Google Searches: Before And Now
The way in which Google searches are conducted online has drastically changed within the past few years.
In the past, if you used Google to search for “flights to Argentina” for example, you would have received a long list of sites related to traveling websites or agencies.
When you speed up to the present time where websites are no longer the listings that people see for the first time. What Google now does is to combine third-party data from websites with local search results. With the conglomeration of data found online, a user can now gather as much information about their search query within a very short period of time. What this means is that your Argentina flight can actually be booked directly on Google’s search results in order to avoid visiting multiple websites.
How It Is Affecting Businesses
This may seem like excellent news, especially for the consumer that no longer has to visit multiple sites to accomplish their main purpose for using the internet. Unfortunately, this is terrible news to companies that are seeking to build a relationship with their clientele.
What this would entail is that the companies would now lose some of their control as to what the consumers can or cannot access from Google. The reason for this is that a listing of a particular company would not necessarily derive from the website in question. Google no longer perceives companies as entities but instead as a collective bundle of information online about a company altogether. What is tricky is that part of the information online may be negative or positive but regardless Google will simply bring it to the forefront once the name of the company is entered in the search engine.
The Importance of Google My Business Listing
This is one of the main reasons as to why online reputation management companies place great importance on business listings through Google. These business listings must be updated as well as optimized on a regular basis in order to avoid going down in rankings. This would be the main location for contact information about your specific company, therefore, it is very important to keep the information up to date and relevant.
What Google typically does is to gather information from the business listing in order to create your “entity”. It is therefore very important that the information on your Google listing is updated so that Google will demonstrate the information that has been gathered from your listings. Directly from the Google Business listings you customers or potential customers can call you directly or even save the address provided to their Google Map. An appointment can be scheduled through Google listings as well which increases visibility.
Features To Add To Your Google Business Listings In order To Increase Optimization
Google’s most valued and highly esteemed profiles involve that of a company that uses as many features from Google listings as possible. It brings value not only to Google but to the consumers as their rankings are increased due to easy access to their information.
Here are some details that you would want to provide on your Google listings in order to get recognition:
• The name of the business
• The contact information (such as the address and telephone number with area code)
• The type of business in question (specific business category)
• The operating hours for the business (make updates especially during the holiday period)
• The main company website
• Images of the business as well as the employees
Having this basic information on your business listings is a quick and effective method for Google to recognize your company as well as your consumers recognizing your company. As previously mentioned it is important that the information displayed on Google business listings is relevant to your company website. Try to avoid discrepancies in terms of information on your website and on your Google.
Added Features On Google Business Listings For Increased Optimization
• An FAQ page is great for interactivity between consumer and business owner. Have a question and answers section as it gives the opportunity to the consumers to ask their questions directly to you as a business provider through the listings. You can also have a separate section where they ask their questions and provide their information for you to then contact them and provide them with an answer.
• A business description section is vital to your business listing as it gives your clients the possibility to learn about your company without necessarily visiting other websites.
• Add as many videos and pictures of the company as well as the structure. We currently live in a very visual society where consumers what to see what they are dealing with before they contact the company in question. In the event that the product or service is pleasing to the consumer’s eye; they will then venture into the company and make the first move. Your pictures and videos must be taken professionally as this is the first impression a consumer will have of your company.
• Get as many reviews as possible. When dealing with your clients simply ask them to go directly to the Google listing and leave their reviews; they would love to help you in that regards especially if you have gone above and beyond for the customers in question. Google will automatically provide the top ratings for review content to ensure that your consumers are speaking positively about you online.
Receiving continuing positive reviews about your company base is vital to the success of your online reputation. Google will perceive that these reviews are being made on a regular basis which would mean that people are getting in contact with your company on a regular basis. Google will, therefore, push up your company in rankings which will create more visibility as well. It will not only increase your online ranking status but improve your online reputation result altogether.
If there is anything to be retained through this article it would be to first, ensure that you have Google Business Listing and then ensure that all of the required information is filled and that you have imputed as much company data as possible. Once the basic information has been entered it is then very important to keep the information up to date and pay attention to consumer interaction as much as possible. By maintaining your Google listing it would give you an edge over other companies when it comes to your online management.