What is a GMB Listing?
Google My Business (GMB) listing has become one of the primary elements of effective local SEO. When you create a GMB listing for your business, you can improve your business visibility in Google maps to people in your general area and ensure that you get the best chances of being spotted on the top search engine.
With a Google My Business listing, you get to optimize for specific keywords such as “painters near me” and more. Up to half of the people who perform local searches visit stores on the same day, so local SEO can be pretty practical for you. However, it is also critical to have the correct information on your page.
This article will go through some of the most critical steps involved in setting up your GMB page. Let’s begin.
How Do I Create a GMB Listing?
1. Create a Google Account
Start by creating a new Google account or if you have a Google login already, just access it instead. From there, log on to www.google.com/business.
2. Fill in Your Business Name
If your business has the same name as another in your region, the autocomplete function will appear. This function will help you avoid duplications or add a new profile if you opened your business in a different location.
3. Fill in Your Address
This is the location where your business provides physical contact with customers. For ‘Service Area Businesses’ that deliver products or services, there are two options:
- If your business address has a physical storefront that allows customers to visit, enter the address and click “Next.”
- If you don’t have a physical address, leave the space blank and check the “Hide my address (it’s not a store)” box.
If you’re a ‘Service Area Business,’ specify the service area in question. These are generally the locations where people can find you and order your service.
4. Select Your Business Category
This is obviously critical. It will determine the type of search terms that your company appears for, and it will also be visible in your Google My Business profile. For example: ‘Roofing Contractor, Plumber, Attorney, Chiropractor, etc.’
To get the best out of this, you might want to research some of your competitors to find out what they’re ranking for.
Note: you can change this information later.
5. Fill in Your Contact Details
You should also add your business phone number and website URL. While they’re not mandatory, they will help you capitalize on features like call tracking and more.
Complete Your Verification
Generally, you have three options for this step:
- Email Verification: This is only available to a select few businesses. To know if you can access it, just check if Google My Business provides the option for you. With this process, Google sends a verification code to the email address used to set up the listing. Enter the code on the page, and you’re ready.
- Phone Verification: This is also only available to a few businesses. Google sends a message to your phone with a code, and you can enter it into the dialog box.
- Postcard Verification: Many believe that this is the most effective verification channel. Here, Google sends a postcard to the business address you entered. The postcard contains a code, which you will enter to verify your address. Usually, the postcard arrives in about five business days.
Note: Sometimes Google postcards may take longer to receive. If the postcard does not arrive after fourteen days, it’s best to request a new postcard. Just log into your GMB dashboard using same account and there will be an option to click ‘I don’t have a code.’ From there, you will be given the option to ‘mail again.’ Be sure to double check the address used is correct. Google does not allow P.O. boxes to be used.
Contact gmbXperts Today
Get started with Google My Business today. Contact our seasoned GMB professionals so we can leverage a location-based strategy that will grow your local business visibility.