In one of our previous blog posts, we talked about claiming your business on Google My Business as an effective local SEO technique. Now let’s dive deeper into details and elaborate on why having a GMB-verified business is truly more important than ever.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business (usually shortened to GMB) is like a virtual phonebook. This free tool allows your business to show up on Google Maps and Google Search whenever someone looks for your products and services or a related term.
As a business owner, you’re probably aware of the importance of being visible online. But online presence is more than just having a professional website and active social media accounts; it also means making an effort to provide information about your business in as many places as possible, including GMB.
64% of consumers have used GMB to find contact details for a local business.
The days of the Yellow Pages are long behind us. Today, consumers go to Google to look for nearby businesses offering the products or services they need.
GMB is one tool that gives potential customers easy access to different kinds of information about your business without them having to pick up the phone. This platform allows you to add details like your location, contact info, and office hours. You can also post updates, photos, videos, and reviews—all of which help people reach you faster when they search for things like “home improvement contractor near me”.
Customers trust GMB-verified businesses more.
A verified Google Business profile sets a good first impression and helps show people you’re legitimate. That’s because GMB has a thorough verification process. Business owners need to go through a series of steps for their listings to appear on Google. Hence, you can trust the fact that these companies are credible.
According to Google, customers are 2.7 times more likely to perceive a business as reputable if it has a complete business profile on Google Maps and Search. They are also 70% more likely to visit the location and 50% more likely to purchase from businesses with a complete GMB listing.
Your verified Google My Business profile helps you rank higher in search results.
One of the main reasons why GMB is essential is that it can work wonders in improving your SEO or local search visibility.
Google’s job is to provide online users with valuable information. The more it knows about your business, the higher it will place you in its rankings. And since GMB is the best way to supply Google with a wealth of information about your brand, you can make the search engine giant favor you over other local businesses.
With a Google My Business profile, you can also increase your chances of being included in Google’s local 3-pack.
Notice the list of businesses that show up right on top of the search results page whenever you look for a local business? That’s the Google 3-pack. They are the businesses that appear after the Google Ads and before the organic results.
Google based these suggestions on the amount of information it has collected on the businesses, the kind of reviews they have, and their proximity to the searcher.
Appearing in the Google Local Pack listings is a great way to be seen by your target customers quickly because the pack is highly visible.
According to Moz, Google My Business is the biggest determining factor of the local pack rankings. So by simply verifying your GMB and optimizing it, you can boost your odds of snagging one of those much-coveted spots.
A verified GMB lets you showcase customers’ reviews and respond to them.
Did you know that 90% of people read reviews before making a purchase? A verified Google My Business profile allows your customers to leave reviews about your products or services. Those reviews are displayed in your profile, giving you more social credibility. You can even build further customer trust when you respond to these reviews.
Besides that, you’ll also get a star rating next to your business on Google. This star rating system helps you stand out from the competition.
Overall, we believe that having a verified Google My Business profile is no longer optional. It should be part of every local business owner’s arsenal because it’s a great way to attract new customers in your service area and get your name out there.
Don’t want to go through all the hassle of verifying your business on Google? Sprout Digital can do the work for you!
We are a digital marketing company that helps small business owners verify their business on Google. Our team knows the ins and outs of GMB, including the steps of optimizing your listing and making sure you are listed correctly. Contact us at (937) 528 1423 or visit our website at https://sprout-digital.com/.
