To help Internet users quickly find a business on its search engine, Google has set up “Google My Business”. This feature allows you to create a free listing for your establishment, and to be listed on the world’s most popular search engine. To make the most of this free listing service, find out how to create a Google My Business listing.
What is Google My Business?
Everyone uses Google My Business every day, sometimes without even knowing it. Like an old-fashioned directory, GMB lists all the establishments in business, and offers visitors all the information they could possibly need: opening hours, location, telephone number… When a web user performs a search, the most relevant Google My Business listings are then displayed at the top right of the Google results page.
Why create a Google My Business listing?
The Internet has become an indispensable part of consumers’ daily lives, enabling them to get quick answers to all their questions. There are many reasons why a company’s online presence is essential.
Increase your company’s visibility
The creation of a Google My Business listing enables an establishment to benefit from local referencing, thanks to Google Maps. So when a web user types “restaurant + town” into Google, the local search will display the restaurants closest to the town indicated. An establishment that does not have a GMB file will obviously not be included in these results, and will lose visibility.
Ensuring competitiveness
Catering is a highly competitive sector, where you have to know how to stand out from the crowd. The GMB card can be a smart strategy for building a positive, attractive brand image. Internet users will have access to important information that will directly influence their final decision: the menu, other customers’ opinions, photos of dishes or the dining room, the possibility of having an order delivered or picking it up on site…
The advantages of the GMB card in a few figures
To fully understand the importance of creating a Google My Business listing, let’s look at a few figures:
- 95% of searches are done on Google ;
- 75% of results are local (based on Google Maps)
- 70% of Internet users make a global search (e.g. Angers restaurant);
- A GMB listing generates between 10,000 and 150,000 views per month, while the same establishment’s website generates between 500 and 1,000 visits.
Far from replacing the website, the GMB card should be seen as a showcase to increase your company’s visibility, and as a springboard to the website.
What’s on a Google My Business listing?
The undeniable advantage of Google My Business is its ability to bring together all the main information about an establishment, so as to both convince the consumer and provide him or her with all the options for contacting it or getting there. For example, you can find the following information on a GMB site:
- Photos ;
- Menus and/or a la carte ;
- Services ;
- Contact details (telephone, address, e-mail) ;
- Opening hours;
- Peak periods ;
- Customer reviews ;
- The link to the website ;
- The link to social networks…
This form is a real complement to your showcase or merchant site, and should be used.
How do I create a Google My Business listing?
Although you are the owner of your establishment, it’s possible that someone else has created a Google My Business listing for your restaurant. First of all, you need to check whether a GMB listing is already available on Google. Simply type the name of your establishment into the Google search bar. Then there are two possible options.
Your business already has a Google My Business listing
If you find a listing for your restaurant, first make sure you are the owner. Then log in to your Google account and check the listing: if it says “claim this property” or “are you the owner of this property?”, then you’re not officially the owner of the GMB listing.
In this case, you must claim ownership by clicking on the link provided. You will then be mailed a validation code to enter into your Google My Business account.
If you’re the owner of the Google My Business listing, you don’t need to do anything. You have free access to the listing, and can modify it as you see fit.
Your company does not yet have a GMB file
You can create your Google My Business listing on the tool’s website. Once you have logged in to your Gmail account (or created one), there are a few simple steps to follow:
- Go to Google My Business
- Click on “Add your business to Google”;
- Fill in the fields indicating the name of the establishment and the category of activity;
- Add your business address ;
- Enter your restaurant’s phone number and website;
- Validate your form;
- Fill in all the options provided by Google (opening hours, messaging, services, description, photos of menu and dishes, etc.).
Your Google My Business listing has now been created, but you’ll need to wait until you receive the listing claim code before you can definitively validate its creation.
I’ve created my establishment file. What next?
To take full advantage of Google My Business, it’s important to optimize your business listing. You’ll then need to use all the options available to optimize your Google My Business listing, so that it is recognized by Google’s algorithm, and therefore properly referenced. The aim is also to offer visitors and customers as much information and interaction as possible, to enhance the brand image of your establishment.
To do this, you can write an SEO-optimized description, detail the services offered, add photos, modify categories, or even interact with web users by replying to reviews.