Google My Business Workshop

A Google My Business profile is essential for local and in-market search engine optimization. This free service will allow your business to appear in search results that match the products or services that your business offers. The GCCTB highly encourages you to create and/or update your Google My Business profile now to prepare for the influx of visitors for the summer season.

Why Do You Need a Google My Business Profile?

  • Google My Business Profiles allow users to view all necessary contact information, location, booking information, photos, amenities and reviews quickly and easily.
  • Your Google My Business Profile allows your business to be shown on "Local Map" listings, which Google displays for the vast majority of local Google searches.
  • Without a Google My Business Profile, your organic search results will be pushed below the fold (users have to scroll down to see). The Google My Business Profile provides increase visibility on searches on mobile desktop devices
  • Google My Business Profiles help both customers find your business and give you the opportunity to tell them the story of your business.
  • Google My Business Profiles allow you to interact with your customers by providing you one area to read and respond to reviews and post images.
  • Google My Business Profiles provides data and insights on how a customer searched for your business, where those users are coming from, and how many people called your business directly from the phone number displayed on local search results in "Search" and "Maps".

Top 10 Ways to Optimize Your Google My Business Profile

  • Confirm your business address is correct and consistent.  
  • Check to make sure your business hours are correct.  
  • Make sure your business is being classified in the correct business category.  
  • Add at least 3-5 photos to your business profile. Please note, businesses that add photos to their listings receive 42% more requests for driving directions on Google Maps and 35% more clicks-through to their websites than businesses that don’t. (Source: Google)  
  • Write a descriptive and thoughtful “introduction” to tell potential customers about your business. Include links back to your website and keywords and make the introduction concise and well organized.  
  • Include the types of payment your business will accept.  
  • Ask for reviews from your customers. Reviews not only help improve your search engine rankings, but also makes you a more creditable and reliable business in the eyes of the consumer.  
  • Respond to reviews. Make sure you say “Thanks” for nice reviews and pay close attention to negative reviews. Make sure you can turn that negative experience into a positive one for both the customer and your search engine ranking. Negative reviews can actually positively effect businesses if handled in the right way.  
  • Post to your Google + page when you can. Consider posting photos, sale information, announcements, news, FAQs, events.  
  • Add a virtual tour or 360-degree video of your business. Contact a Google-approved photographer (you can find these in your account profile) to have a virtual tour created for your business. This a virtual tour allows potential customers to experience how the business looks and feels in real life.

Get started today with our Google My Business Tips & Best Practices and create your own FREE Google My Business Profile. Refer to Google’s guide on the best way to get started on your Google My Business profile.