Blog

7 Simple steps to creating a Google My Business Account in less than 10 minutes.

Google My Business is a free and easy-to-use tool for businesses and organizations to manage their online presence across Google.

If you’re in a new environment with no idea about where to get some basic needs like a hair cut, closest restaurant, gas center, or fuel station. Wouldn’t your first inclination be to ask Google? A lot of persons have made Google their closest friend that they ask just about anything. 

Research has it that most persons who look up products or services online usually visit a store the same day. 

Google my Business is a FREE tool provided by Google to help your businesses generate local SEO.

It also helps you control how your business appears in Google search and maps right in front of your target customer. Which includes adding your business name and location, contact details, and replying to customer reviews. 

GMB makes you the first choice of your target audience. To find out how to create a GMB account in very short simple steps. Read on. 

Step 1. Create a Google account 

You’ll be required to create a Gmail account for your business. If you already have one then sign into the account and head to Google.com/business. 

Step 2. Choose a business name

In choosing a business name it is important to choose a name that your audience will identify you with. The autocomplete function will show you the names of businesses related to your name. If you already had a listing for an earlier branch of your business, this will help you avoid duplication. You can then link your account with the new one.

Even if you didn’t have a business before, this would help you choose a unique name for your business.

After this, click next to go to the next step.

Step 3: Choose the category that fits your business best

You will be required to choose a category that best fits your business. Note that this is the most important part of the SEO process. The category you choose let’s google determine where to show your business listing during a search.

So you need to select the best category. To help you do this, consider searching your competitors and find out where they are listed to enable you to make a better choice.

Step 4: Add a Location

You will be asked if you want to add a location where your customers can visit and do business with you one on one. Maybe a store or outlet. This would show up on Google maps when customers are searching for businesses like yours.

If you say yes, and click next you will be taken to the next step where you add the address of your business– Country, State, Street, Postal code, etc. You will also be asked to identify it in Google maps. This is to enable customers able to trace your business location especially those who will be driving to the location.

If you say No, then you specify where you serve your customers.

Step 5:

You will be asked if you serve customers outside your location. That is if you can deliver to your customers outside your location. If yes, add the areas you serve and are willing to go to.

Step 6:

After this, you will be asked for your business information to help customers get in touch with you. That is, adding your contact details and website URL. If you do not have a website there is also the option of getting a free website based on your information.  

Click on next. Then, select Yes if you want recommendations from Google and click next.

Step 7: Complete your verification

This is the last part and is to ensure that your business exists and where you said it does. There are three ways of verifying your business which depends on the option available to you. They include;

1. Post Card Verification
2. By Emails
3. By Phone number.

For Postcard verification, a postcard containing your verification code will be sent to your business location usually within 5 days. You’ll then input the code into your GMB account to complete the process.

Phone verification, you’ll get an automated message containing your verification code which you’ll then use to log into your account.

Email Verification, this is also a simple process. A mail containing your code will be sent to the inbox associated with your business account so ensure that your details are correct.

Once you are done with verification the next would be to optimize your profile by adding photos, business description, office hours, etc.

You can also download Google My Business app to help you optimize your account faster and reply to customer reviews.

According to Google, businesses with photos see 35% more clicks to their websites and 42% higher requests in driving directions in Google maps.

Your photos help your customers engage with your profile more and also add authenticity to your business. Your cover photo should be a picture that conveys the core of your business.

Google my business has been helping businesses especially local brands to reach local customers faster. Click on Google.com/business to get started.