointment Links
8. Services
9. Products: Add all of your products and include photos
10. Business Attributes: things like women-owned, wheelchair accessible, etc.
11. Description: Use all of the available room to talk about your business
12. Date Business Opened

Go to the Photos tab and upload photos:

Upload your logo Upload photos of your business, your customers or anything else that pertains to your business.

Go to the Products tab and verify your products:

Make sure the products you added are shown correctly and correct them if not GMB gives you 1000 characters for each product description so try and use as many as possible Make sure your products are linked to the correct page on your website

Google Reviews

You need reviews from your customers. One way to get them is to publish a button on your website that will go to the review page for your business Don't offer any type of compensation for a good review. Google will not be happy and may suspend your GMB if they become aware of your scheme Reply to any reviews you get as soon as possible and write your response tailored to each review. Try not to use the ubiquitous "Thanks for your great review" type of response. You are allowed lots of room and you should take advantage of that to talk about your business and include some keywords.

GMB Website

Did you know GMB includes a complete website you can use for your business? This is an alternate website and compliments your main website. It is a free service and this is a great way to promote your business and show off your work. The website has a simple interface and is easy to navigate. And it is mobile friendly! The GMB website automatically takes all the information from your GMB and creates a website for your business. Anytime you create a GMB post or receive reviews or post photos - your Google My Business website is updated. You are limited to some basic formatting and you can't change the layout but this is a great way to promote your business - and again, it's Free!

GMB Posts

Ideally you should post 5 days a week for the most benefit. Your post should include a photo and be relevant to your business. Make sure you read the Posts content policy in order to make sure your post meets Google's criteria for acceptable posts.

Conclusion:

As you can see, by following these simple steps, you can learn How To Claim Your Google My Business Page FREE!. This will give you a place on the web to promote your business where millions of people are searching every day. If you have questions or need help with your GMB, let me know and I'll be happy to help.

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