Add A Business To Google Maps – Why To Add A Business To Google maps
Why add a business to google maps?
The aim of this post is to firstly inform you of reasons to add a business to Google maps, then to show you the easiest ways to add a business to Google Maps. When you add a business to Google Maps, you have informed Google that you want them to rank you for Local Search Terms. Google is currently migrating to a Local Search orientated model. When you add a business to Google Maps this has the effect of making Google show your Google Maps (also called Google Places) Page, usually ON THE FIRST PAGE of Google Search Results for any searches made from the geographical area that you specified during the setup. This is extremely important, and is something many companies pay thousands of pounds to achieve. Just to add a business to Google Maps can leverage your business’ offering over massive companies such as Amazon, Ebay and Wikipedia with very little effort.
Add a business to Google Maps now
Remember, your online presence is not only governed by your website. It is made up of everything that is posted about, or linked to your business either by you, or by someone else. The more online presence you give yourself the better. To add a business to Google Maps and Optimize that listing, will be tipping the scales in your favour, as well as getting any message or special offer that you wish to share with the public even more viewings.
Why to add a business to Google Maps matters for a Local Business
Many local businesses have found themselves in the unenviable position of being lied about, falsely accused, slandered, and attacked online. It’s a growing problem.
The cost is immediate, staggering, and long term.
Here are some common Internet search facts you should know about:
- 95% of internet users do not search past the first page of search engine results.
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Over half of the UK population researches a product on the Internet before purchasing.
Who would you use in Google’s results?
The business that comes up with the most stars and reviews, of course! So, you can see how your business’ online presence can directly impact your bottom line. Now the question is: What is the easiest way to grow, improve, and protect it? Add a business to Google Maps and actively manage it!
We’ve put together a list of the five most critical things every small business should be doing to protect their online reputation.
When it comes to managing your business’ online reputation, you must be proactive. Think of it like a football game, it’s better to be on the attack than to be defending.
You want to be in control of your own results.
Add a Business to Google Maps now
If you add a business to Google Maps you can influence what are people saying about your business?
The first step, before you add a business to Google Maps is to find out what people are saying about your business online. The best way to do this is to simply Google your business name. Are there any reviews about your company on the first page? If not, how can you remedy that? Add a business to Google Maps and take control of the situation.
How many spots does your business own on the first page?
If the answer is none, then add a business to Google Maps and you can be up there pretty quickly.
If there are comments, are they positive? If not then add a business to Google Maps to counteract them and push them down the page.
Your goal is to own the first page of Google for your business name with all positive content. Remember, 95% of all searchers will never go past the first page.
Add a business to Google Maps in conjunction with both an SEO and a Reputation Management strategy and you will achieve this before you are affected by anything negative that may be posted.
What if there are negative reviews and comments on the first page?
When you add a business to Google Maps you must be extremely careful, as to how you respond to negative items, this is critical to your business.
It is important that you be proactive when it comes to your business’ online reputation. The idea is to actively seek reviews. The most important place to have a review is there on Google your Places/Maps page.
These listings are compiled by Google from various online directories like the online Yellow Pages.
Here is what my place page looks like:
What makes this page even more important now, is that Google have recently stopped displaying reviews from other sites. They now only display Google reviews on your place page.
How to Get Reviews
Once you add a business to Google Maps the best way to get reviews is simply to ask. Seek out your most loyal customers and ask them to leave a review on your Google Places page.
You could also offer some sort of incentive, such as 10% off their next visit or purchase if they leave a review.
Once you add a business to Google Maps and you see negative content or reviews about your business online, it’s important that you act quickly. There is a saying, “Silence is consent.”
Many sites let the business owner respond to the reviews. The longer you wait to respond, the more potential customers see the negative review and believe it’s a true representation of your business.
Your goal in handling an upset customer should be threefold:
- They turn from upset to satisfied
- They post positive things about you and rebut or remove their negative remarks
- You learn something about your business that will improve it and help to avoid future negative reviews
But first, is the Criticism Legitimate or Fake?
Once you add a business to Google Maps, unfortunately, there is a small subset of people online who think it’s fun to leave bad reviews about businesses. If you find this to be the case, resist the urge to respond in anger. Instead, demonstrating concern and wanting to discuss the specifics of their encounter will go a long way towards showing other potential customers that you are interested in their feedback and want to improve the situation.
Empathy is a powerful tool, and being sincerely concerned with their bad experience is a trait that every business owner should have when they add a business to Google Maps.
In the case where you’re dealing with someone who simply wants to hurt you, be very selective with your response. If the insult is small, a simple apology will do. As the insults escalate, you must be careful with your reply.
Sometimes, the customer is clearly wrong because they expect too much for too little. Fight the urge to call them unreasonable. Instead, say something like this:
“We are very sorry you feel that way and will do everything within reason to resolve this. If you contact us we will gladly work with you to resolve this situation”.
If the complaint was legitimate, they may contact you. If they are simply being obnoxious, you will likely never hear from them, but at least you were professional in your reply and those who read the review will hopefully see that you were trying to be helpful and address the situation directly.
Be Transparent and Honest
Under no circumstances write fake reviews or ask your family, or worse, employees to write reviews for you when you add a business to Google Maps. These tactics are almost always found out and will do your online reputation more harm than good.
If the Negative Comment is true
Don’t ignore or hide. Participate in the discussion and be honest. Add response to your website or issue a statement addressing what has been done. If it’s serious, get help by seeking out an online reputation management expert.
If the Negative Comment is False
- Post a professional response
- Politely ask for the comment or review to be removed
- Post a response on your website
- Find or create positive content about your business and use search engine optimization to get it on the first page of Google
- Consult a lawyer
Add a Business to Google Maps Now!
When you add a business to Google, always open a linked You Tube account
Did you know that You Tube is the second largest search engine in the world? By creating either informative or funny videos about your business on You Tube can generate great press and if one goes viral, it can be uploaded when you add a business to Google Maps. This will literally put your local business on the map. Also, as Google owns YouTube, they like showing videos in their own search results.
Visit our site at http://www.banlexleadgeneration.com/ to add a business to Google Maps Now!
More information on how to add a business to Google Maps Click Here
What Wikipedia says about why to add a business to Google Maps