1) People can find you
Google has the biggest market share of all search engines compared to competitors like Bing and Yahoo. Therefore, it is safe to assume most potential customers will be doing a google search when looking for a product or service like yours.
Being listed on Google Maps is also a huge benefit. When you search for any business, the first page of Google is going to have a ‘local pack’ of businesses that are located near your precise location. This is a great discovery opportunity. Someone may search for restaurants on Google but had never heard of yours. If you come upon the map, they can become aware of your brand and location.
In the Google Maps app, the “Latest in the Area” feature is great, especially for tourists as it highlights all the great local businesses in the area. You can find restaurants, hotels, pharmacies, barbershops, and many other businesses just on the Google Maps App. Having your business on Google Maps is just another great way for new customers to find you.
2) Reviews
Online reviews can make or break a business’s reputation. In today’s world, before a customer is going to spend their money with your business, they are going to do their research. Your online reputation can have a huge impact on how your business is perceived by potential customers. A laundry list of bad reviews can lead you to drive customers away, while a vast amount of positive reviews can earn you the trust of customers that have yet to even interact with you or your brand.
If you have 1 or 2 bad reviews out of 20+ reviews, customers may give you the benefit of the doubt. However, if you have a small number of reviews and even a couple are less than positive, your business may come into question from potential customers.
This is why you want to ask the happy customers you do have to help you out and leave you a positive review. Reviews are essential to building a trustworthy online brand.
3) You can post to Google my Business
Similar to updating any other social media site, Google My Business has a feature that allows you to post content. Google gives you various post options such as a particular product you may want to feature, a business event coming up, a special offer, or just tell visitors what’s new with your business.
On the right side of the google search where your business information appears, your posts will also show up. This will allow customers to get some more information about your business before visiting your site or if they do not follow you on any social platforms.
4) Insights
When your business is listed on Google, you also gain access to the extremely valuable tool that is insights. Insights give you information on how customers find your business on google these include:
Discovery – they search for a related product/service,
Direct – They search specifically for your business name or address,
Branded – they search for a brand related to your business
You also gain info on how many people find your business through using google maps and how many people took action (visited your website or called/emailed you) when discovering you on search. Along with many other informative features, Google Insights can be a valuable tool to understand how you are being found on the internet by customers.
5) Free
This tool is absolutely FREE. All it takes is for you to verify your listing with Google, which will probably take you all of maybe 10 minutes. Your business gains all these benefits for 10 minutes of your time and zero dollars. So why not?
It’s a free tool that can make your local business more visible to new customers and allow them to easily find and contact you. There is absolutely no downside to having a Google My Business Verified account, so go to Google now and take care of it!