It’s a free piece of Google-integrated software that helps improve your business’s visibility online. If you’ve ever looked up a local restaurant or hair salon, you will notice a box on the right of your screen with all of that business’s information – that’s Google My Business.

What Information Can I share?

Have you ever tried to Google a business and thought, “I can’t find anything about this place”? Well, that company certainly wasn’t using this free service. Almost everything a new or returning customer could need to know about your business can be uploaded to there.
This includes:

• Opening Hours
• Contact details
• Business Address – integrated with Google Maps
• A link to your website
• Links to your social media profiles
• Photos of your business – including location and products and services
• Call-to-action buttons like “Reserve a table”, “Call,” or “Directions.”

People move quickly online; they want as much information as they can gather in as little time as possible. Google My Business gives searchers everything they need for a fast internet search. Anything specific can be found by contacting your business or browsing your website—something they will know how to find because you can share it via Google My Business.

Why Should I use Google My Business?

Aside from the benefits of listing important information for your customers and pushing your business to the top of Google’s search list, this is a great way to establish your business in your community and interact with customers.

Once registered with Google My Business, Google logs the kind of business you have and where to help make suggestions to searchers. For example, if you run a café in Aldgate and someone Googles “cafés in Aldgate”, poof! There you are.

It also allows customers to leave reviews and share photos of their experience with your business. Good or bad, reviews do help keep you and your business accountable. It’s always best to respond to all reviews (not just the good ones) but avoid getting into debates with commenters.

Additionally, Good reviews encourage more people to check out your business and a fair number of reviews help give legitimacy to your company – they make you look more real online!