What’s the first thing you do when looking for a new restaurant, dog groomer, or anything else? Google it, of course. But how do those businesses show up there? Answer: By creating a Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business).
Why is Google Business Profile so powerful? It’s simple:
● Customers see your profile when they’re actively searching for a business like yours.
● Customers can quickly get a feel for your brand from your photos, reviews, and updates.
● Keeping your profile updated is a low time investment with a big payoff: More customers.
While everyone else is out fighting for views on Instagram or Facebook, potential customers see your profile when they’re looking for a business right now, which probably means they want to shop or book with you right now. Your GMB profile gives them the extra information they need to choose you right now. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to craft customer-winning Google My Business posts easily, including what to post, when to post, and pitfalls to avoid.
What is a Google My Business post?
A Google My Business post is an update that can be added to a business’s Google Business Profile. It can include text (up to 1,500 characters), photos, videos, offers, ecommerce listings, and more. Google My Business posts show up alongside all the other profile information and reviews in search results on Google search and maps.
There are 6 types of posts available to all businesses:
1. Updates
2. Photos
3. Reviews
4. Offers
5. Events
6. FAQ
Three additional post types are available for specific types of businesses:
1. Menu, for restaurants
2. Services
3. Products, for ecommerce
Are Google My Business posts right for my company?
A Google Business Profile is non-negotiable. There’s no question that Google is one of the top ways for customers to find you, so focusing on local SEO and optimizing your presence there is common sense. A great way to get more free traffic from a place where 88% of people who search for a local business will visit a store within a week? Mmkay, sounds pretty sweet.
Google My Business post image sizes
Using the correct image sizes for each social platform and marketing channel shows you care about your brand and keeping it consistent. While Google will fit any size or aspect ratio you upload, it’s best to upload photos or videos with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Or, at the very least, keep your main subject centered. This will keep any cropping to a minimum. Uploading photos larger than 1200px wide is also not recommended as Google seems to compress them, resulting in fuzzy images. This may change with future algorithm updates.
How to create a Google My Business post
Step 1: Decide your post type
Will you share an update, a video, change your menu, add a service, or launch an offer? To see available options, log in to your Google My Business dashboard and click Posts in the navigation. Some post types, such as menus, are limited to specific categories of businesses. Decide the objective and purpose of your post and where it fits in your social content strategy before you start writing. Answer these questions:
● Is this post promoting a new product or service?
● Are you trying to bring back old or current customers, or find new ones?
● How will you capture your ideal customer’s attention?
Step 2: Write your post
Simple enough, right? It’s true that creating social media content isn’t as tough as neurosurgery, but there are ways to make it even easier. These tips are specifically for Google My Business posts and not other social media platforms:
Do’s:
● Keep your post short. You have a 1,500 character limit but there’s no need to max it out. Customers are looking for quick answers or info on Google, not an in-depth piece.
● Include a visual. Stick to photos or videos of your location or products. Leave the infographics for your other social platforms.
● Use Google’s free marketing kit assets if you don’t have any great photos yet. While the best visual to use is a real photo, this can be a great resource if you don’t have one, and to go along with an event or offer post.
● Track your campaign performance to optimize future offers.
Don’t:
● Use hashtags. They don’t help you rank higher. They just clutter up your post.
● Run afoul of Google’s strict content policies. While taking a stand on social issues or featuring your customers’ faces may work well on other social platforms, Google wants to keep their profiles 100% business activity focused. Google will remove any content they determine to be “off topic.” Be sure to review Google Business Profile content policies.
Step 3: Publish it
Alright, hit Publish and your post is live! GMB posts stay visible for 7 days. After that, they are automatically removed from your profile.
A post on your profile might prompt a customer or prospect to leave you a review or ask a question. It’s crucial to respond to these interactions.
This is true for all platforms, but especially Google My Business, since your reviews show up front and center in local searches and can drastically influence someone’s decision to visit your business. Make it a weekly habit to:
● Respond to new reviews (ideally daily!)
● Repurpose your reviews into other content: Social media posts, on your website, add them to in-store signage, etc.
● Ensure all questions are answered
● Reply to post comments
● Check your Business Profile and keep information up to date, like hours, contact info, and services
Over 12,000 businesses of all sizes have used Reputation Boost tools to become more discoverable on Google and create engagement with their online profiles.
Sign up today with Reputation Boost and we will build your Google My Business for you!
https://reputationboost.com/google-my-business/
Easily update your business information with an all-in-one platform for better visibility and improve your local ranking on Google.
Website- https://reputationboost.com
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/reputationboost/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/MyReputationBoost
Why is Google Business Profile so powerful? It’s simple:
● Customers see your profile when they’re actively searching for a business like yours.
● Customers can quickly get a feel for your brand from your photos, reviews, and updates.
● Keeping your profile updated is a low time investment with a big payoff: More customers.
While everyone else is out fighting for views on Instagram or Facebook, potential customers see your profile when they’re looking for a business right now, which probably means they want to shop or book with you right now. Your GMB profile gives them the extra information they need to choose you right now. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to craft customer-winning Google My Business posts easily, including what to post, when to post, and pitfalls to avoid.
What is a Google My Business post?
A Google My Business post is an update that can be added to a business’s Google Business Profile. It can include text (up to 1,500 characters), photos, videos, offers, ecommerce listings, and more. Google My Business posts show up alongside all the other profile information and reviews in search results on Google search and maps.
There are 6 types of posts available to all businesses:
1. Updates
2. Photos
3. Reviews
4. Offers
5. Events
6. FAQ
Three additional post types are available for specific types of businesses:
1. Menu, for restaurants
2. Services
3. Products, for ecommerce
Are Google My Business posts right for my company?
A Google Business Profile is non-negotiable. There’s no question that Google is one of the top ways for customers to find you, so focusing on local SEO and optimizing your presence there is common sense. A great way to get more free traffic from a place where 88% of people who search for a local business will visit a store within a week? Mmkay, sounds pretty sweet.
Google My Business post image sizes
Using the correct image sizes for each social platform and marketing channel shows you care about your brand and keeping it consistent. While Google will fit any size or aspect ratio you upload, it’s best to upload photos or videos with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Or, at the very least, keep your main subject centered. This will keep any cropping to a minimum. Uploading photos larger than 1200px wide is also not recommended as Google seems to compress them, resulting in fuzzy images. This may change with future algorithm updates.
How to create a Google My Business post
Step 1: Decide your post type
Will you share an update, a video, change your menu, add a service, or launch an offer? To see available options, log in to your Google My Business dashboard and click Posts in the navigation. Some post types, such as menus, are limited to specific categories of businesses. Decide the objective and purpose of your post and where it fits in your social content strategy before you start writing. Answer these questions:
● Is this post promoting a new product or service?
● Are you trying to bring back old or current customers, or find new ones?
● How will you capture your ideal customer’s attention?
Step 2: Write your post
Simple enough, right? It’s true that creating social media content isn’t as tough as neurosurgery, but there are ways to make it even easier. These tips are specifically for Google My Business posts and not other social media platforms:
Do’s:
● Keep your post short. You have a 1,500 character limit but there’s no need to max it out. Customers are looking for quick answers or info on Google, not an in-depth piece.
● Include a visual. Stick to photos or videos of your location or products. Leave the infographics for your other social platforms.
● Use Google’s free marketing kit assets if you don’t have any great photos yet. While the best visual to use is a real photo, this can be a great resource if you don’t have one, and to go along with an event or offer post.
● Track your campaign performance to optimize future offers.
Don’t:
● Use hashtags. They don’t help you rank higher. They just clutter up your post.
● Run afoul of Google’s strict content policies. While taking a stand on social issues or featuring your customers’ faces may work well on other social platforms, Google wants to keep their profiles 100% business activity focused. Google will remove any content they determine to be “off topic.” Be sure to review Google Business Profile content policies.
Step 3: Publish it
Alright, hit Publish and your post is live! GMB posts stay visible for 7 days. After that, they are automatically removed from your profile.
A post on your profile might prompt a customer or prospect to leave you a review or ask a question. It’s crucial to respond to these interactions.
This is true for all platforms, but especially Google My Business, since your reviews show up front and center in local searches and can drastically influence someone’s decision to visit your business. Make it a weekly habit to:
● Respond to new reviews (ideally daily!)
● Repurpose your reviews into other content: Social media posts, on your website, add them to in-store signage, etc.
● Ensure all questions are answered
● Reply to post comments
● Check your Business Profile and keep information up to date, like hours, contact info, and services
Over 12,000 businesses of all sizes have used Reputation Boost tools to become more discoverable on Google and create engagement with their online profiles.
Sign up today with Reputation Boost and we will build your Google My Business for you!
https://reputationboost.com/google-my-business/
Easily update your business information with an all-in-one platform for better visibility and improve your local ranking on Google.
Website- https://reputationboost.com
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/reputationboost/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/MyReputationBoost