People are increasingly relying on Google to find answers to their most pressing concerns, and it is becoming a crucial component of how customers discover products and services in their neighborhoods. Google My Business (GMB) is a free and easy-to-use application that helps businesses and organizations manage their online presence across Google. If you’re a business owner, there are a number of benefits of Google My Business profile to increase your online presence.

Let’s go through why your Google My Business profile is vital, as well as Google My Business optimization tactics and 2017 Google My Business improvements, so you can stay up to date.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business (or GMB) is a free internet-based platform that helps local businesses market themselves online, for people who are unfamiliar with the service. It’s a tool that lets business owners customize how their companies appear on Google and make them stand out.

Your profile can be viewed and accessed by a large number of individuals because Google is utilized by such a large percentage of the population. The more visible you are — or the more frequently your firm appears in search results — the more likely you are to be noticed. It’s a more useful and creative alternative to typical advertisements.

Benefits of GMB

Modern technology has made it easier and faster to sell your product or service. According to Search Engine Watch, 50% of shoppers who use their phones to conduct local searches end up visiting a store. Given that nearly everyone has a smartphone these days, can you fathom the potential sales you could make just from organic search and Google My Business?

Creating, authenticating, and properly optimizing your Google My Business account is a fantastic opportunity that you should take full advantage of.

Low-Cost Option

As previously said, GMB is a free business listing on one of the most popular search engines on the internet, allowing you to reach a big number of potential customers. In addition to GMB,

there is a slew of other well-known directories for various industries available online. These advertisements, on the other hand, typically come at a cost, whether it’s a monthly subscription fee or a yearly fee.

Potential clients can acquire your hours of operation, phone number, website, and directions with the click of a mouse—all at no cost to you. Customers may browse your free GMB profile, which provides information about your busiest hours as well as review ratings, to get an inside look at your company.

Do you notice the prominent map and list of company names that display right at the top of the screen when you search for places on Google? It’s known as the Local Pack, and there are two reasons why you should be concerned about it.

The Local Pack is a component of the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) that displays relevant locations for your search. It also includes a variety of other useful information that any potential customer might find useful, such as the location on a map, the business’s phone number in case customers have any questions or want to make a quick reservation, shop hours, and even the establishment’s history and a five-star rating. It’s a valuable feature for both the company and the customer.