Hey there, my fabulous listener, welcome to episode 85 of the Small Business Made Simple Podcast.
Thank you for lending me your ears today – I know you have lots of choices, so I sincerely appreciate me being one of them!
If you’re a first time listener, super super welcome, I am so pleased to have you here. I am your host Jenn Donovan, and it’s my job, via this podcast, social media and everywhere else actually, to make your business life simpler.
I’m a thought leader when it comes to marketing here in Australia and I’m a marketing strategist for small business.
Why? Because business can be lonely and hard and complicated and it’s hardly ever easy, but it should be simple or at least simpler, so that’s my commitment you to on the Small Business Made Simple podcast!
One way I help to make your life simpler is by having a group of like-minded business owners all in one stop. To ask questions, get answers and enjoy the journey of business! If you haven’t joined the Like Minded Business Owners Facebook Group, then hope over there after this episode and join! Simply search Like Minded Business Owners in Facebook or come to the show notes for the like. Show notes are at www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/85
www.facebook.com/groups/LikeMindedBusinessOwners
This episode is sponsored by my 30 day social media and marketing challenge.
This month’s challenge is closed, but if you’re keen on upping your social media or marketing game, want daily accountability from a supportive community and tips and tricks from a social media and marketing strategist (that’s me) and a PR, storytelling expert – that’s Lyndsey, then this is the challenge for you!
To get on the waitlist – register at https://bit.ly/jennswaitlist
Next one starts 1st September. Be challenged and invest in yourself.
Today on the podcast I am talking Google My Business.
I find myself talking about it constantly with clients, in forums, on webinars and it struck me that I haven’t talked about it here – with you!
So, today I am!
Google my business should be playing a part in your marketing strategy.
But let’s start from the start.
What is Google my Business?
Well in its simplest form, it’s a business listing with Google that has free tools to promote your business online.
But don’t let that explanation underwhelm you – it’s a pretty powerful listing – especially for small businesses and small local businesses.
It not only allows a local listing for your business, as a free business profile, but it can also act as your website and you can manage how, exactly how, your business appears on google search and maps.
Google My Business offers small business owners the opportunity to establish their business online easily, in fact, can be set up in minutes.
But what if you’re already online – I hear you say!
Having a Google My Business account is still important – it will compliment your website by adding more visibility and you can add your website on your business profile- which again, will help with traffic and being found.
If you haven’t already set up and claimed your Google My Business profile – then when you finish listening to this podcast – hot foot it to google and sign up!
Especially if you’re a local business.
To sign up – just google, Google My Business, follow the prompts and sign up and fill in all the information.
Here’s why, for me, I think Google My Business is SO important for you.
As business owners we wear SO many hats – business owner, employer, marketing and social media person, accountant, gate keeper and the list goes on and on.
We are time poor and don’t need another thing to do.
Some business owners have also been sold a Furphy – built it and they will come!
They invest either time or money or both in a website and are under the illusion that people will somehow magically find them among the gazillion other websites out there.
Most find, quite quickly that this is not the case.
Website traffic is the piece of the puzzle people didn’t tell them about – that that would become yet another job to do.
SEO – the words search engine optimisation; makes half of us shutter and the other half think what’s that – and to most it’s a job that doesn’t get done.
Now, I’m not going to chat in your ears and pretend that I am so expert when it comes to SEO – actually so far from it – but I do have a real appreciation for its importance.
If you want to know more from an expert – listen to episode 39 with Kate Toon – the Beyoncé of SEO!
A tool like Google My Business, a free tool mind you, can help with this.
Especially if you treat google my business, as I advise all my clients, to treat it like you would a social media platform.
Think of posts as mini google ads your customers can see if you come up in a google search.
Will posting to google my business consistently increase your rankings with google?
The answer to that I am not 100% sure – indirectly for sure. But the other thing I know for sure is that the more love you give google the more it will love you back.
So, in theory, post to Facebook, post to Google My Business.
Publish a Blog, post to Google My Business.
And so on.
Give love to get love!
If you post photos to Google My Business, make sure your photos are keyword rich – make sure your photos tell the story in words, of what’s in the photo.
For example, if it’s a photo of a piece of jewellery you sell, the name of the photo would be something like “18ct gold 13cm woman’s pandora bangle”
See how that’s key word rich.
Even if you can’t see the picture – you know what it is?
You might even add your business name and place – like Noonan’s Cobram or something like that.
According to Google, businesses with photos see 35% more clicks to their websites and 42% higher requests for driving directions in Google Maps.
Make sure your cover photo paints a picture of who you are and what you do.
Another really cool feature of Google My Business is Google Reviews.
Peer reviews of your business and Google actually encourages you to ask customers to write reviews too!
How do you get reviews – simple – ask! In fact, 68% of people will give you a review if you ask.
But you’ve got to make it simple! Give them the direct link – don’t make it hard!
Oh, and ALWAYS respond to reviews you get – good bad or indifferent.
And if you get a bad review – it’s ok – most of us humans would look at that, with all the good reviews also and think “mmm someone was having a bad day!”
So, why in summary – why do you need a google my business account:
- To be discoverable – especially locally
- Keep customers informed (maps, phone numbers etc)
- Boost consumer confidence – reviews – building credibility and trust
- Stand out in a crowded marketplace
All for free – I say no more!
Google My Business is a little piece of untapped gold.
If you haven’t ready set yourself up – here’s your nudge.
If you have, then your nudge is to
- Post to it regularly – like a social media platform
- Check all your details are current and correct (especially business hours and contacts given Covid19 and all the changes it’s bringing us)!
So, that’s it for episode 85.
As mentioned at the beginning this episode is sponsored by my 30 day social media & marketing challenge – to get on the wait list go to https://bit.ly/jennswaitlist
Got questions? Head into Like Minded Facebook group and ask away – or send me a DM on Instagram or an email jenn@jenndonovan.com.au
I’ll be back next Thursday with another great episode to help you simplify your business in 2020.
If you’re enjoying this podcast, which if you have listened to here – you hopefully are, don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with another superstar business owner who’s doing the daily grind and would appreciate someone making their business simpler, and leave a rating or review to show how much you are loving this free weekly content.
See you next week on the podcast for episode 86. But in the meantime, let’s hang out on social and get social on social – you’ll find me on Instagram, Facebook and my fav LinkedIn.
But whatever you do,
……..remember small business peeps, as my opening song says, there’s no point in dreaming small!
Excellent podcast Jenn, very easy to listen too & informative 😊