How to Create and Optimize your Google Business Listing
What is Google My Business page?
It’s free advertising and can get your business onto the first page whether your website will be up there or not.
It tells Google that you are a legitimate business and adds you to Google maps.
It’s your official business listing on Google.
Why is it important
Your Google My Business page is heavily tied to how you show up on Google and even IF you will show up on Google.
Referrals are still the number one way that buyers and sellers find an agent. But once they get your name from a friend or family member they will do a search online to learn more about you before actually contacting you.
The Google business panel will show up on the front page when your name is searched, even if your website does not.
It is VITALLY important that you show up at the top of the front page because 90% of users won’t make it onto the second search page of Google and 80% of users won’t even scroll down past the first few results.
How to set it up?
You need a Gmail account
Go to google.com/business
If you have more than one Gmail account, make sure you’re logged into the Gmail account that you want to use to manage your My Business Page. Check which email you’re logged into by looking at the circle shaped photo in the top right-hand corner.
From the goggle.com/business page click “Manage now” to begin setting up your listing.
Put in your business name - add your name as well for Realtors or if people might search your business with your name. Example: Sara Tremeear - Keller Williams - Aurora Real Estate Broker
On the next page add your business’s location if it has a location. Adding a location but choosing not to share it will still help you show up in local searches.
If you choose the option to serve customers outside of your business location you can add up to 20 locations on the next page. Denver agents - add the suburbs that you service.
Choose the business category that best fits your business.
On the next page select ‘no’ when it asks you if your business is already listed. Another business can show up if there are other agents at your brokerage and/or address that also have a business page, but they are not your business.
Add your contact details including your website if you have one
To finish verifying your page it will ask you to choose which way you would like to verify. If it gives you the option to verify by phone use that one and consider yourself lucky! Most times it will require you to receive a postcard at your business address with a 6 digit verification code.
How to optimize your Google business page so that you actually show up in searches
Access your business account by using your google account navigation tab with 9 dots next to your account photo.
Add photos. Real estate agents - add your headshot to both the ‘logo’ and the ‘cover photo’ sections so that they show up first in the search and when you’re replying to any reviews on Google.
Add the business hours that you’re available (please don’t work 24 hours a day for your own sanity)
Add a short business description telling people about your business
Other items that would be good to add but aren’t necessary for optimization
Website
Phone number
Appointment links if you use a site to have clients set up an appointment with you
List of services
Other photos that highlight the feel/vibe of your business.
You can add 1 video up to 30 seconds long to your business listing
If it gives you an option to choose an @short link - think of something short to add here. It’s a short link to share with clients to take them directly to your Google reviews to leave a review. Example: @coretc (Not an actual link)
Congratulations! You’re done with your listing and it’s optimized so you’ll begin to actually show up in searches. Many business owners stop before optimizing their listing and if you don’t show up in the top 10 listings of a Google search 80% of people won’t see you. If you don’t show up on the first page of Google 90% of people won’t see you.