Top 7 Mistakes on Google My Business

What is Google My Business?

With Google My Business, you can effortlessly register your business online, making it a breeze for your customers to locate you when they search on Google Maps or other search engines.

Your Google My Business page is of equal importance to your website. Rest assured, users take this area and its associated comments very seriously. Any incorrect or incomplete content can lead to a negative user experience.

I am confident in sharing with you seven common mistakes that I have encountered while providing digital marketing consultancy to many companies. By checking if your own business has made these mistakes, you can improve your online presence and increase user satisfaction.

When businesses show up on Google search results, their information is displayed exactly as shown above. The most crucial pieces of information are typically presented, and any incorrect loading or uploading of this information by someone else can occasionally result in issues.

* Management of business photos, * Outdoor street view management, * Map management, * Website link management, * Directions management, * Comment management, * Business address or addresses management, * Working hours management, * Management of all content about the business , * Business phone number management, * Questions and Answers management.

When you register with Google My Business, you will have the power to efficiently manage numerous aspects of your business while also keeping in touch with your valued customers.

Well, let's get to happiness…

7 Most Common Mistakes in Google Business

Prevent Your Business From Being Added By Someone Else

By registering your business with Google My Business, you can prevent anyone else from taking ownership of it. Don't leave it to chance, take control of your business presence online today.

It's important to be aware of potential risks to your business, such as competitors being able to edit your business information on Google. Even though edit approvals go to the account owner, failure to take action can result in automatic approval of these edits by Google. This could result in your real business address being replaced by a competitor's address or users being directed to a competitor's website instead of yours. It's also possible for your business phone number or photos to be edited in this manner. Stay vigilant and take action promptly to protect your business's online presence.

Remove Your Closed Business from the Internet

It is disappointing that many businesses still neglect to update their online information when they close or relocate. This lack of attention to detail results in a subpar user experience. Although it may be tempting to disregard your customers once your business is closed, it is important to act ethically and prevent them from making an unnecessary trip to your location only to find that your business is no longer operating. Therefore, it is crucial to remove your business from all online listings when it closes.

Complete Missing Information

Once you have added your business to Google My Business, it is crucial to ensure that all information is entered completely and accurately. Failure to do so could result in someone else filling in missing details on your behalf. It is essential to provide the most important information such as your website URL, phone number, and opening hours. Neglecting to do so could lead to potential customers being unable to contact you, resulting in lost business. Ensure that you review all your information by logging into Google My Business for maximum effectiveness.

False Information and Referrals

Providing false information and redirects on your Google Business listing can lead to a negative user experience and ultimately result in poor reviews. It is always better to not include any information rather than misleading potential customers. I can provide an excellent example for you. I recently visited VIP Barbers NYC, which I found on the map, to get a shave at 10:45 am. Unfortunately, the barber was closed despite the map indicating that they were open during business hours. As a result, I gave them a 1-star rating and left a comment detailing my experience.

Map Pins

Businesses commonly record their location on a map, but it's essential to pinpoint the exact spot to stand out from other businesses located at the same address. This way, users can easily locate your business without any confusion. For example, as shown in the image below, Lake Mary's business registration is located on the highway, which is the main road, making it easier for customers to find it.

Comments

All comments on your business, whether good or bad, are extremely valuable. It is highly recommended that you respond to all comments. Business owners often react negatively to negative comments, but such behavior should be avoided. Listen to your users and customers, and respond to their comments in a professional and confident manner. Respond to both positive and negative comments; avoid only replying to negative or positive comments.

Google Maps now includes a Questions and Answers section, allowing users and customers to ask questions about a business. As a business owner, take advantage of this feature to provide clear and helpful answers to your customers. Additionally, Google allows businesses to post their own questions and answers. You can use this feature to post the most commonly asked questions and satisfy your customers.

Business Photos

Google business photos are absolutely essential for users. Failure to upload photos may result in someone else uploading different photos, which could be detrimental to your business's reputation. For example, instead of an interior image of your business, a photo taken from inside a car may be uploaded, as demonstrated in the image above.

We highly recommend adding a minimum of 7-8 photos that showcase both indoor and outdoor areas. Additionally, you may consider working with a "Google Trusted Photographer" to capture 360-degree photos of your location and business.

Once you have registered your business with Google My Business, it is crucial to prioritize customer satisfaction. Reviews are a critical component of your business's success, and they should be valued accordingly.

Is Google Business Registration Mandatory?

It is crucial to emphasize that saying "yes" to this requirement is imperative. Consider a scenario where someone else has already registered your business online and has taken over the management of all the information related to it. In such a challenging situation, regaining control of your business's online presence would be difficult. Therefore, it is essential to comply with this requirement to ensure that you retain complete control and ownership of your business's digital identity.

In 2008, I took the initiative to register my faculty on Google Maps using my personal account. As a result, all of the faculty's maps and business registrations have been maintained under my account ever since. This has given me complete autonomy to manage all aspects of the faculty's online presence, including responding to comments and organizing content, at my discretion.

You should definitely register your business so that such an event does not happen to you.

You can contact me for successfully adding your business to Google Maps and Apple Maps and for business registration that will ensure proper user and customer satisfaction.