Having your website rank #1 in Google is pretty important but imagine if you could use the power of Google Maps and allow your potential clients to easily search for your business and retrieve useful information without visiting your website. Google Business Listings are Business descriptions associated with certain keywords in local search results.
Google Business Listings has some great features that can not only help potential clients quickly connect with you but it can help relay important information about your business without having to look at your website. Here are a few important features:
Map & Driving Results
Google Business Listings are directly tied to Google Maps & Google Navigation. The information is submitted by a community (or by your business if you have your account setup). This information is used across the Google ecosystem. For example, if you have a business description, hours and address set properly a user may ask Google “What [type of service] are open around me”? Google will filter the results from their ecosystem including your business and provide them with valuable information.
Controlling Your Results
By registering a Google Business account and verifying your listing you can add Posts, Holiday Hours and important photos to your business listing. The Posts can be used for feature sales, important information about your location and updated products. Similarly you can use photos to describe your location or services.
In addition, you can respond to reviews left on your Google Listing and connect your Facebook account to showcase your Facebook reviews on your Google Listing.
Quick Connecting & Appointments
Not only does Google Business Listings focus on quick information, they also focus on quickly connecting you and your potential customer base. If your website has the ability to book appointments, you can include that URL on your admin side. This will show a button on your listing below “Visit This Website” that says “Book An Appointment“. This button directly links the customer to your appointment page.
In addition, Google is rolling out a new instant chat feature for Google Listings. Although it is currently only available in the US, any business listing that has a number registered with Google Allo (the new Google messaging app) can enable the ability to live chat with customers who may be viewing your listing.
Although we are not sure when this feature will be available in Canada, we are looking forward to having this available for our clients.
Looking for more information?
Send us a quick message using the form below. We specialize in connecting your business with potential clients by creating awesome websites, boosting your search engine ranking and providing lightning fast website hosting. We can answer all your Google Questions and our consultations are free!
