Inquiring a bit about the subject, you have discovered Google My Business, a free service that integrates Google's search and map functions, to be easily visible and identifiable on the Internet. You would therefore like to use it for your own purposes, but you are not sure where to start. Well: if that's the case, don't worry. I'll explain how Google My Business works.
By configuring the service in great detail, you will create a real communication channel with existing customers and you can easily reach new ones, in order to grow your business (or that of a person you want to help). Good reading and good luck: you will find everything explained below!
Index
What is Google My Business
Google My Business is more than an online profile: it is a sort of small page dedicated to a business (shop, restaurant and any other commercial activity) which allows you to tell its story, to be traceable with the most useful information and to interact with current and current customers future ones. All in a manner Delivery to Italy takes one or two business days (hopefully, you can consider using Google Ads to promote your paid business).
Has a double visibility system: if, for example, you want to know which pizzeria in your area does home deliveries, just start a search on Google and, among the first results returned, the pizzerias present on Google My Business will appear. You will see small ones images accompanied by information most useful, including the orari di apertura and the number of stars, i.e. the summary of reviews written by customers.
By clicking on the name of one of the pizzerias returned by the search, you will have access to the most useful information: number of phone, address and position up Google Maps, link to website of the commercial activity, a scheme of the times where this is more frequented, the possibility of ask questions to managers or owners and, last but not least, the already mentioned possibility to write yours review.
The other visibility system it is possible thanks to Google Maps: imagine you have to go to another city and, looking for your destination address on the maps, you will also be shown the businesses near the place you need to go. So you'll know where you can eat or stay overnight or, why not, that there's a bookstore nearby that you can't help but drop by.
So here's what to understand how Google My Business works and using this service is of fundamental importance for the growth of your business. So here's how to do it.
How Google My Business works
You can create a Google My Business profile and manage it easily, even if there is no publicly accessible place of business. The only rules to be respected are those relating to clarity and sincerity of the information provided: since Google My Business aims, among others, to retain current customers and expand them, telling half-truths is not helpful.
How to create a Google My Business profile
Once you've completed the preliminary steps above, you need to create a Business Profile. So, connect to the main page of Google My Business or, if you feel more comfortable in theuse Google My Business from a smartphone or from tablets, download the appropriate application available for Android and iOS/iPadOS. The steps to take are practically the same.
To start, access with your account. Therefore, enter theemail address through which you want to create the Google My Business profile (address that must be the same with which you will manage it) and, in the field below, enter the relative Password. If you're already signed in to your Google account, you can just click the button Manage.
After this step, you arrive at the page Find and manage your business which should not lead you into confusion: its purpose is to find your business if you have already created the Google My Business profile. You can skip it by clicking on the writing Add your business to Google.
Now let's get to the heart of things, among other things with a very delicate passage (in any case, if you do something wrong, don't worry, there will be a way to fix it): on this page you need to enter the name of the business. As you type it, the field at the top will return profiles with similar names already created by someone else.
There can't be multiple businesses with identical names, so you may be asked to use your imagination, perhaps adding the city where the business takes place. When you have entered a unique name, a box will appear immediately below the entry field with the name of the activity accompanied by the writing Create a task with this namewhich you need to click.
The second field, the one immediately below, requires you to enter the category, but sticking to the ones that are suggested to you as you type (e.g. Takeaway restaurant), because you can't add any. Then click on the button NEXT to reach the page through which to enter the activity in Google Maps.
If your business has a location that customers can reach, such as a store or office, you'll need to tick the option Yesotherwise you will have to select the item No. Then click on the button NEXT and optionally indicate if there is a delimited area where the business offers its products or services.
When you have entered an area, it will be visible immediately below the field where you typed it. If you made a mistake, click on X to the right of the zone itself, so that it is erased. When the result satisfies you, click on the button NEXT, to continue.
You are now on the page What is the adress?: by clicking on the first field at the top, scroll until you find Italy (if your business is located in Italy, of course). Then click on the field Address and type in the exact street where your business is located, including the House number. You will be returned a list of identical addresses but located in different cities. You have to click on the right item, i.e. the one of the relevant city. The fields Postal code, City e Province will be filled in automatically: if something is not right, check the field again Address or, by clicking on the wrong field, you can correct it manually.
Click on the button now NEXT and you will get to the page Where are you? to correct, if necessary, the positioning of the indicator of the coming activity displayed in map placed on the right. You can enlarge it with the scroll of the mouse, while by clicking on it you can drag the indicator to a more correct position, if the one indicated is not accurate.
Once this operation has been completed, click on the button NEXT to fill out the page Do you also offer your services outside of this location? Also in this case, there are only two possibilities: if home deliveries are foreseen, tick the option Yes, otherwise select No. In case of delivery, you must add the areas reached by the delivery.
After that, you will come to the page where the telephone number of the activity and, immediately below, his website. If the site isn't there, check the option I don't need a website (if you want, you can also create one at the moment, by selecting the appropriate option). Go then forward and choose whether to receive updates relating to the My Business service.
There are still a few steps to take. By clicking on the button Continue you are asked to enter the orari di apertura of the activity. The specific page is presented with i days of the week listed one below the other, starting on Monday. Next to each day is a switch. Therefore, activate the switches relating to the days on which the business is open and use the drop-down menus that appear to also indicate the times. When finished, click on the button NEXT.
Now all you have to do is establish a relationship with customers and, to do so, leave the switch offered to you on the page Add messaging. This feature allows those who visit the profile to chat with those who manage the business. Since a communication channel only makes sense if you can respond in real time, I recommend that you leave the switch on only if you are able to guarantee a quick response from customers. You can also set this function later: in that case click on the button Ignore.
Now click on the button NEXT and you will be on the page dedicated to Mode of consumption: answer these last ones, go NEXT and enter one description of the activity, short and concise (cannot exceed 750 characters) that is sober but original.
Then click on the button NEXT and prepare the Photos that you want to associate with your Business Profile on Google My Business. I advise you to use, in this phase, photos of the headquarters of the business, for example by framing the shop window or the sign. There will be a way to upload photos of the dishes in the next step. If you don't want to add images, click on the button Ignore.
Also completed the upload of photos, there you are. From the panel that appears on the screen, you can change any parameter of your Google My Business profile by selecting it from the left column and clicking on the item you want. From the same menu you can also view the statistics of your activity, view the Message and more - it's all very intuitive.
How to verify activity on Google My Business
Once you have finished creating it, the Google My Business profile will not be immediately active. It will only be after postcard verification. Until then, it will be "frozen". In fact, Google wants to make sure that you really have the right to run the business you've created.
When the letter carrier delivers the postcard, connect again to the Google My Business profile and, if necessary, log in by entering theGmail indirizzo used to create it and, later, the relative Password.
Then click on the item Home that appears in the bar on the left on PC, or, if you are a smartphone, tap on the tab Home located in the lower left. Then click on the item Enter verification code and type the activation number printed on the postcard in the appropriate text field. Finally, press the blue button Verifica And that's it.
How to respond to reviews on Google My Business
When will the first ones arrive? reviews on the Google My Business profile, you must take care to read them and politely respond to them. Not responding to reviews, whether positive or not, is harmful: you always have to respond, it affects the image of the business and the courtesy of those who work there.
To reply to customer comments, you must connect to the Google My Business profile and, from the left sidebar, choose the item Reviews. From a smartphone, you have to tap on the icon instead Clients che trovi in basso.
Then press the button Reply located immediately below the review of your interest, type the answer in the appropriate field and then press the button Post reply.
Once this is done, two buttons will appear below your answer: Modification ed Delete. You can use it, as you certainly understand, to change your review or to trash it.
For more information
Google My Business is a flexible and powerful tool. What I gave you are just the basics to start with.
To learn more about the operation and use of the service, refer to the official documentation released by Google. You will surely find all the answers to the questions you may still have about this very useful service.
