If you manage a business, you understand the importance of having an excellent online reputation. Potential customers search for their needs online and decide whether or not to do business with you based on what they find.

That’s why it’s so important to have a substantial listing. GMB (Google My Business) is a free platform that allows businesses to manage their online presence. It’s a powerful tool that helps you improve your visibility and reach potential customers.

If you need help getting started, don’t worry. The Reputation Management Company can help you create and optimize your GMB listing to attract more customers and grow your business. 

Here are 12 tips to guide you in improving your listing.

1. Verify Your Business

By verifying your business, you’re telling potential customers that you’re a legitimate business and claiming ownership of your listing. To verify your GMB listing, you’ll need to provide basic information such as your name, address, and phone number. 

You may also have to provide a copy of your business license or other documentation for certain businesses. Once you’ve submitted this information, Google will mail you a verification code. You’ll then enter this code on your GMB listing to complete the verification process. 

If you still need to get verified, take some time to do it today. It’s a quick and easy way to improve the accuracy of your GMB listing and help boost your online reputation. The Reputation Management Company can help you figure out what documentation you need to get verified.

2. Add Business Hours

Adding business hours provides crucial information for potential customers and may help you improve your visibility and attract more leads. In addition, business hours let customers know when to reach out to you. Customers appreciate this information because it helps them avoid frustration if they try to contact you outside your business hours.

Adding business hours may also increase your website’s click-through rates (CTRs) from your GMB listing, which can boost your online reputation by increasing traffic to your website.

3. Select the Appropriate Category 

GMB offers you the chance to list your business in several categories, giving potential customers an idea of your services. Selecting the most appropriate option for your business is crucial, as this will improve your chances of appearing in search results. 

For example, if you own a family diner pizzeria, you might consider listing your business under “Pizza” or “Restaurants.” However, depending on your hours, location, and target market, you might also want to consider other categories such as “Food & Drink” or “Nightlife.” The more relevant and specific types you choose, the better.

Contact The Reputation Management Company for assistance in choosing the best category for your brand or business.

4. Add Images

As the saying goes, pictures are worth a thousand words. Photos of your business can play a significant role in shaping your online reputation. In the case of your GMB listing, adding images could be the difference between a potential customer choosing your business or passing it by to select someone else. 

Think about it from the customer’s perspective — when they’re scrolling through search results and deciding which business to visit, an image will make a much more lasting impression than plain text alone. You should also use images to highlight specific features of your business that you want potential customers to know. 

A study by BrightLocal found that the average listing receives 20 times fewer internet visits than listings with over 100 photos. Work with an agent from The Reputation Management Company to ensure that the images you select provide an accurate and attractive representation of your business.

5. Consider Adding a 360-Degree Panorama

Adding a 360-degree view or “virtual tour” to your GMB listing is a great way to show off your facility and give potential customers an idea of what it’s like to visit your store or office. It’s also a great way to stand out from the competition. 

A 360-degree view or virtual tour will give potential customers a high-quality immersive experience of your business. In addition, it makes your business seem more professional. And potential customers are more likely to trust and do business with companies that seem professional and well put together, with a respectable online reputation.

6. Request Consumer Reviews

Customer reviews are one of the factors Google takes into account when determining where to rank your business in search results. In addition, it helps potential customers decide whether to do business with you. Finally, requesting reviews is a great way to show your existing customers that you value their feedback.

Consider sending consumers an email after they’ve made a purchase or you’ve completed a project. You could also include a link to your Google review page on your website or include it in printed materials such as receipts or invoices.

7. Reply to Reviews

Not only do reviews provide valuable feedback from customers, but they also improve your search engine ranking. That’s why it’s essential to take the time to respond to your reviews, good and bad.

When you reply to a positive review, you’re not only thanking the customer for their feedback, but you’re also giving future customers a glimpse into the level of customer service they can expect from your business. 

Responding to negative reviews is just as important. It shows potential customers that you’re willing to listen to feedback and work to improve your business. In addition, it shows that you value your customers’ opinions and want them to have a positive experience.

Talk to a representative at The Reputation Management Company for in-depth strategies for responding to customer feedback.

8. Take Advantage of Posts Feature

The Posts feature allows you to add content to your listing that will appear in Google’s search results. This content may be text, images, or videos, and you can target specific keywords. As a result, updating your post feed often may help increase your ranking on Google’s search results pages. 

Using this feature is imperative if you’re a local business that relies on Google for traffic. By creating high-quality content for your GMB listing, you push yourself up the page so that more people see your business and click through to your website.

9. Duplicate Listings and Accounts Merge

Google doesn’t allow businesses to have more than one listing. So, if you don’t fix your duplicates, your listings could get removed from GMB. In addition, if Google has yet to penalize you, reviews and other information could get split between the listings by unwary consumers. 

If customers see two listings for your business, they might need to find out which one is correct. It may lead to confused consumers doing business with a different company. Merging duplicate GMB listings is an excellent way to streamline your business information and make it easier for customers to find the correct listing.

10. Reliable Information Across Listings

Your company should have the same name, address, phone number (NAP), business information, and other critical information across all listings, including Yelp, Bing, and the Better Business Bureau. According to a 12-month study by Bright Local in 2021, 80% of consumers contacted a phone number on a listing, and no one answered. 

Having reliable information across all listings helps customers find your business more quickly, and it also helps improve your business’s search engine optimization (SEO). In addition, when customers see that you have consistent information across multiple platforms, they’ll be more likely to trust that your business is legitimate. 

Sometimes it’s tempting to cut corners and only update some of your listings every time something changes. But it’s important to remember that your potential customers are looking for accurate information. If they see information not up-to-date on your listings, they will trust you less than other updated businesses, which damages your online reputation.

11. Include Services and Goods Provided

Adding services and products to your GMB listing helps potential customers learn more about what your business offers, which may convert them into paying customers. It will also make your business look more professional. 

In addition, having a complete and accurate GMB listing improves your chances of ranking higher in search results. It will make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for when they search on Google.

12. Add the Proper Attributes

What are GMB attributes? They’re features of your business that potential customers might want to know about before they visit or make a purchase—for example, whether you’re wheelchair accessible or have outdoor seating. 

If you’re a business that serves a specific area, it’s essential to include that information so that customers find you easily. Another example is amenities like free Wi-Fi, a place to charge phones, or parking that can make a difference to customers.

Take time to consider the most relevant and valuable attributes for potential customers, and then include them in your listing. Having appropriate features in your GMB listing helps increase your visibility and chances of being found by potential customers. If you need help figuring out your marketable attributes, schedule a consultation with The Reputation Management Company for guidance.

Optimize Your GMB and Online Reputation with The Reputation Management Company!

Follow these essential tips, and you will be on the road to better chances of ranking highly on Google’s SERPs. In addition, The Reputation Management Company can help you improve and manage your GMB listing, letting you focus on other aspects of your business. 

Our team of experts can audit your listing and ensure search engine optimization is up to date. They can also help remove unwanted content from Google’s listings and protect your reputation.

Contact our team today and start your journey toward a first-rate GMB page and a sterling online reputation!