- Check your knowledge base listing details for accuracy.
- Upload great images that related to your business.
- Answer people’s questions in the Google listing q&a before somebody else does it for you.
Google local has been around for a number of years now, but it’s really become an essential marketing tool for those companies that live and die by local traffic into their stores.
With “near me” searches growing each day, businesses need to make sure they can not only be found on Google, but also showcased in the best way so that customers will choose their Mocha Latte over the other 3 coffee shops offerings in the neighborhood.
And with all the changes Google has made recently to make it so much easier for businesses to own and manage their listings, it’s simpler than ever to make sure they stop at yours. Well, with a little work on your end.
This even includes big box stores that have the big marking departments and huge budgets to promote themselves at the local level, but I’m just going to hit on the smaller places that may not have that kind of marketing support to get themselves noticed in the way of the big boys. The coffee shops and restaurants, boutiques and epicurean markets that can really benefit from those thousands of daily “near me” local Google searches.
These companies can really create a lot of value with minimal effort, just by taking ownership of their listing… And trust me you want to be the one showcasing your brand here and not let others dictate how you are likely viewed. There are a few little things that will cost you only a few hours a week… Just minutes a day… And could very well make all the difference as to how you are perceived by potential customers.
How Exactly Now?
1. Make sure your details are correct. Hours of operation, suite numbers, and phone are all how people will know when, where and how to get in touch.
There is nothing worse than a bad first impression, and driving all the way to a shop expecting it to be open just to find the doors locked, leaves nothing but a bad taste in a customer’s mouth along with a bad review attached to your business.
2. Upload amazing images of your products, services, location, storefront, whatever it is that showcases what it is that you do in the best light.
If you don’t, you are just waiting for a lot of bad images to be uploaded by people snapping pics from their 5-year-old cellphones. Also, make sure that your images are updated regularly. If you add things to the shop, change the signage, update the facade, make sure to take pictures and update your listing as well. You can even ask Google to take down old images of they are not relevant anymore.
3. Take a couple of minutes every week to see if anyone has asked questions about your business on your Google Knowledge Panel, and then answer them yourself.
People always need more information than is on the front door to a business. They are also way more comfortable than ever to ask publicly now that Google has given them a way to do so. Make sure you are the one answering these questions and not somebody unrelated to your business.
There are a whole bunch of other little tips, tricks and things that will help you stand out from the rest on Google local, but these are a great start. You can also look for Google certified photographers as well as Google local experts to help fill in the blanks.
I’m also working on a guide to help you really bring your business to life on Google. Stay tuned.
