An easy way to help get local leads and improve the chances of new patients finding you online? Claim your Google Business Profile listing! Claiming your Google Business Profile listing is one of the most important digital marketing strategies for your business to be aware of.
Google Business is a free online business listing service that launched in 2014.1 Business Profile is a free, easy-to-use tool that allows you to manage the way your business appears on Google Search and Maps. With your Business Profile, you can connect with customers, post updates, list your products and services and more.1
One of the most effective ways to establish an excellent reputation online is by claiming your practice listing on Google. Search engines like Google offer tremendous advantages in today’s increasingly connected digital world and make it easy for potential clients to discover your practice.
With over 8.5 billion searches processed per day, Google is the most used search engine in the world.2 It’s where most people first turn when seeking out a new product, service, or information.
Some tips for utilizing your Google Business Profile listing:
Make sure all information is accurate and complete
Customers are 70% more likely to visit and 50% more likely to consider purchasing from businesses with a complete Business Profile.1 If online users can’t quickly find accurate information about your practice, they will simply turn elsewhere rather than digging. Be sure to include an up-to-date link to your practice’s website for further and more detailed information.
Verify your name, address, and phone number
The first step to filling out your Google Business Profile is to verify your information. You want to ensure it’s accurate so potential patients get the correct information when discovering your audiology office. Make sure you list all of your practice locations, location phone numbers, and any other helpful information, such as the name of the office complex that your business is located within.
Setting up a Google business profile also links google maps to your profile, displaying your exact business location and making it easy for potential customers to find you.
You will want to use your company’s legal name on your Google listing as well as other local listings. Inconsistency among your listings will confuse your audience and cause Google to rank you lower in listings.
Include keywords
Local search results favor the most relevant results for searches. Adding a short description of your practice provides your audience with more insight into your practice and the services you provide while giving you a space to share relevant keywords.
Add your hours of operation
When you fill out your Google My Business profile, make sure you include your hours of operation as part of your listing. It will help ensure that your audience knows when they can contact your practice to book an appointment.
It’s important to update your hours anytime they change, even if the change is temporary. Nothing deters customers more than arriving during a business’s listed open hours only to find it closed. Google offers the ability to customize hours for holidays and other special events, making it easy to keep your patients and potential patients up to date in advance.
Add photos
Adding photos can have a massive positive impact on your Google My Business listing’s performance. Listings with 100+ images get 1065% more website clicks and 520% more phone calls.1
Google recommends businesses use their logo to help customers identify their business with a square-sized image. Uploading lots of high-resolution photos, including the exterior, interior, and product shots will catch online users’ attention and give them a sense of your brand. Exterior photos are also especially helpful for a business in a hard-to-locate or unique location.
