SEO is important for every business, but it has become vital for the modern, local small business. A recent survey found that more than 80 percent of consumers search the web to find local information. This makes it important for business to have their online information correct. Google has recently introduced changes to Google My Business to make it easier for business owners to edit their information.
Google My Business is the business listing service many local business owners use to increase their online presence. The listings integrate with Google Maps and Google Search, so it’s a great way to increase web traffic and foot traffic. In the past, business owners had to log into a special Google My Business account to make changes, but Google has made it possible for business owner to quickly take the most important actions to complete and enhance a business listing.
To accomplish this, Google has added a simple, easy-to-access business dashboard right in Google Search. In essence, this means that a business owners can search for their business on Google, then when they see the listing, they can make edits right from Google Search.
Using the new system is easy. All business owners need to do is be logged into their Google account that has access to the Google My Business account. Once they’re logged in, they can find their business on Google Search. From there, they will see a new, simple menu right above the search results which the business owner can edit.
Google is giving business owners a lot of options for ways they can quickly edit their Google My Business information. For the basics, business owner will be able to add or correct business information, post updated hours, and more. They can also view metrics which show how many views a listing gets, as well as easily access detailed information about the listing’s performance.
The new system also makes it easier for business owners to share content from their Google My Business account. Still from the search page, business owners will be able to post on Google and stay engaged with customers. Similarly, there will be an option to share photos that can make business stand out. Business owners can even be alerted when users upload photos of their business.
There is a lot of value in making sure a company’s Google My Business listing is accurate and complete. According to research cited by Google, businesses with complete listings on Google are twice as likely to gain customer trust, 38 percent more likely to attract in-store visits, and 29 percent more likely to see a purchase.
This updated system will undoubtedly make it easier for small business owners to keep their Google My Business listing up-to-date. In the past, the amount of hoops one needed to jump through to make edits to their Google My Business listing resulted in many businesses having inaccurate information or not adding as much information to the listing as they could. Making it easier to see and edit listing will improve the quality of Google listings for the business owner and the consumers who see them.
With the holiday shopping season approaching quickly, business owners should take advantage of this new tool to ensure they get as much traffic to their store as possible. For more news about recent updates to Google, read this article on Google’s plan to label non-HTTPS site as “Non-Secured” on Chrome in October.