What’s the first thing you do when looking for a new restaurant, dog groomer, or anything else? Google it, of course. But how do those businesses show up there? Answer: By creating a free Google My Business (formerly known as Google My Business).
Why is Google Business Profile so powerful?
Google My Business (GMB) is a game-changer for businesses aiming to enhance their online presence. By allowing businesses to create a free profile on Google, GMB provides essential information like location, hours, and services directly in search results and on Google Maps. This visibility not only drives traffic to your website but also increases foot traffic to your physical location.
GMB empowers businesses with insights into customer interactions, helping to refine marketing strategies based on real data. Moreover, the ability to respond to reviews and post updates keeps customers engaged and informed, fostering a sense of trust and community. With the majority of consumers turning to Google for local searches, leveraging GMB effectively can significantly enhance your business's visibility, credibility, and overall success.
● Customers see your profile when they’re actively searching for a business like yours.
● Customers can quickly get a feel for your brand from your photos, reviews, and updates.
● Keeping your profile updated is a low time investment with a big payoff: More customers.
While everyone else is out fighting for views on Instagram or Facebook, potential customers see your profile when they’re looking for a business right now, which probably means they want to shop or book with you right now. Your GMB profile gives them the extra information they need to choose you right now. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to craft customer-winning Google My Business posts easily, including what to post, when to post, and pitfalls to avoid.
What is a Google My Business post?
A Google My Business post is an update that can be added to a business’s Google Business Profile. It can include text (up to 1,500 characters), photos, videos, offers, ecommerce listings, and more. Google My Business posts show up alongside all the other profile information and reviews in search results on Google search and maps.
There are 6 types of posts available to all businesses:
1. Updates
2. Photos
3. Reviews
4. Offers
5. Events
6. FAQ
Are Google My Business posts right for my company?
A Google My Profile is non-negotiable. There’s no question that Google is one of the top ways for customers to find you, so focusing on local SEO and optimizing your presence there is common sense. A great way to get more free traffic from a place where 88% of people who search for a local business will visit a store within a week? Mmkay, sounds pretty sweet.
Google My Business post image sizes
Using the correct image sizes for each social platform and marketing channel shows you care about your brand and keeping it consistent. While Google will fit any size or aspect ratio you upload, it’s best to upload photos or videos with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Or, at the very least, keep your main subject centered. This will keep any cropping to a minimum. Uploading photos larger than 1200px wide is also not recommended as Google seems to compress them, resulting in fuzzy images. This may change with future algorithm updates.
Over 12,000 businesses of all sizes have used Reputation Boost tools to become more discoverable on Google and create engagement with their online profiles.
