What is Google My Business?
Google My Business (GMB) is a free platform from Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence in Google Search and on Google Maps. A GMB profile contains information such as company name, address, phone number, opening hours, category, website, photos and videos, and customer reviews.
A fully maintained profile improves a company’s local findability and increases the likelihood of being displayed in local search results or on Google Maps for location-based searches.
Benefits
More visibility in search resultsA detailed profile increases the likelihood of appearing in local search results and on Google Maps.
Direct interaction with customersCustomers can submit reviews and ask questions; companies can respond directly to them.
Free marketing tool: The basic version is free and allows for an improved online presence without advertising budget.
Insights through analysisGoogle provides statistics showing how users find and interact with the profile.
Timeliness in real timeOpening hours, offers and further details can be updated at any time and appear immediately in the search results.
Costs
Google My Business is basically free of charge. Google also offers paid advertising options such as Google Ads; however, creating and managing the GMB profile itself remains free of charge.
Establishment of a profile
- Go to Google My Business and sign in with a Google account.
- Enter company information such as name, address, phone number and category.
- Perform verification via a confirmation code by postcard, email or telephone.
- Complete profile with photos, opening hours, services and description.
- Maintain your profile on an ongoing basis, interact with customers and regularly publish new content.
Access to the profile
The profile can be managed via the Google My Business website, Google Search (by selecting “Edit Profile”) or Google Maps.
Recommendations for a Successful Profile
- Regularly update information such as opening hours, contact details and offers.
- Use high-quality, professional images.
- Actively solicit customer reviews to build trust.
- Regularly post updates on news, offers or events.
- Use Google Insights to analyze profile performance.
Conclusion
Google My Business is an important tool for local businesses to increase online visibility and attract new customers. Since the use is free and uncomplicated, it is recommended to set up and actively maintain a profile.