Millions of businesses have created Google My Business pages to capitalize on the world's biggest search engine and draw closer to their target market.
However, there is a majority of them that don't use the feature correctly. For as helpful as your Google My Business page can be, it can be detrimental to your business if used incorrectly.
To avoid this, it's vitally important that you learn about the different errors and mistakes that could harm you in the end. See below for an in-depth guide highlighting all of the ways that your Google My Business page might be hurting you.
1. Not Putting in the Right Name
For some of you, that header might shock you. Why would anyone put the wrong name on their own Google My Business? However, it happens more often than you would think.
In fact, this dilemma is two-fold. People either make the mistake of using their legal business name instead of the name their business is commonly known as or they try to fill in the title with keywords.
If you use your company's legal name instead of the name it's most commonly referred to, you might confuse your loyal customers. Instead, make sure that your brand's name is the same across all platforms. That includes your website, Google My Business page, social media accounts, etc.
For those of you considering flooding your Google My Business page title with keywords, please refrain from doing so. First, Google's algorithm sees this as a black hat SEO attempt and will dock you for it. Second, it will ruin your search results and confuse people that see it.
For example, say a local restaurant named “Benny's Steakhouse” was building a Google My Business account”. Instead of trying to slip a keyword in there like “Fine Steak Dining: Benny's Steakhouse” in your title, keep it plain and simple.
2. Not Filling It Out Entirely
This is the biggest mistake you could make on a Google My Business page. Not only does it make the page look incomplete, but it also makes it harder for your target market to find you.
It can also cost you a client's business. For instance, if you're a restaurant and you either forget to put in your phone number info or have an old number listed, the client will go elsewhere because they wanted to reserve a table.
Google My Business allows you to fill out things such as your website, location, description, address, hours of operation, menu, place to make reservations, phone number, and much more.
It can also list the type of business you are such as “Mexican restaurant” or “auto parts store”, as well as put a few highlights such as “in-store pickup”.
Leaving out any information is a local SEO sin. Don't let lack of information deter your target market from you. Think of it this way: you want to provide as much information as possible so that they can get in touch with you in their preferred way.
3. Not Using High-Quality Photos
You know what they say: pictures are worth a thousand words. How about a thousand customers? Millions of people use Google My Business feature to find new companies each day.
Put yourself in their shoes… If you came across a Google My Business account that had either no photos or photos with poor quality, what would your initial thought be? You'd probably assume that it was an illegitimate business.
Photos are everything for your GMB account. Make sure to pay special attention to the quality of the photos that represent your Google My Business page. If you make any renovations or major changes, be sure to update the photos ASAP. Not doing so could (you guessed it!) confuse the client.
Customers want a peek into what they're getting themselves into. If they're looking for a restaurant, they want an experience. If they're going to a pub, they want excitement. Photos can generate that for you.
4. Not Claiming Your GMB Page
Some of you reading this have yet to claim your Google My Business page. Google is just waiting for you to do so and you've left them hanging.
Maybe you just started your business and it hasn't garnered much attention yet. Perhaps you're working on relaunching your website. Who cares? You can always go back and edit it. Don't wait for another second to claim your GMB page.
Fill out all of the information to the best of your ability. Upload the best HQ photos you can find (quantity doesn't matter at first). Get some loyal clients to write online reviews for you. In other words: make it happen, cap'n!
5. Not Double-Checking Your Map Pin
Don't ever assume that your map pin is in the correct place. There are many cases in which a map pin has led customers to the wrong side of the road, the wrong shopping centre, or (dare we say it) a competitor's store.
Take the time to open up your Google My Business page and make sure that your map pin is located at the exact spot your business is in. If not, then correct it right away.
Many customers use that map pin and pull up GPS coordinates from it. If it's in the wrong place, you're essentially asking your customers to get frustrated.
Help Your Google My Business Page Thrive Today
Now that you've seen several potential ways that you Google My Business page could be hurting your company, be sure to correct those mistakes right away.
If you're on a tight budget, be sure to read this blog article for more information on how to make the most of your budget with these smart marketing tips.
For more inquiries, please begin by scheduling a call online and we will be happy to assist you further!
