Google My Business - how to set up your online business card

Almost everyone knows about search engine giant Google. And most people use Google when they want information about a company. That's why it's important for a company to be visible on Google - and not least to appear interesting and relevant to your potential customers.

But how do you and your business do just that? Let's find out together in this blog post. Together, we're going to take a big step towards your online presence. We'll do this through the widely used Google My Business tool.

This is a test

1. What is Google My Business?

But what is Google My Business and what can it do for your business presence on Google? The answer? Quite a lot!

When your customers search for your business, they are looking for information they didn't already know or were unsure about. And of course, they need that information. And that's where Google My Business comes in!

Google My Business is your online business card that contains all the relevant information a curious customer needs to get in touch with your business.

That's why it's important that the information you enter is correct and up-to-date. Because what happens if your Google My Business is not set up correctly?

Let me try to illustrate with an example:

You have a florist in Karlslunde where you sell beautiful bouquets. Unfortunately, you've neglected your Google My Business. And as a result, you're missing out on a sale.

One day, a man is driving through Karslunde, hoping to find a shop where he can buy a bouquet. However, he doesn't know the town very well, so he searches for "florist" on Google.

However, Google shows that the nearest open store is in Hvidovre - even though your shop with the perfect bouquet is just around the corner. Google just doesn't know that because your Google My Business isn't set up correctly.

2. Give your customers the information they need

So how do you set up your Google My Business correctly?

First of all, make sure you fill in all the basic information. The information that Google My Business needs is essentially the same information that you put on your website - information that a potential customer needs to either contact or visit your business.

The following information lays the foundation for a well-functioning Google My Business and is based on the fictional entrepreneur Jørgen Jensen, who runs a reputable YoYo store.

Company name and category that describes the services your business offers. Google has already predefined a wide range of different business categories. Since YoYo shop is not a category that exists in this collection, Jørgen chooses the closest one; toy shop.

Your business address, which is incredibly important. It's what your customers need to find their way to your business. Google Maps, which many people use to find their way, pulls data from Google My Business, so it's important that the address is entered correctly - otherwise you risk ending up in the same situation as the florist from Karslunde. Jørgen doesn't want to end up in that kind of scenario, so he has entered his business address.

Store opening hours ensure that a customer doesn't go to a closed store in vain. Of course, it's important to set your normal opening hours - but it's also important to continuously update the hours in connection with holidays or other changes. For example, Jørgen likes to spend his weekends and Easter without work - and every now and then he has to go to a Yoyo conference. So he tells his customers that.

Contact information should be set up so that customers know how to find your products and/or services. Contact information includes your store's phone number and website. This way, your customers can quickly contact you with relevant questions, just as they can quickly visit your website and see everything your company offers. Jørgen wants to make it easy for customers and therefore includes his contact information.

Introduce your business and make your customers want to see what you can offer them. Like Jørgen, you can use your business description as a conversation starter between you as a store owner and a potential customer looking for the products you sell. Therefore, it's important that you express yourself in a way that makes passing Google users want to see more of your business. Jørgen has done this with a k

3. Extra tasks that give your Google My Business top marks

Once you've filled in the basic information in your Google My Business, you've laid the foundation for a well-functioning business profile on Google. Once the foundation is laid, it's time to finish building the house - and you do this with reviews and visual content in the form of images of your business.

By posting images on your Google My Business profile, you give your potential customers a virtual tour of your business before they've visited it in person. This gives them an idea of whether it's a place they want to visit - and in the best case scenario: shop in.

Images can show different elements of your business. It could be the stocked shelves, the happy staff, the atmosphere during an ordinary day and/or the storefront so customers know what they're looking for if they decide to stop by for a 'sneak peek'.

Another extra task that will complete your Google My Business profile is good publicity. Customers listen to each other and use good reviews when they use the same product or service themselves. Therefore, it's a good move to ask your customers if they would like to review their visit to you and thus 'make some noise' for your business. Because it really matters in the end.

Stores that have frequent and good reviews on their Google My Business are more likely to increase their visibility in search results. A potential customer is not interested in seeing a business that doesn't have reviews or update their Google My Business regularly.

Learn how to deal with bad reviews online.

4. Cheat codes to complete your online business card

If you sell physical products, like Jørgen sells YoYos, it is very relevant for you to create products in your Google My Business. Here you allow Google - and the users who have found your business on Google - to see what products or services you can offer. Below Jørgen has created his most popular product; Super YoYo.

Besides products, there are other ways you can invite passers-by into your business. For example, you can post about milestones or other important elements that are worth highlighting. There may also be a big event around the corner that you want to tell your customers about - for example, your store's birthday, a warehouse sale or something else that your customers will find interesting.

5. Need help with your Google My Business?

If you need help either setting up or correcting your Google My Business, we at Amplify are ready to help you further.

Please contact us on +45 70 60 50 28 or info@amplify.dk if you need
advice about your Google My Business.

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