Gone are the days when you could simply open up a phone book and find any business in your area. Google Maps is how people navigate these days.
This means that if your business isn’t listed on Google Maps then you’re missing out on potential customers.
This article will walk you through how to get your business listed on Google Maps so that it will show up anytime someone searches for businesses in your area.
What is Google Maps?
Google Maps is a map service offered by Google. It offers satellite imagery, street maps, and even a Street View option for when you want to see how it looks at ground level.
In order for your business to show up in these options then it needs to be listed on Google’s databases, according to https://collaboratepros.com/.
When someone searches the area that your business is located in then they will have access to businesses that are listed on Google Maps if yours isn’t showing up yet.
Why is Google Maps Important for Businesses?
Having your business listed on Google Maps is how you gain potential customers.
This means that if someone searches for a product or service like yours then they will be able to see how close the nearest businesses are and how quickly they can get there from their current location.
If you’re not showing up in these results then chances are good that people aren’t finding your website which could result in loss of sales or revenue.
Benefits of Being Featured on Google Maps
Being featured on Google Maps is absolutely essential for any business. Here are some of the benefits of having a Google Maps listing:
You’ll Achieve More Online Visibility
Having a Google Maps listing means that your business will show up on local searches which can lead to increased online visibility.
People tend to search using the shortest route possible and they want to know how many minutes it takes them before driving there so having accurate times on your location is important for this reason.
This also comes into play when you’re trying out new advertising strategies since people who are searching in one area may not travel far from home if their time estimates aren’t accurate enough.
You’ll Surpass Your Competitors
If your business is listed on Google Maps and a competitor isn’t then you’ll have the upper hand.
This means that people will be able to see how quickly they can get from their current location to your establishment while competitors are invisible in comparison.
They may simply opt for going somewhere else rather than driving out of their way because it takes too long or doesn’t sound appealing enough at first glance.
Your Customers Will Trust You More
People tend to trust businesses that are listed online.
If your business is visible on Google Maps then it’s more likely that customers will choose you over a competitor.
This is because they can see how quickly they’ll be able to get there from their current location, how long it takes, and how accurate the estimated time of arrival is displayed for them.
Your Business Will Be Found Easier
Having a local listing means that people in close proximity to your establishment will have an easier time finding your website or business.
This provides better chances at earning revenue through sales since these prospects didn’t need to do much work besides clicking a link before reaching out to you.
More Customers Will Visit Your Website
Having a Google Maps listing means that people will have easier access to your website or business.
This makes it more likely for them to visit since they’ve already taken the first step in becoming an actual customer of yours.
If you’re not listed on Google Maps then how are these prospects going to find out about how close you are?
If they aren’t finding this information online, then how else would they know what types of things interest them while browsing local businesses.
How To Get Your Business on Google Maps
Creating a Google Maps listing isn’t too difficult. In fact, here are the steps for getting featured on Google Maps.
Create a Google Account
This is how you’re going to access Google Maps.
It’s free and easy so there isn’t any reason for not having one since it can really help your business in the long run.
Enter Your Business Information
Once you’ve created an account then you’ll need to enter some information about your establishments such as its name, address, location type (i.e., restaurant), hours of operation, phone number along with other details like website URL or daily deals/coupons if applicable at this time.
Add Photos & Videos
If your business offers unique features that might attract someone who hasn’t visited before then uploading photos or videos will definitely be a plus! This way they get more insight into how interesting or fun your business is and can get a better feel of how it might be like to visit.
It’s also important for businesses who offer tours since they’ll want to make sure that you’re able to accommodate them before making the trip out.
Verify Your Listing Information
Once you’ve entered your business information and added photos & videos then it’s time to verify the listing.
To do this, send a postcard with a verification code on it via snail mail to make sure that someone at the address has access to how Google Maps is being used by an authorized party.
You can also call their phone number listed within Google My Business if anything seems suspicious since they’ll be able to provide more details about how exactly these features work beyond just reading out how things are supposed to go over email or something of that nature.
Optimize Your Listing for SEO
This is how Google will know how to classify your listing.
For example, if you’re a restaurant then you’ll want to specify what kind of cuisine they serve along with any signature dishes that make them stand out from the crowd in terms of food quality or flavor profiles.
It’s also important for businesses who offer tours since they’ll want to make sure that they are able to accommodate people before making an appointment/trip out there.
This way they can get more insight into how interesting or fun it is and how it might be like when visiting.
Add Any Additional Categories
If there are other categories related to your business’ industry that weren’t included by default during setup but still apply then these can be added at this point.
For example, if you’re a restaurant then the categories that could be included are grocery and convenience shopping and drinks or other cuisines such as Italian, American pub food, etc.
Once everything has been filled out correctly, then it’s time to create a map marker which is how people will see where exactly on Google Maps this establishment can be found.
Create a Map Marker
To do this, you’ll want to click on the Add button from within Google My Business and then select how it will be represented as a marker.
This can either be an image or map pin that represents your business which is how people will find out about how close you are.
If they aren’t finding this information online, then how else would they know what types of things interest them while browsing local businesses?
When adding a photo/map pin make sure not to use images that contain any type of graphics or logos since these might get rejected if there’s some sort of copyright infringement going on here.
Create a Landing Page for Your Website
This is how you’ll be able to create a page that will act as the main hub for all of your business’s important information and get the results you’re looking for.
Once this has been created then it’s time to add some content onto their website which should include more details about how exactly Google My Business works along with making sure any social media links are available at the very least.
Create Additional Landing Pages
If there are additional pages on your site beyond just one (i.e., “About Us” or others) then these can also go here in addition to creating new ones if they don’t already exist but aren’t necessary either since people who want basic info may not care too much about what might happen behind-the-scenes.
Hire a Digital Marketing Agency to Help
If you’re too busy, overwhelmed, or just plain uninterested in how these features work then it’s time to hire a professional digital marketing agency.
This is how Google Maps listings will be able to stand out from the crowd and how new customers can find your business easily online.
This could lead them into wanting more information about what else might also interest them on your site as well since they’ll see that there are additional pages available for reading.
Ready to Get Featured in Google Maps?
As you can see, learning how to get your business on Google Maps isn’t too challenging. Creating a Google Maps listing is pivotal for receiving maximum online visibility.
To learn more about this subject, continue reading our blog for more helpful articles.
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