In today’s digital age, establishing a robust online presence is crucial for the sustainable growth of any startup business. While there are numerous avenues to explore, one platform stands out as a powerful tool for boosting visibility, attracting customers, and enhancing search engine optimisation (SEO): Google My Business.
GMB offers tons of benefits for companies, specifically small-time enterprises. It is free and can help you advertise your company in Search Engines. By harnessing the features and benefits GMB offers, startup businesses can gain a competitive edge in the online landscape and effectively connect with their target audience.
This article explores the significance of setting up Google My Business and how it can pave the way for success, enabling your startup to thrive digitally. From local search visibility to customer engagement, let us delve into the world of GMB and uncover the immense potential it holds for your startup venture.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business (GMB) is a powerful free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. With GMB, companies can create a profile page on Google that displays their contact information, location, hours of operation, and other essential details. Similarly, businesses can update their profile on Google, post updates and photos, respond to customer reviews, monitor analytics, and more.
Likewise, it helps businesses get found on search engines like Google quickly and be discovered by potential customers.
What are the benefits of setting up Google My Business for Startups?
The benefits of using Google My Business for startups are numerous. For starters, having a GMB allows business to increase their local organic search, which can help improve their sales and revenue. In addition, this platform can help you provide business details to potential customers. In fact, according to Gitnux, 64% of consumers use Google My Business to look for local business details.
Likewise, for startups, having a google my business can provide the following benefits.
Cost-effective advertisement
Setting up a digital marketing campaign for startups, such as online ads and social media, can be too expensive. However, GMB is entirely free. All you need to do is set up your Google account and fill out all necessary information about your business. After that, GMB will put your business on the global map!
We all know that Google is the number one search engine in the world. And it receives 40,000 search queries per second. So, without GMB, you will be missing a lot of chances to appear on their search queries and missing opportunities to invite people to your business.
For example, if you search “meal prep service in Melbourne” on Google Maps, chances are your business will appear in the result.
This could potentially invite potential clients to your business.
Provides valuable insights about your customers
Like any other Google tool, GMB has a powerful feature that provides valuable insights that can assist you in improving your strategies and business decisions. It gives startup business owners access to data such as statistics and insights about their audiences, such as the following:
- Views – GMB provides business owners with the number of views their business profile, photos, reviews, and posts have gained. This can help you pinpoint which part of the GMB profile is getting traction and which you can use on your other campaigns.
- Search Queries – Google My Business for Startups can also help owners understand their audiences and learn how they find your business. For this insight, GMB will show you specific keywords that users input to see your listing. Knowing these keywords may help you improve your SEO and PPC campaigns.
- Customer Actions – This tool also gives information on what your visitors do after they find your listings on Google, including visiting your website, requesting directions, calling your store, and more.
Improves your SEO
GMB also significantly improves your startup website’s SEO by enhancing your online presence and visibility in local search results. Through GMB listing, you can increase your chances of appearing in the local search results. As mentioned, when users search for products or services related to your business in your area, your GMB listing can appear in the Local Pack or Google Maps, driving more organic traffic to your website.
Likewise, Google My Business can also provide an opportunity to display their business’s website URL, which can generate local citations and backlinks. Local citations mention your business name, address, and phone number on other websites, directories, or social platforms. These citations and backlinks can boost your website’s authority and improve its rankings in search results.
Shows what customers think about your business
As mentioned, GMB allows customers to leave reviews and ratings about their experience with your business. Positive reviews can enhance your reputation and credibility, influencing potential customers and search engines. When potential customers see your business’s positive reviews and ratings, it instils confidence and encourages them to choose your business over competitors.
In addition, these reviews can help you enhance your service, products, and strategy. Customer reviews are valuable insights that can help your business’s strengths and identify areas for improvement in your startup business. It can also help you identify recurring themes or issues mentioned in reviews and take action to address them. And as a startup, you must use this feedback to refine your products, services, or customer experience, enhancing your business’s overall offering.
Aside from that, reviews are another way to engage with your clients and potential customers. You can respond to reviews left by customers and acknowledge their feedback with a simple thank you or appreciation.
In addition, you can address any negative review by offering an apology or solutions. Negative reviews might heavily affect your business and revenue, especially when starting. You need all the positive reputations you can get as a startup. However, addressing these negative comments will demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and build trust.
As such, it is essential to encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews, respond to them promptly (positive and negative), and strive to maintain a positive online reputation.
Displays helpful information about your business
As stated earlier, GMB allows you to provide accurate and up-to-date information about your business, including your name, address, phone number (NAP), website URL, opening hours, and more.
This information helps search engines understand and categorise your business correctly, improving its overall visibility and trustworthiness without the need for a 24/7 customer service person.
Conclusion
Overall, signing up with Google My Business provides a valuable benefit for all businesses and startups. So, if you are serious about growing your startup business, setting up and optimising your GMB for Startup is necessary!
Do not miss this opportunity and grow with this free tool from Google. And if you need further help, let Flexilabs handle your local SEO needs. See our digital marketing services.