If you’re a small business, you know by now (hopefully!) that having an account on Google My Business is a must for a successful online presence. Plus, it’s essential that it be optimized for best results. (See my blog on the subject for more information on how to optimize.) Well, now there’s one MORE benefit to GMB—in June they added the capability to post on your business GMB page.
Posting on GMB is a great way to get your message out there fast! When you add and publish a post about your product or service on GMB, it goes directly to Google Search and Google Maps. This places fresh content and new information in front of customers when they find your page from a Google search. Because the posts are intended to be timely, they are removed from your Google default view seven days after posting (or after the expiration date, if applicable).
Businesses can now create these posts on their GMB accounts using a desktop or mobile device, on the web and in the Google My Business Android and iOS apps.
Because you have the capability to grab the immediate attention of people searching for your service or product, you can capture their interest even more by featuring additional advantages to visit or buy from your business. Here are just a few ways you can use Google Posts:
Let’s look at a search for Valhalla Wellness & Medical Centers. They are featuring a September Special for a trial of their neuropathy treatment. They posted that offer on their GMB page and when you search for them, the Google results include the post. Because the special offer is for the entire month of September 2017, the post will remain until October 1, 2017.
Creating and managing posts on GMB is pretty straightforward. Using a desktop or mobile device, login to your Google My Business account. (If you have more than one location, you’ll need to click “Manage Location” for the particular location.) You’ll see the “Posts” selection on the left side of the screen.
Click in the box to “Write your post” and you’ll get a screen like the following, where you can add photos, text, dates and times of events, links and buttons for options like signing up or buying.
You’ll also be able to edit posts you’ve previously published. They will be shown above on the right lower side of the GMB Posts screen.
Do you have something timely to offer that you can include on a Google Post? Are you sponsoring a special event you’d like to highlight? Are you featuring coupons or sale items? Google Posts is a great vehicle to get it out to your customers quickly!
82% of people now use search engines to find local businesses, services and products. Your GMB listing is ideal for showcasing what makes your business special and unique. It’s an easy and effective way to build relationships with current customers, as well as attract new ones. What can it hurt? It’s free! And, you can manage it on your own with little effort. What’s holding you back?
Your online reputation matters to both search engines and customers, both current and prospective. Let us help you build trust and secure your spot in the search results. Contact us today to learn more!