Running a business is not easy. You are offering valuable goods and services, meaning time is spent bettering the quality of these things. I know the last thing you want to hear is that you should take time to manage your presence on Google. But bare with me for a few minutes, read what I have to say, because forgetting about your online presence is like leaving half of your business out to dry. People will Google you and if they don’t find you, or even worse, information is incorrect, you’ve lost a potential customer and an opportunity for them to brag about your noteworthy goods and services. Google is important – here’s how to optimize your presence on the powerful search engine.
Get your name out there
Almost goes without saying, you’ve got to claim your business on Google. Take a look at the image below. The information box on the right is what a cleaned up Google profile looks like. It takes a few moments to create and it will totally change how your services are perceived by potential customers. Looking a business up and finding nothing but a Yelp review, if you’re lucky, will immediately raise a red flag to those customers who have never visited you before. So, fill in allthe relevant information – I’m talking location, hours, phone number(s), the whole 9 yards. Google will get in touch to confirm, because they’re not going to let any loser claim your business, and that will be all. One more thing, add photos, and not any photos. You don’t need to put a photoshoot together, but think about how these are the first a potential customer will see of your business. Make it look good & show them what you got!
Keep their attention
Ok, so you passed the first hurdle. Your potential customers looked you up and saw your Google profile and now they’ve got hearts in their eyes (because we both know those photos you chose were gold). Curious, they will head over to your website. Here’s hurdle numero dos: clean it up. You don’t need anything fancy. A no-nonsense web address is obvious, so the customers will remember you when they’re passing your name around. Then you want to make sure you have accurate information and a description of your goods, services – this needs to be approachable in order to catch their attention immediately and get them to navigate a little further. Once they do, ensure there’s a clear call to action. What are their next steps? Is it to book an appointment, call you, like your Facebook page? Say it. Last, update your website regularly. Show your potential customers you’re active about your business and you love what you do (include tips on your goods/services, past events, cool clients that came to visit, etc.) – have original, valuable content. And guys, make it pretty.
SEO – say what?
In tech terms, Search Engine Optimization. In human terms, consider SEO like a checklist of things your website needs: good, relevant and accurate content, speedy performance, other websites referring back to your own site (that means there’s a whole other portal pointing people to your page), and last, user experience, dubbed UX if you want to be tech-fancy. UX essentially encompasses whether its a pleasure or a nightmare to be on your website. Think visuals, navigating, dead links, people leaving immediately, things like that. Luckily, there’s tools to help you figure this out, platforms like Semrush or Moz that provide analytics and further information on understanding what SEO means and how to tackle it.
So, what now? I’ll tell you, tweet us at @gatalabs or comment below telling us why you think managing your brand on Google is important – and how to go about it.