NATDA Magazine Sep/Oct 2020 | Page 58

If your listing has not received any reviews in a few months , it is time to get some new ones . Do not fear about the possibility of negative ones , either . Studies have shown that a perfect 5.0 rating can seem unrealistic . The easiest way to start getting reviews is to involve your entire team . For every positive interaction with a customer , there should be a review request that immediately follows .
2 - Photos Represent your brand , products , services , and more by regularly updating photos to your listing . Photos attract engagement with your profile , which impacts visibility . While the focus should be on quality over quantity , it is recommended that new photos be uploaded at least once per week . It is also important to remember the purpose behind uploading photos should revolve around your customers , not to simply rank higher .
3 - Services Offered How can you let searchers know your business provides a service they need ? Google My Business allows you to add services to your listing either by choosing from autosuggestions or by adding your own custom service .
4 - Product Highlights There are two methods to choose from when adding products to your Google My Business profile : ( 1 ) Add individual products you would like to highlight or ( 2 ) Add product categories to show a more generalized product offering . Products can then be linked to pages on your website which means a user can discover your listing , browse your products , click-through to your site , and make a purchase .
5 - Google My Business Posts Like products , you can link a post directly to a page on your website . Posts are incredibly easy to create and effective in terms of increasing engagement . One of the easiest ways to get in the habit of publishing posts is to incorporate Google My Business into your social media strategy .
Written by Rachel McMahon , Anvil Media , Inc .
Google My Business is a free platform that allows businesses to connect with customers . The goal of your listing is to let your customers know you provide what they need and that you are a reputable business . While the standard details such as your company name , address , and phone number are important , there are several other features , crucial for SEO , to utilize .
1 - Google Reviews 97 % of people say reviews affect their buying decision . Google reviews not only confirm your trustworthiness but can prove you truly care about your customers . However , overall rating is not the only thing that matters – the number of reviews is important .
6 - COVID Updates Google recently added new attributes that allow businesses to communicate how they are operating during unpredictable times , including Online Care , Online Appointment , Online Estimates , and Online Classes . Optimizing your Google My Business listing for COVID-19 times will show customers you are still operating and available to them .
For more about Anvil Media , visit www . anvilmediainc . com or tune in to President Kent Lewis ’ seminar during the 2020 Virtual NATDA Trailer Show !
58 NATDA Magazine www . natda . org