New Google My Business Features Allow Small Businesses to Maximize Listings
By now Pink Dog Digital has emphasized and demonstrated the importance and need of Google My Business for small businesses. But now, Google My Business will be more powerful than ever.
On July 20th, Google My Business announced a number of new and improved features that will serve to boost brand identity and augment the impact of listings.
Photos
As a small business, it is important to have a handle on the photos being shared about your business. A single photograph has the power to attract a new customer or deter many away.
As an effort to return branding power to the companies, Google My Business has released three new features focused solely on photos.
Companies can now easily pick and choose which image they want as their profile picture. The ability to choose a specific image will help businesses accurately reflect their brand, as well as display correct logos.
In addition to a cover photo, companies can also take advantage of the new “photo display” feature.
This GMB module will give companies the power to upload various photos to be shown prominently and simultaneously.
As a whole, the photos can highlight new products and services, detail company contact information, or showcase deals and promotions.
Welcome Offers
Have you ever visited a company’s website, only to be greeted by a pop-up that prompts you to enter your email address to receive a special welcome offer?
If so, you will see the new “welcome offer” feature for Google My Business has a very similar concept. Welcome offers give companies an innovative platform to attract new visitors while encouraging them to become paying customers.
Instead of entering an email address, GMB users must simply “follow” the business in order to receive a special promotional code sent straight to their GMB Offers Folder.
Short Names
One of the major challenges that arises from Google My Business is the long, unsightly URL address that accompanies your account.
A short name serves to solve this dilemma. If you are unfamiliar with the term: short names are simplified versions of the company’s name that are easily shareable and discoverable.
Just like social media handles, the short name should be relevant to the brand, yet memorable. When your business is easy to find, the increased traffic will not only lead to improved SEO, but it is bound to generate increased reviews and ratings.
SERP Features
The SERP, or Search Engine Results Pages, should be familiar to all – it is the listing of results that appear when searching on Google.
The latest version of SERP has introduced “Local Favorites.” These favorites consist of the top 5% of local businesses in each industry category.
In honor of their achievements, each company will receive a physical badge to showcase at their location, as well as various other digital badges and benefits.
Google My Business has found that users are heavily influenced by the opinions and actions of other users.
Backed by user-to-user influence, GMB can continue to accomplish the main goal of helping users by displaying popular consumer picks in SERP.
If you would like more information about Google My Business, need help incorporating the new features in your marketing plan, or other digital marketing services, contact Pink Dog Digital at (410) 696-3305, email us at info@pinkdogdigital.com, or visit us on the web at www.pinkdogdigital.com.