This is a puzzling stat and there are many more if you search #OnTheMap on Google. I don’t really understand why more businesses aren’t all over this easy and free way to promote their businesses. According to Google’s research (which I’m going to bet is pretty robust given the petabytes of data on virtually everything digital in the world today) customers are also 38% more likely to visit businesses with complete listings. Here’s that stat again in a more snackable/Pinnable/Instagrammable/Tweetable/LinkedInable format:
Google is really pushing this initiative and offers oodles of free advice and tools on how to list your business and easily add content to your business Google+ page like photos, blog posts, panoramic tours, etc. Here’s a link:
By updating your business info on Google Search and #OnTheMap, you make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking ––> you! Use this tool to make sure your Google listing is complete: http://goo.gl/vW52mC
I work as a freelance photographer, out of my home. Notwithstanding, I’ve created my Google+ Business Page (listed here as JulianHaberPhotographyMontreal) and so far am seeing a few nice things happen online that are favourable towards my business.
- I’m popping up at or near the top of the first page of Google search results on phrases clients would use to find me
- My posts feature a little picture of me next to them and show up as independent results (maybe this is just an ego-stroke, but it’s kind of cool seeing your posts accompanied by your headshot)
- I’m finding more and more interesting ways to leverage Google+ to create an interconnected web of links referring back to my main blog (this one right here) and my portfolio site at Julian Haber Photography
- I now have a convenient way to gather reviews – the new currency of the digital world – without relying on Yelp’s sometimes inordinately choosy algorithm that seems to arbitrarily quarantine reviews it deems “not recommended” primarily because their authors have little or no previous activity on Yelp
For these reasons alone I will continue to explore, experiment and develop my digital real estate with Google, but if I also had a physical, real-world, public facing business I would be even more heavily invested than I already am. The virtual tours alone are worth the time it takes to build up your business page (think Streetview but INSIDE your business). Here’s an example of a 360 panoramic tour of the inside of a place I’ve seen the inside fairly often: Brutopia pub in Montreal: How cool is that really? Almost as good as having a pint at the bar itself=)
So, if you are one of the 63% of business in Canada who still hasn’t claimed your local business address on Google+, what are waiting for? Click here and get started.
