How to Create a Google My Business Profile

How to Create a Google My Business Profile:

The key to many successful business stories is marketing. When goods and products are marketed in the best way, the business is flourishing as it brings money inside the business. What is the secret of many successful businesses when it comes to marketing? These days, the answer should be digital marketing.
Digital marketing is the form of marketing that uses the internet, computers, and mobile phones in order to reach the target audience. 
One of the best forms of digital marketing is having a Google My Business profile.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is one of the most effective online tools that help businesses be visible in Google search and Google Maps. It is necessary to have this because it allows more people to see your business. The goal of every local business is to appear on Google’s first page. Internet presence is very important for businesses because these days, people are also going digital. 

Steps in Creating a Google My Business Profile

Starting your own Google My Business profile is easy, and here are the steps:

1. Prepare your Google Account; if you do not have one yet, then you’d better create one
2. Go to Google My Business and click the Start Now button
3. Enter the name of your business, your complete address, your phone or your contact number
4. Choose a category for your business. There will be a drop-down list, so choose the category that best describes your business
5. Choose your service area. This is common for businesses that offer services. Choose areas where you can serve through deliveries. 
6. Finish creating your business profile.

Creating your profile is not the end. You also need to claim your Business Profile. Here are the steps on how to claim your business:

1. Search for your business by typing the name of the business
2. Check the details that you have input before
3. Click continue to proceed to the verification
4. Once it is verified, you can claim your business already

Another essential step of claiming the business is verifying your business. Many businesses do not find this essential but verification is important because you cannot proceed to the next step of claiming your business. Moreover, verification is proving that your business is a real one.
There are different ways of verification that you can choose from, and here are the most common ones:

1. Verification by postcard - Once this way of verification is chosen, you are going to input your address and who will receive the postcard. Once you are sure about it, you can click the word verify now. In most cases, verification takes 14 days because the postcard does not come immediately.
2. Phone Verification - There are two ways that you can verify with your phone. Either Google sends you a code, or you are going to get a  call.
3. Email Verification - This is a common way of verification where Google sends an email with a verification code. 

How to set up Google My Business for Local SEO?

Clients use Google very often because it is the most famous search engine. In fact, people search Google first before availing of a service or buying a certain good. This is the reason why businesses should set up their Google My Business account immediately. How can you set up your GMB for local SEO? You have to optimize your GMB profile. Here are the steps in optimizing your profile.”

• Complete your profile and make sure that the information is all the same on your website, your social media and your Google My Business profile. A complete profile includes your business name, your complete address, and a working phone number.
• Verify your Business by following the steps that were given above. Remember that Google wants to understand your legitimacy as a business, so this step is essential.
• Update your posts by uploading photos, videos, offers, and so one. Keeping your audience updated makes them understand that your business is still operational. Also, when you keep your audience updated, they will visit your website and increase your traffic. 
• Ask for reviews from your clients. Make sure that you answer the reviews, whether they are positive or negative ones.

Is Google My Business free?

Yes, Google My Business is a free tool. As of writing, Google has not asked for fees when you are going to make an account. This is why businesses should start setting up a GMB account because Google is not yet asking for any fees for it. 

Conclusion:
Having a Google My Business profile is the best marketing tool that your business should have. It is free, and it has proven to be effective. Setting up a GMB profile is easy and will not take a lot of time.

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