This article was published on 26 Feb 2021. Software and regulations change, so please check details before you decide.
In business, everyone knows the classic business card, which is handed out at trade fairs or meetings with external partners. But have you ever heard of the “online business card”?
In the age of digitalisation, that is what people often call a company’s Google My Business listing. In this blog post we explain what exactly Google My Business is, how to sign up and which other measures make sense to increase your visibility online, so that (new) customers can find you more easily.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a free directory service from Google that any business can use and fill with relevant data, for example:
- Company name
- Branch address
- Phone number and email
- Website
- Opening hours
- Photos (for example of your premises)
- Description (for example of your areas of activity)
All you need to use Google My Business is a Google account. If you already have one, you can of course use it.
Why should you register your business with Google My Business?
Google always returns matching results from the businesses it knows, based on the search query. If someone searches for “electrician Hamburg”, for example, the top 3 matching and well-maintained Google My Business profiles are shown.
These businesses usually get more clicks, because their results are placed far more prominently than the normal (organic) search results. Local service providers, tradespeople and small businesses in particular benefit from the “local hero” status that a prominent Google My Business listing brings in location-based searches. Your existing and new customers also get all the key information about your business at a glance. That is real added value.
And that’s not all: a Google My Business profile also lets you manage your reviews and respond to negative ones. These days, the reviews on a Google profile are often what decides whether someone takes an interest in a company or not.
Your benefits with Google My Business at a glance
- Your website is more relevant locally in Google Search than without the listing
- Your business is displayed prominently next to and within the organic results
- Advantages in mobile search, as the listing also appears on Google Maps
- Users who only search for your industry and city find your business faster
- Your listing can be tailored to your company
What alternatives are there?
With its high market share, Google is clearly the undisputed number 1 in the German search engine market. Even so, you shouldn’t forget the alternative services, above all Bing Places. This business directory is also free and works in essentially the same way, but is connected to Microsoft’s Bing search engine. In our view, Bing Places is the perfect complement to Google My Business, as it lets you reach other users.
Your benefits with Bing Places at a glance
- Little effort, big impact
- A good alternative or complement to Google My Business
- Greater visibility for your business
- Listing across all Microsoft services
- Greater reach through the Bing search engine
- Positive SEO effects
Does your business already have a listing on Google My Business and Bing Places? If not, we at Web Labels will be happy to help you set them up and answer any other questions on this topic. Book a consultation with one of our SEO experts so that together we can strengthen your company’s online presence.
Planning something similar?
Tell us briefly about your system and your goal. We will get back to you with questions or a proposal.
Request a project