Be part of the map pack!

Your Google Business online profile may be the first point of contact for potential customers. So, how can you get into the ‘map pack’—the first three businesses to show up when people do an online search? Georgia Gibbons of SideKit has some tips for the top.

The ultimate goal of any business owner is to be the business of choice. One of the most valuable marketing tools to help with this is Google Business. Not only is it free, but it is a super easy way to boost your online reach with a few key additions.

What is Google Business?

Google Business is a tool that provides information on a business when it appears in a search. Google Business profiles are found in a box on the right-hand side of your screen when googling a business. This feature allows you to reach a wider audience and streamline the service experienced by your customers.

With Google Business the goal is to be part of the ‘map pack’: the top three businesses that appear after a search.

To reach the top three, your profile must contain all relevant information for your business. Ensure this is consistent with your website, social media, and any other online platforms, because Google tracks this data, and ranks you based on the consistency of information.

Description

Your profile description tells people about your business and what makes you unique. This is where you can get strategic. Include keywords that your clients may be searching for such as ‘Auckland plumbers’ or ‘good plumber near me’ to boost your ranking.

Products or Services

You also have the option to add your products and services. This information confirms what you sell and means Google shows your profile to your clientele.

Photos and videos

Including photos and videos in your profile is an opportunity to showcase your business. Photos of your team, office or

HQ often generate the best response from customers. It’s a great idea to share your social media content as posts on your Google Business profile too.

Reviews

Your search ranking is also based on Google’s judgement of your reliability. This is where reviews come in. A business with lots of good reviews is more likely to attract new customers than one with very few or mediocre reviews.

Pro tip: Respond to all your reviews—it reinforces your relationship with customers. Responding to the bad reviews as well as the good ones shows you are acknowledging any issues and trying to rectify these because you care about your customers’ experience. A Google Business profile is the first point of contact for potential customers, so it’s important you get it right. If you’re keen to get started, business.google.com is a great site.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SideKit’s own Google Business profile includes photos of their office and the people who work there, plus the products and services they offer. They also link their social media posts to their profile to increase activity.

Georgia Gibbons is Marketing Manager at SideKit, a New Zealandbased virtual marketing management and assistance business, supporting businesses across the country. If you’re interested in speaking to a marketing professional, visit sidekit.nz