{"id":8468,"date":"2019-05-29T10:00:29","date_gmt":"2019-05-29T10:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getgoldn.com\/?p=8468"},"modified":"2021-07-08T15:38:50","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T15:38:50","slug":"a-complete-guide-to-google-my-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getgoldn.com\/a-complete-guide-to-google-my-business\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Guide to Google My Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Complete Guide to Google My Business<\/h1>\n

Have you searched for your community lately on Google? If so, what did you see? If you don\u2019t see a detailed listing that instantly gives the user your contact information, a link to your website and customer reviews, you could be missing out on a valuable lead-source.<\/p>\n

Every business has the opportunity to create a local listing that\u2019s available on Google by using the free marketing tool, Google My Business<\/a> (GMB). With more than 80% of online searches occurring on Google, it\u2019s crucial to have your community set up with a well-optimized GMB listing.<\/p>\n

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What is Google My Business?<\/h2>\n

Google My Business is a free marketing tool that helps manage your community\u2019s online presence across Google Search and Maps. It was developed to help businesses gain more exposure online by connecting them directly with potential leads. By spending just a few hours creating or claiming a listing, you can start to capture valuable search traffic that you\u2019d otherwise be missing out on.<\/p>\n

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Claiming or Creating a GMB Listing<\/h2>\n

A lot of times, your community will already have a Google My Business listing available on Google. You can check this by performing a simple branded search \u2014 using community name and location information \u2014 on Google. There could be multiple listings for your community, so be sure to try a wide variety of search terms before assuming there is no listing.<\/p>\n

If you come across a listing for your community and it\u2019s unclaimed, start by clicking \u201cOwn this business?\u201d and follow the steps to ownership. If it\u2019s claimed, you can request ownership of the page here<\/a>. Once you claim the listing, you\u2019ll need to verify with them to prove ownership. The verification process is simple, Google will likely send a postcard to your community with a verification code on it. In some cases, they may offer a phone call or email option to assure that you are in fact owner of the listing.<\/p>\n

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If you are unable to locate a Google My Business listing for your community, you can create one here<\/a> in just a few minutes. All you need to get started is a valid Google account and the necessary information and images that best represent your community. When you\u2019ve created the listing, you will have to verify who you are to confirm ownership of the listing in order to get it published.<\/p>\n

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How to Optimize Your GMB Listing<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve claimed or created your GMB listing and have ownership, it\u2019s time to start optimizing. It\u2019s important to include as much information and media as you can, including photos of your community inside and out. A well-optimized GMB listing has:<\/p>\n