As a business owner, your Google My Business (GMB) profile is a fantastic opportunity to get seen, get found and to impress your prospective customers. This free / easy to use listing allows you to manage your online presence and all the information that Google users find when they search for your business or the products and services you offer. When your business is found on Google Maps and Google Search by people/prospects, you can showcase a wealth of information about your business and brand. AND yes,GMB is now social.

Consider a few statistics!  Number 1: 93% of local searches now feature Google My Business listings. [Source: STAT Analytics] This is a HUGE Number for local search – and this alone should make you want to have a great GMB Listing and, number 2: 68% of people contact a business directly from search results. [Source: Search Engine Land] This is a Big Deal TOO since we already know 50% of all web traffic is on MOBILE devices – all someone needs to do is tap a link… to call you or get directions.

If you are not utilizing this GMB tool, I can guarantee that your competitors do, and they are the ones picking up online leads. And if you think this isn’t significant, think back to the title of this blog.. Doesn’t everybody google? Not everyone is on twitter or facebook or linkedin but nearly everyone has a computer or mobile device and the majority use Google as their search tool. The biggest online source of fresh leads.

The Google My Business tool has evolved significantly. It provides a knowledge panel that takes information found online about your business or even better takes the information you provide about your business and showcases is a robust, comprehensive format. As the business owner, you have full control over this listing. Beside the basics of business name, phone, web address and map, there is so much more you can do!

Google My Business is now fully SOCIAL Consider it a landing page for your business – compliments of Google. This knowledge panel helps a consumer, at a glance, familiarize themselves with your brand and determine if they want to engage with your business. When used correctly, your listing can be a spark for customer acquisition. Now you can interact and attract new business AT a time and place where your prospects are searching for your product or service, pre-selling them on doing business with you.

Take control of your Google My Business listing today! Claiming it and verify it and explore all you can add to it! From a full description of your business to photos and business category. You can share videos, posts, blog articles and even special offers! And, most important of all, all of your reviews can be captured here too. Beside Google reviews, other review channels automatically get shown on your GMB listing too when you take the right steps! Its a fantastic opportunity for exposure for your brand and business and the most comprehensive gathering of so much information to present to your prospects.

Reviews are the cherry on top of your Google My Business Listing. Reviews are SOCIAL PROOF.  Here’s two more statistics. Number 1: 76% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, [Source: Bright Local] and number 2: 77% of users don’t trust reviews older than three months.  [Source: Statuslabs]. Simply put, this means your business needs reviews because your prospective clients expect to see them and they rely heavily on fresh reviews. If you don’t have a review and reputation strategy to get steady reviews from your customers and clients, it’s easy to get assistance. Yes You Can Marketing has a special service dedicated to helping our clients to automate the process of asking for reviews, obtaining them, collecting them all in one place for easy sharing on your social channels and so much more. Schedule a call here to learn just how easy it is to get started or call 732-581-7873. We can get your Google My Business page in Tip Top shape and the power of reviews working for you!