Attract More Leads for Your Startup with Google My Business

Let me ask you a question:

When a customer searches Google for local businesses like yours, do you want to show up at the top of the list or get buried in a sea of search results?

The answer to that probably isn’t too difficult. The problem is, few startups know how to make that happen. And even if they do know the magic of improving search engine results, there’s still the matter of choosing a strategy and sitting down to do it. 

But there is some good news:

Radically improving your startup’s “discoverability” is easy. And, it can be done in less than an hour using a free online tool. To learn more about that – and immediately start reaping the benefits for your startup – read on.

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Your Startup’s New Best Friend

Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool which allows local customers to engage with your business through Google Maps. A GMB page is the information that gets displayed through the Maps app when users search for companies like yours.

This visibility is important. In 2023, 93% of customers used Google Maps to find local businesses. And what’s more is that a GMB page allows business owners to directly engage with users – dramatically improving the odds of converting them to paying customers.

Not only is a GMB profile amazingly effective at attracting new leads, it’s also easy to set up. So easy, in fact, that you should do it right now as you read this article. 

All you need to do is follow the steps below.

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Create a Google Account

Your first order of business is to create a Google account. Setting up your Google account is free and you can do that here. 

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Claim and Verify Your Google My Business Listing

Once you have an active Google account, it’s now time to create or claim your GMB listing. 

To claim your business, go to the Google My Business website and search for your company. Then, follow the steps for claiming ownership of your listing. If your company does not show up in the search results, you can also create a new GMB listing by following the website prompts.

Once you’ve verified ownership of your company, you can begin optimizing your listing using the checklist that follows.

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1. Update Your Basic Business Information

The first step in making the most of your GMB listing is simple: fill in your startup’s basic information.

This includes your startup’s name, address, phone number, website URL, hours of operation as well as a compelling description.  Updating this information makes it easier for customers to engage with you while also showing Google that your business is legitimate and improving search engine results.

While it may seem a no-brainer, make sure your information is accurate and complete. It’s shown that businesses with up-to-date Google listings receive 7x more clicks than businesses with incomplete or inaccurate information.

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2. Choose Appropriate Business Categories

Once you’ve updated your startup’s basic information, you’ll then want to choose appropriate categories to list your business under.

Business categories help Google algorithms properly showcase your company when users search for local businesses. For example, if you have a lawn service, you want to show up when users search “lawn services near me.” 

Be specific with your choice of categories and search for those that best reflect your products and services. While it may seem a simple step, the boost in visibility for your startup is huge – so don’t gloss over this key detail.

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3. Write an Engaging Business Description

Once you have your startup’s basic information listed, it’s time to write a catchy value proposition.

Your startup’s unique value proposition is this: what you do, who you do it for and what sets your company apart. In other words, a quick way for customers to get an idea of what your business is all about. 

To get started, jot down a few sentences explaining what your company does. Be sure to include keywords relevant to your industry as well as a bit of personality. Your business description is one of the first opportunities you have to engage with customers, so don’t be afraid to have some fun while giving it a personal touch.

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4. Add Relevant Photos

When it comes to creating a powerful online presence, know this:

People love photos. 

In fact, Google listings with photos can drive 35x more clicks than those without. And it’s shown that GMB listings with 11 or more photos are far more likely to draw new business than companies with fewer pictures.

When choosing photos for your GMB page, select images that show both the inside and outside of your business. Customers are responsive to things like waiting rooms, common areas, your products (of course) and shots of employees and happy customers.

The bottom line of including photos is to help potential clients feel comfortable engaging with your startup. So, be sure to choose images that convey a positive atmosphere and are likely to attract users to your company. 

And if photos aren’t your thing, just ask those around you which they like the best.

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5. Post and Respond to Customer Reviews

One of the most powerful advantages of a GMB listing is the ability to directly engage with customers. These interactions can be private but are often best posted publicly for others to see. 

The reason for this is transparent communication shows your startup as being a trustworthy company. And the best way to establish this reputation through your GMB page is by asking happy customers to post Google reviews.

When a customer does share their experience online, be sure to promptly respond to both positive and negative feedback – demonstrating your commitment to your clients and their complete satisfaction. 

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6. Engage with Customers Through Q&A Sections

Beyond posted reviews, your GMB page features another way to engage with customers in an open forum: the Q&A section.

To make the most of Q&As, list the most frequent questions your customers ask and provide clear, easy-to-understand answers. What’s more is that customers can submit their own questions, which you can then answer publicly – furthering your authority and building trust.

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Taking the Next Steps

When it comes to attracting new customers in your area, few tools are as powerful as Google My Business. And by following the simple steps you’ve just read, you’re guaranteed to  experience an uptick in customer engagement.

Once your GMB page is complete, it’s your job to provide accurate information and regular engagement with your clients. It is that simple. And radically transformative when you follow through.

As you continue, you may wish to explore some of the additional functionality that Google My Business has to offer. Plus, as uniquely powerful a solid GMB page is, it’s just one piece of a robust marketing strategy for long-term abundance.

After setting up your GMB page, you can learn how to attract even more qualified leads by taking Integro’s free marketing assessment. 

The marketing assessment is a short survey which reveals the best parts of your current marketing strategy, as well as those which could use some work – and the following report is absolutely free and comes with no strings attached. 

So, don’t delay. Your startup deserves to get off on the right foot. And your customers deserve to hear from a company committed to their happiness and satisfaction. And, of course, if after viewing your free report you’d like some help putting those pieces in order, give us a call.

Here’s the first step to exponential business growth:

Take Your Free Assessment Now

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