What This Means for You?

Well if you are an existing user of Google Places or Google , you will automatically be upgraded to Google My Business.  Google is promoting “Google My Business” as an opportunity to get closer to your customers.

Google also states that this is a great opportunity for you to “be there when customers look for you online” and that business owners can use Google My Business to share the right information about their business across a wide array of platforms including Maps and Google Web Search.





It really is a good move by Google especially if it simplifies the process for businesses to get listed within Google local search or be found on Maps.  This is a good thing for business owners.  Whom this might not be a good thing for are other local directories or potentially website owners who want users to click through to their own site.  Google is looking at providing business information in a ubiquitous manner meaning that in some cases the user may not even have to click through to a merchants website as information such as location, directions, hours of operation, phone numbers, reviews or menus will be right on the Google SERP.  Why would you need to click through to an actual website?




Benefits of Google My Business

There are some key benefits of Google My Business.  Some of these include:

• The ability to easily update your business information quickly and as often as you like.
• The ability to consolidate your local business information making it more consistent and up-to-date.
• The ability to be found across various local search platforms in Google.
• The ability to be found across devices from tablet to your phone or from your laptop. Your business data will be consistent and easily accessible.
• The ability to manage your local business information on the fly even from a mobile device.
• The ability to access customer insight on your business and understand how people find your business and interact with your content. (Google Trend data around views and clicks).

Here is a quick video on Google introducing Google My Business






More on Google My Business from Google – https://www.google.com/business

Visual Tour of Google My Business from Search Engine Land: http://searchengineland.com/google-business-visual-tour-193764


About the Author
Jody has been specializing in organic search for the better part of the past decade. Having spent seven years with Mediative (formerly Enquiro), Jody has dealt with some of the largest brands in the world reviewing sites, providing insightful analysis and mapping online strategies for our clients. Jody has contributed articles to leading industry resources such as Search Engine Guide, Web Pro News Canada, Search Engine Journal and his own blog Marketing-Jive.com. Jody has created and developed SEO for Website Redesign solutions, has prepared numerous SEO best practices and is an advocate of continuous improvement. Jody plays a key role in helping Mediative deliver cutting edge search strategies, assisting clients with adapting to the ever-changing online universe.