1. Ask for (and Reply to) Reviews
Reviews are the lifeblood of local research.
This is a really simple equation:
Good reviews = sales. Better reviews = more sales.
Bad reviews can also present you with an opportunity. Whether you're a national company or a local florist, it's important to reach out and acknowledge all your customers' experiences with your brand.
Hemen hemen herkes ikinci bir görüşü sever. Bu yüzden insanların%90’ı satın almadan önce yorumları okuyor.
If your reviews come with a perfect 5 stars, this is your opportunity to turn a customer into a passionate supporter of your business.
Engaging by responding to customers' reviews shows that your business values their customers and the feedback they leave on it.
It also increases the visibility of your business in search results.
Encourage customers to leave feedback by creating a link they can click to write a review for your business.
2. Talk Directly to Your Customers with Google My Business Messages
Aslında, bir araştırmaya göre iş potansiyellerinin %90’ı bir telefon görüşmesi yerine kısa mesaj almayı tercih ediyor.
That's why mobile messaging can be a highly effective part of your marketing strategy. It can increase customer engagement and help complete the sale.
Google introduced the messaging feature as a solution. Now you can enable this feature and engage with your customers one-on-one, answer questions, check reviews and increase loyalty. By enabling Google My Business messaging, you unlock the option for customers to ask you questions via SMS text directly from your GMB list.
To do this, tap 'Customers', then 'Messages' and then 'Open via App'.
You will then be asked to enter a phone number that you will want to use to chat. Once enabled, customers can message businesses via their Business Profile with the Message button that appears. It is important to note that this phone number will not be shared publicly.
After adding your number, you will be asked to verify your number with a code sent to your phone. You will have full control to turn this feature on or off and you can update the number as needed.
Google also calculates a response time for you, which will be shown in your listing. This is the average of the time it took you to answer the questions. For maximum performance and visibility with the GMB listing, it is essential to keep message response time below 24 hours.
Finally, you can add a 'Welcome Message'. This is what users will get when they start sending you a message.
3. Add Posts to Share Business Updates
This is where Google posts come into play.
Google opened the post feature to all businesses in 2017. This feature allows you to share content related to your business in a variety of ways. Some examples include:
- Highlighting a new fall clothing line with various product images
- Showcasing an upcoming event you're trying to promote
- Sharing a text update on a recent company development
Google Posts lets you add text, photos, gifs, and even call-to-action buttons, including:
- Buy
- Register
- Learn more
- Reserve
- Get Offer
Once you've verified your Google My Business account, you can start creating posts. Once the verification is complete, your 'Posts' option will appear in the left side menu.
After clicking 'Create Post' you can add text and images.
When composing your post, you should consider:
- Google allows up to 300 words per single post, but if you use a CTA button, only 60-70 characters will appear on the mobile and desktop screen.
- All text post will be shown on mobile device if no CTA button is used.
- The image you choose should be a high-quality representation of your business. Google uses a 4:3 ratio, so the minimum required size is 400×300 pixels.
- Speak directly to your target audience. Don't use industry jargon, instead focus on sharing content that will engage your audience to engage with the post.
- Google provides insights and engagement metrics for each post, but it's also a good idea to set UTM parameters for links.
After clicking 'Publish', you can browse your post in your listing.
Google posts disappear after seven days unless you set a shorter time frame.
Use Local Posts
You can post offers, events, products and services directly to Google Search and Maps through posts on Google My Business.
Posts allow you to engage your audience and keep your Google presence fresh.
They can also be sent on the go from a phone, tablet or computer.
Here are some Google-provided tips for getting the most out of Local Posts:
- Make sure each post is of high quality – free of typos, garbled characters, gibberish, or redundant information.
- They should be respectful and not aggressive.
- The best posts contain images and links, but links should always be to trusted sites.
- Links that lead to malware, viruses, phishing or pornographic material are not allowed.
- Posts from businesses operating on regulated products and services are allowed to use posts, but cannot post content related to products.
4. Book with Google
Did you know that you can offer appointment scheduling directly through your GMB? Below the menu on the left is a 'Reservations' button. Click this button and then sign up with one of the supported scheduling providers. Google will automatically link your provider account to your GBP and your customers will be able to book appointments without even visiting your website.
Many industries can benefit from this feature, including fitness, beauty, and entertainment. Restaurants can collect orders or arrange reservations online. A booking button is a direct sales funnel in your GMB. It makes it easy for customers to connect to your service without having to pick up the phone.
Google My Business Insights
Google My Business Insights can tell you:
- How do customers find your business? (direct and exploratory calls)
- Where on Google do your customers find your listing? (search and maps)
- What actions do your customers take on your listing? (visit your site, click directions, browse photo gallery, call you)
- Where do your customers live? (according to direction inquiries)
- What is the total number of phone calls and the length of time customers call?
Let's start with the most important question: How do your customers find you?
They use two types of searches: direct and exploratory.
Direct searches show your customers know your company and use your business name or address to find you. Discovery searches involve searching for a business type or category.
Once you understand how they found your listing, you'll want to understand what they're doing with it.
- Do they visit your website?
- Want directions?
- Are they looking for you?
- Are they browsing your photos?
While it's important to set UTM parameters for links, Google My Business also provides an in-depth look at what your customers are doing on your list.
%100 doğru olduğu düşünülmese de, çeşitli performans ölçümleri, GMB profilinizin ilerlediği yön hakkında iyi bir fikir verir.
There is a section on the left side menu of your GMB titled 'Insights'. Here you will find the data you need to understand how potential customers find your page and respond to your content.
Use this data to further optimize your GMB. If your images are hits, upload more. If people aren't visiting your website or searching for your business after visiting your page, you may need to add additional compelling information.
Google My Business Questions and Answers
Google Questions and Answers özelliği Ağustos 2017’de tanıtıldı, ancak büyük ölçüde yeterince kullanılmıyor. 43.000 GMB profili üzerinde yapılan bir araştırma, ‘soruların %91’inin işletme sahipleri tarafından yanıtlanmadığını’ tespit etti.
Like other GMB features, Google Questions is another opportunity to engage with consumers. Demonstrate the type of service they can expect from your team in store with informative and friendly responses.
To get the most out of this feature, post your own questions and answers to common concerns. If a question bothers you or violates Google's content policy, click the vertical three dots on the right and then hit 'Report'.