Get Your Business Ready for the Holiday Rush: A Guide to Preparing Your Google My Business Profile
The holiday shopping spree is fast approaching.
You’re likely handling the usual steps to get your store geared up—things like increased staffing and inventory management.
What about your online presence? Shoppers looking for your products will probably do a search first, using their smartphone or other connected device. Will they find you?
No more looking it up in the Yellow Pages: Google My Business is an essential part of your online presence. It’s the first place customers look for up-to-date information about your company, even if they actually want to call you!
You need it now more than ever. Insider Intelligence predicts that overall retail spending—albeit in the United States—will rise 4.5% for the 2023 holiday season. You need to be ready. Here’s how to get your business ready for the holiday rush: a guide to preparing your Google My Business profile.
Why You Need A Google My Business Profile
If you’re sitting on the fence, wondering why you need a profile, here are three key reasons to set up and maintain your Google My Business Profile:
Increase visibility on Google
Gain credibility with reviews
Share business information with customers
This completely free tool will ensure you influence how your business appears on Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Shopping, helping to optimize your site. It’s how customers will show up at your doorstep!
Here are the key steps to prepare your Google My Business profile:
1. Be Consistent
Your business information needs to be consistent in the profile and how it is represented and recognized in the real world. Think about your signage, any stationery, flyers and other branding:
Your address has to be accurate, precise and consistent. Check, double check and check again! Your name, address, phone number and hours must be 100% accurate!
Choose the fewest number of categories to describe your core business. The primary category should describe your business as a whole, but be specific. Google’s example is to choose “Nail Salon” instead of “Salon.” Can’t find what you want? Pick a more general category that still accurately describes your business, since you can’t create your own category.
Maintain only one profile per business, otherwise there will be an issue with how your information displays on Google Maps and Search.
2. Make Tweaks at Holiday Time
If your store makes changes during the shopping season, your website must reflect that. If your store hours change, make sure they are up-to-date on your Business Profile. You can set special hours on your profile for holidays, and it’s a good idea to confirm your hours for official holidays, even if they’re the same as your regular hours.
Highlight any promotions, flash sales or limited time offers to bring customers in too.
3. Get on the Map
Google Maps is the “dominant entry point” for local search, with one study stating that 77% of people use it to find “near me” business information. When you enter your business address on Google My Business, you can position a marker on your map location. Pin the location from the front door of your store rather than inside the building to avoid any mistakes.
Drive Customers to Your Business
Need some more help? Searchlight Digital can make sure your website is found and drives customers to your store. We provide comprehensive search engine marketing services, including search engine optimization, copywriting, content strategy, blog writing, and consulting—all delivered with transparency and integrity. Are you ready to take your business to the next level?
Contact us today to book your free 30 minute consultation!