Why Dealers Need to Take Advantage of Google My Business

A fully optimised Google My Business listing is the cornerstone of local SEO. 88% of consumer local business searches on a mobile device either call or visit the business within 24 hours.

The information in this listing will most likely be available on your website, but Google My Business indexes the content you provide for consistency across Google Search and Maps. When used correctly, Google My Business is a powerful tool that can increase your revenue and provide valuable insights about your customers.

Making the Most of Your Listing

Approximately 80% of all searches happen on Google, that’s 3.5 billion every day. Even more staggering is the fact that most people don’t get past the first page of search results. Therefore, getting your business on that first page is crucial to get the most amount of traffic to your website.

While there are other ways to appear on the first page, Google My Business is a free service and helps you; Control, index and display business information, interact with potential customers and manage their reviews and gather insights regarding how your customers are arriving on your site amongst other things.

How to Optimise Your Listing

After you’ve verified your business, it’s worth spending some time filling out your profile. The more information you can include the better. Everything from your telephone number, email and attributes such as customer toilets or an indoor showroom should be included. Remember to periodically check your listing to ensure your details are up to date.

Keep on Top of Reviews

Reviews are a ranking factor in GMB listings, and a good average review score will help you to increase your chances of featuring in the all-important ‘three pack’ or the top three results for local searches. Google themselves have said that “more reviews and positive ratings will improve a business’s local ranking”.

Negative reviews can be annoying, but they should always be taken seriously, and you should try and placate the unhappy customer. It can be tempting to retaliate with an angry message, however this will only make you look unprofessional and make their review more credible.

Use Posts to share Links and Events

Google Posts are like social media posts that appear on your Google my Business listing after a Google search. They can include an image or a link to another page or website too. These posts are ideal if you’ve got an event on; you can advertise the date and time along with a link to the registration page. If you’re including an image on your post, it’s important to test the post a few times to ensure the image doesn’t get cut off on different platforms like Maps or mobile devices.

Track Interaction Levels

Once you’re set up, you’ll then get monthly insight emails from Google, breaking down the performance of your local listing. It’ll display key details like how many views your listing gets, how many click through, ask for directions or call from the listed number. This will give you a clear indication of how strong your listing really is.

It’s Free!

Google My Business is a great way to boost your local SEO without spending a penny. The majority of consumers who search for local businesses will visit them within 24 hours. So, having your business at the top of the list will give you the best chance of turning these consumers into customers. Remember to monitor your performance and see just how much traffic you receive as a result of this free feature!

To find out more about our in-house automotive SEO services, email marketing@clickdealer.co.uk, call us on 01782 904 715 or alternatively, you can message us via our contact page.