Any business owner will tell you, the best advertisement is word of mouth. But it’s impossible to get people talking about your business if it is not easy to find on major search engines. Listing your business on Google is imperative to gaining word of mouth in today’s online marketing landscape. By following this simple process to add or claim your business listing on Google, you will increase visibility and potential traffic to your small business.
Set up an account
Simply visit business.google.com and click the ‘Start Now” button. This will prompt you to enter your business’ name and information.
One particular area to pay close attention to is the ‘category’ section. In order to reach the right audience, be sure to be specific. If your primary draw for customers is slot machines, for instance, you might want to choose “Gambling House” in order to show up in search engine results for people searching for nearby gaming locations. If you own a small bar that also happens to have one video gaming machine, simply listing yourself as “Bar” or “Bar & Grill” might be a better option.
Customize it!
After you have completed the account set up process, there’s an optional web design aspect that Google My Business offers. This service is free, and draws information from what you have already provided Google. If you need a quick and easy way to put together a site, this is a great option. It is very user friendly, does not require web design knowledge and can be built upon and added to as your business continues to grow.
If you already have a website, simply add the URL to your listing, and you will be directed to a new screen containing your new Google My Business profile. Here, you can continue to manage your listing, add any other locations you might have, and also set up additional users on the account if need be.
Be sure to include as much information about your business as possible. Attractive photos to entice customers to visit your location is one good place to start. By customizing your profile and adding as much relevant information as possible, you boost your search engine optimization (SEO) rankings, and enable more people in the Illinois video gaming market and beyond to discover your business online.
Keep it current
Remember, online tools are only effective if they are properly maintained. Make sure to verify your account after creating it, and keep all information current and relevant. Nothing is worse than looking up a business online, only to show up in person to find that they have changed locations or are closed. Keeping an eye on your account and updating the details if things change helps you stay credible to potential customers.