What is Google My Business?
We all do it: we open our phones to Google and type in “Coffee Near Me” or “Car Repair Near Me.” What pops up is a list of businesses and a map of all the relevant places near you. We then click on the closest one, or the one with the best reviews, etc. (Technology is awesome, isn’t it?). Those listings that pop up are known as Google My Business Listings. The first step you will need to do is claim and verify your business listing. From there, it is just about updating it, optimizing it, and maintaining it. That means posting quality images and videos, taking advantage of the posting feature, and responding to reviews and questions.
Benefits of Google My Business
One of the greatest benefits of GMB is the fact that you have complete control over what people see. You can add images, posts, hours, respond to reviews, highlight certain features, and even advertise through the platform. You control what Google and your patients or potential patients see.
You can increase your chances of being found in local searches by keeping your GMB listing updated and optimized. Since Google holds almost 90% of the search engine market share, it’s obviously important to increase your visibility on Google.
When people search your practice or are searching for your practice, often your GMB listing is going to be the first thing they see, often before your website. So having an updated listing gives a good first impression.
So, if you haven’t already, make sure to claim and set up your Google My Business Listing. It will be instrumental in your marketing efforts and is fairly straightforward and simple to do.