Today,

I suggest you go through the complete guide (MEGA GIGA) of everything you need to know to create and manage a Google My Business listing

This blog post will allow you to have all the keys, to create your own Google My Business listing in concrete! This page will have no secrets for you and you will be aware of all the tips and tricks I wish I had known when I started.

Maybe you think 👇 

💬 "I don't understand it at all, a Google My Business listing can only be designed by an SEO Expert" 💬

But noooooo, No Stress because as you'll see, it couldn't be easier! Ok, there are a few rules to know but this blog post was designed to bring you a well thought out Process on a plate

So grab a little Kombucha, get comfy, and let's go kiki, I'll explain everything 🤓

Here is what we will see together

1. What is Google My Business?
2. Why and what is the interest of using Google My Business?
3. How to create a Google My Business listing in 4 steps?
4. How to manage your Google My Business listing in 3 steps?
5. How do I remove a review from my Google My Business listing?
6. What are the 6 "surprise" features of Google My Business?
7. 9 questions to ask yourself to generate more leads with Google My Business
8. My 7 Tips for Creating a Solid Google My Business Listing

Don't feel like reading? (even though this article will only take you 19 minutes to read, watch in hand⌚)

Watch the YouTube Video: Complete Guide to Creating and Managing a Google My Business Listing (Free PDF)

On the channel, I talk about Webflow, Design and Business and if you're interested in the topics don't forget to like and subscribe to the channel.

1. What is Google My Business?

1. It is a 100% free and "essential" marketing tool for any brand or company that wants to be more visible on the internet
2. In short, it is an "Establishment File" which indicates to the Internet users the coordinates of a Business such as:
   - The address
   - The phone number
   - The Web Site
   - The opening hours
   - All this information is accessible in 1 click
3. With this form you will be present in the Google Local Finder and Google Maps without even needing a website
4. It is also a Social Network (formerly called Google+ 👴)
5. Today, you can consider Google My Business as a real SEO tool not to be underestimated because it can boost your business online and locally
6. It is an iOs/Android App and a web platform

2. Why and what is the interest of using Google My Business?

1. Interest n° 1 🧐 : For a better visibility on Google

1. The Internet user can find you locally in the city where you are located
2. It finds a 1 click your contact information
3. Your business will be automatically listed on Google Maps and the Google Local Finder block
   

2. Interest #2 🫥: For greater transparency

1. The Internet user can easily know all the services you offer
2. Your sector of activity is directly put forward
   

3. Interest #3 🤓: For greater credibility.

1. Google reviews and photos will give the user the possibility to know if it is what he is looking for or not
2. Thanks to the different reviews, you show the prospect that you are the right person he is looking for
3. You build a relationship and a sense of trust
4. Interaction with Internet users is done like a social network (post, opinion, profile...)
   

Interest #4🫰: For more profit

1. Thanks to your Google My Business listing, you benefit from Google's traffic and features
2. The user can, for example, classify and organize a business trip, a city trip etc.
   

Interest #5 👑 : To optimize the positioning in Google

It is quite simple to do:

1. Including keywords in the descriptions on Google My Business to optimize the SEO allows you to have more chance to position your profile well
2. By regularly updating your Google My Business page (photos, posts, ...)
3. By indicating a main and secondary category of the services you offer at the same address

3. How to create a Google My Business listing in 4 steps?

1. Step 1: Request your Google My Business listing

1. The request is made by creating its own file: https: //www.google.com/intl/fr_be/business/
2. You need to have a physical address so that people can contact you and go to your address
3. If the work is done at the Customer's premises (plumber, etc.), the physical address is not essential but a radius of activity will be indicated

2. Step 2: Wait for verification of contact information

1. Once the form is completed, Google must verify that the business really exists
2. Google will then verify that you are the owner of the business for which you claim a Google My Business listing
3. A letter will be sent to the address mentioned with a verification code
4. With this verification code, you will be able to go to the next step and complete your form
5. Other methods exist, but the letter by post is currently the best solution

3. Step 3: Complete your Google My Business listing

1. Name:

• The name of your business, without keywords

2. Description:

• Describe your business in detail and use (without abuse) the most relevant keywords for your activity
• Google takes this into account to optimize your SEO
• It's limited to 750 characters
• The goal is to write a Pitch and not to "spam" or sell your products
• No URL either

3. Hours of operation:

• It's important to add your hours of operation and keep them updated regularly
• You will also be able to add the days off in advance so that Internet users know that your Business is "on break" (even if we know that a Business never really sleeps 😜 ...)

4. Address:

• The complete address of your business
• It can be your home address temporarily or permanently if this is the case
• Or the coworking space if you don't have a physical address for your business
• Or as mentioned above, a geographical area in case your product can be purchased from a larger geographical area (e.g. online training, coaching ...)

5. Contact:

• Preferably indicates a local telephone number
• And a professional e-mail address of type "prénom@business.com" and not chaudchaudchaudchocolat@gmail.com

6. Opinions:

• SUPER MEGA IMPORTANT
• Ask your Clients with this link
• Use this link: https: //g.page/r/Ca97mpi7PVqpEAg/review
• Go to the home tab
• Then at the bottom right "Receive other reviews" click on "Share Form".
• And transfer this link to your Clients and ask them to give you a little help
• ✍️ Tips - This link can be added to an automated mailing after each of your sales
• 🏅GOLD Tips - If you want to go further in converting your leads with an Email Marketing Strategy that worked great for me too, feel free to join the Happy.webacademy Creative Business program

7. Messages:

• It is a Cat
• You will receive notifications in your Google My Business listing when leads send you messages
• You can customize the welcome message that is automatically displayed when Clients contact you
• Be sure to establish a discipline of quick response to show your availability max 48h 😉

8. The Products and Services you sell with the price list:

• You can add the products and/or services you offer with a small description and even a price
• Google particularly appreciates it because it gets to know better what you offer
• And when Google's robots have a better vision on what you propose, you are better positioned, if you want to know more, don't hesitate to read my blog article : Complete SEO Webflow Guide: Everything you need to know to succeed in SEO on Webflow (14 actions to do)

9. Photos:

• You can complete your profile with a "Logo" image and a "Cover" image in JPG - PNG format,
• Be careful to respect a maximum size of 5MB
• You can add photos of interior and exterior ambiance
• You can also add 360° photos

10. Videos:

• You can add a video to tell the story of your business or to present your products and services
• The maximum size of the video should not exceed 100MB
• The duration should not exceed 30 seconds
• The minimum resolution is 720p

11. The Website:

• You can easily create a website with Google
• This option allows you to create a simplified website
• This is completely optional if you already have your own website

4. Step 4: Manage and Optimize your Google My Business Page

1. It is important to continually update your Google My Business listing
2. Consider this form as an integral part of your business
3. To illustrate: if you never water a plant, you can't expect it to grow by itself...
4. It's the same for your page, if you don't feed it, Google will consider your business less "active" than others and will position it accordingly
5. It is a real tool to attract prospects
6. To go further in the optimization part, I invite you to read the article : How to optimize your Google My Business listing?

4. How to manage your Google My Business listing in 3 steps?

1. Step 1: Analyze the statistics

1. Go to your dashboard with an overview of the statistics
   - Analyze the interactions with your Google My Business page
   - Highlight the keywords used to reach your website
   - Analyze the profile of users who have seen the page of your establishment
   - ✍️ Tips - I advise you to have an Excel document for example and to report the results every week in order to see your evolution and to know how to orientate your strategy (content, e-mailing and advertising) according to

2. Step 2: Add valuable content

1. Consider Google as a social network in terms of posts
   -Recycle your Instagram, Facebook or other content to make posts on Google My Business
2. Don't forget to update your Google My Business listing:
   - Opening hours
   - Photos
   - Products
   - Services
   - etc.

3. Step 3: Surround yourself with people to move forward

1. Google allows you to create a team
2. Alone we go faster, with two we go further 👯♂️
3. Adding a team member can double your efforts

5. How to remove a review from the Google My Business page?

1. To remove a review on Google, it is quite simple to do:

1. You have to go to your Google My Business page
2. Go to the notices
3. Click on the 3 small dots at the top right of the notice
4. Report to Google
5. Select the reason for which you want to report the notice
6. You will receive an answer from Google within 72 hours after your request

2. As you will have understood, you cannot delete a Google review yourself

3. Sometimes having negative reviews is not "negative" in itself

1. It shows that you are a real company and that all the other positive reviews are real
2. The main thing is to answer them as objectively as possible and with a lot of positivity and benevolence
3. We're not here to "air our dirty laundry in public."
4. If your answer is well written, it may even influence the opinion of the average Internet user in your favor

4. A happy person will say 1 x, an unhappy person will say 10 x

1. Unfortunately it is true
2. So don't hesitate to insist that your satisfied customers leave you a review on your Google My Business page
3. Share your link directly to make it easier for him to fill in

5. If you really have too many negative reviews, there are 2 solutions

1. Either you question your system and find out where the flaw is
2. Or you can simply deactivate the reviews on your Google My Business page
   - Go to your page
   - Settings
   - Uncheck: "Customer Reviews".

6. What are the 6 "surprise" features of Google My Business?

1. Surprise No. 1 🤹♂️ : For multi-entrepreneurs

1. Management of several establishments
2. If you need to add multiple locations, you can import a spreadsheet for more efficiency
3. This will make it easier for you to keep the facility records up to date

2. Surprise No. 2 🧑🍳 : For entrepreneurs in the food industry

1. A detailed menu of the proposed dishes
2. You can add the detailed menu in the "Menu" area which is active only for food companies
3. You can add:
   - A name
   - A description
   - And even a picture for each dish

3. Surprise #3 🦸: For service providers.

1. The possibility to make a linked reservation with the tool of your choice
2. To make it easier to book appointments, you may be using a software
3. If not, I invite you to do it with a tool such as Calendly, Acuity Scheduling.
4. Once you have an appointment link linked to your calendar, you will be able to receive appointments and indicate the URL on your Google My Business page

4. Surprise No. 4 🧑🚀 : For entrepreneurs who are on vacation

1. The possibility to indicate off days
2. Thanks to your Google My Business page, you will be able to indicate the days of exceptional vacations (after having indicated the regular opening hours)
3. Once you have indicated your opening and closing days, you will be able to indicate in the same way your exceptional closing days (Christmas, New Year ...) and your vacations
4. Mentioning these days in advance allows you not to forget to do it and to warn people in time that you will not be available

5. Surprise No. 5 🧑💻 : For connected entrepreneurs

1. Using Google My Business as a social network in its own right
2. Even if "Google+" is ancient history, Google My Business remains a discreet social network but it works if you want to show Google that you are active
3. It is also to show the Internet users who consult your file that you are present

6. Surprise #6 🦹: For available contractors

1. Using the Message option to add a chat box
2. To easily and quickly chat with users, Google suggests activating the Message option to start a conversation directly from the Google My Business page
3. It's better to strike while the iron is still hot 🔥, when a user asks you a question via chat, he hopes for a quick answer. There's no point in answering him 1 week later
4. If you do not feel able to answer quickly, do not activate this option

8. 9 questions to ask yourself to generate more leads with Google My Business

👉 1. Question #1: Is my Google My Business listing complete?

1. Take care of it because your Google My Business page is a summary of your website

👉 2. Question #2: Is the data on my Google My Business listing correct?

1. Check:
   - Spelling mistakes
   - Phone number
   - E-mail address
   - Links to your website
   - Links for making an appointment or other to make sure everything works and that you can be contacted

👉 3. Question #3: Do I have appointment scheduling enabled?

1. If this is the case, I really invite you to use a digital calendar and to add the URL for making appointments in this part
2. This will facilitate the contact

👉 4. Question #4: Did I add a phone number?

1. It depends on your activity, but you should be able to propose a local phone number and add the appropriate prefix
2. No answering machine number so

👉 5. Question #5: Do I have Message - Chatbox enabled in Google My Business?

1. If you wish, you can activate this option
2. As I told you before, be sure to answer the messages received quickly enough

👉 6. Question #6: Have I connected Google Analytics to Google My Business?

1. You can add a "tracker" or "UTM" on a link
2. For example on the link of your homepage and add it on your Google My Business page to see the clicks of this specific link in Google Analytics
3. How to connect Google Analytics to Google My Business?
   - I invite you to visit the Google Campaign URL Buidler tool to add this custom tracking code: https: //ga-dev-tools.appspot.com/campaign-url-builder/
   - You will indicate in the field "Campaign Source" = Google My Business which will allow you to track the clicks
   - Other fields are at your disposal according to your needs, but for the moment we will keep things simple
   - Once the personalized URL is finished, paste it in your Google My Business page
   - You will now be able to view the clicks thanks to the "Events" directly in Google Analytics
   - By looking for the link with "Campaign Source" = Google My Business

👉 7. Question #7: Have I answered all the comments and questions.

1. Whether it's a good or bad comment, it's very important to respond
2. The Internet users read the comments but also the answers and make an opinion of the answers too

👉 8. Question #8: Does my Google My Business profile show up well on Google Maps?

1. You can do a search in Google Maps and probably you will see your listing or the default listing that Google has created for you
2. If not, you can claim the location of your business on the map and create your Google My Business listing from there

👉 9. Question #9: Is my Google My Business listing in the Local 3 Pack?

1. The Local 3 Pack corresponds to the 3 Businesses that Google proposes when you do a search
2. For example, if you search for "Italian caterer + Paris", Google will suggest the 3 most relevant addresses of Italian caterers in Paris
3. The goal is to be present in this top 3, but you have no control except to keep your Google My Business listing up to date and active
4. The smaller the town, village, district or municipality, the more likely you are to be in this top 3

9. My 7 Tips for creating a solid Google My Business listing

✨ Tip #1: Consider your Google My Business listing as important as your Website

1. Your Google My Business Page is part of your digital ecosystem and needs your full attention
2. It is important to follow all the instructions I have shared with you in this article to create and manage it carefully

✨ Tip #2: Respond positively to comments, especially negative ones.

1. Being courteous is a priority in business
2. Clients are sometimes less diplomatic, but that doesn't mean you have to be their mirror
3. It's up to you to respond positively to a bad experience Customer
4. You'll see, it will be to your advantage

✨ Tip #3: Add keywords in the description, FAQ space, etc.

Your SEO strategy can be applied to your Google My Business Page in the basic information you will communicate and especially the description space that allows you to pitch your business and use the right keywords to optimize it

✨ Tip #4: Never include keywords in the name of your Google My Business listing.

1. This is a practice that Google does not like and is penalized
2. So it is better to avoid the risk of being downgraded or even blocked
3. You will then have to start the steps to unblock your Google My Business account

✨ Tip #5: Show only real, authentic information.

1. You must complete your Google My Business Form in an authentic way and not add misinformation

✨ Tip #6: Optimize your description with keywords.

1. The idea of using keyword techniques in your description does not mean that you have to repeat the keyword too often
2. We need to keep a pleasant human language
3. To help you, you can use this format:
   - "Keywords + City + State"
   - "Keywords + City"

✨ Tip #7: Use Google My Business Statistics.

Besides the fact that you can couple Google My Business and Google Analytics to track clicks, you will already find some very interesting information in the Statistics tab of your Google My Business page:

1. How to find your school
2. Where do Clients see your establishment?
3. Customer actions
   - Route requests
   - Phone calls
   - Photo views

Or more details by clicking on the "View new performance report" button

1. Search distribution: Search terms that displayed your school's record in the search results
2. Distribution of platforms and devices: Platforms and devices used to find your file
3. Clicks to the Website from your school's file

To conclude,

You've just seen the whole process of creating a killer Google My Business listing! If with all this you don't shine in the middle of all your competitors, I don't understand it anymore. 🤪

Sometimes we think we don't understand anything about all these rules established by Google, but you just have to sit down, understand, analyze and apply to the letter a clear process.

This theory is valid in all fields and this is what I regularly repeat to the students of the Happy.webacademy, nothing can be achieved without a specific objective and a clear and limpid process to get there!

So my last Tip for today 👉 It may be that despite everything you remain in total confusion about Google and SEO, so to avoid wasting precious time and money, if you don't know or prefer to delegate this task to a professional, don't hesitate to contact 👉 here (happywebacedemy) so that a student can do this for you 🙌 .

You'll see we are an ULTRA caring community ✌️!

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