Why you should have a Google Business Listing

Have you created a Google Business Listing for your business yet? If not then you are missing out on a opportunity.

We still encounter a lot of SME’s we do work for that either don’t realise that they could have a business listing on Google or have just never got round to adding one.

It’s really easy to do and hardly takes any time at all.

Top benefits of a Google Business Listing:

1. Exposure in Google
   Google displays the business results near the top of page 1 based on Google Maps Listings if someone searches for a combination of a service and place. For instance, look at this example where we searched for ‘Edinburgh airpot parking’. The business listings actually rank above all the natural results. This means even if you don’t have an SEO budget or strong web presence you can still be listed at the top of the page above the top ranking organic competitor.
2. Business Listings Are Prominent
   The businss listings returned in the results are arguably more predominant on the page than the paid Adwords are. Without even spending money you can be acquiring the traffic your competitors are paying to be exposed to.
3. It’s completely free
   You will have to register a Google account if you don’t have one, do an address or phone number verification and create your business listing but all it costs is a bit of time – and normally less than a coffee break.
4. Secure Top Position
   If you get a listing added before your competitors for your service and location then you will always appear before them as entries are listed in the order they were added.
5. Multilple Offices Supported
   You can list multiple business locations from within a single account. Perfect if you have more than one office.
6. Directions Made Easy
   An accurate road map with directions ensures that your prospective clients can find you easily. They can even toggle between map and satellite view.
7. Expanding Services
   Google have announced improvements to the service we can expect in the future such as integration with mobiles, map links within results listings and the creation of coupons/vouchers that users can print off and bring with them.

It is also very likely that other local directories will feed off of the Google Business Listings so your listing will start appearing elsewhere as a pleasant consequence.

If you want to create your Google Business Listing it can be done in a few easy steps:

1. Sign in to the Google Local Business Center.
   You will need to use an existing Google account or create a new one.
2. Supply your business information.
   Select up to 5 categories that best describe your business. Custom categories are acceptable but you must include at least 1 predefined category.
3. Preview and verify your listing.
   To confirm your business location, you can either receive a pin code over the phone or by SMS which you enter and your listing will be live within 12 hours or Google sends you a postcard with a confirmation code which normally takes 2-3 weeks.

Don’t procrastinate. The free, enhanced listing exposure can do wonders for your business and even if you are not desperate for traffic just yet it is worth securing your position in the business listing results before your competitors do.

Posted by: Chris Gilchrist

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