Google has free business profile pages that are rich with information and rank even higher than your actual business website on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). The Google Business page includes the following information:
Address, phone number and even a map and directions
Hours, including an indication of when your business is most busy/active
Reviews
Links to your owned site, your menu
Photos you post as well as those embedded in the reviews
The ability to answer consumer questions about your business
It is absolutely critical that you review your Google Business page on a regular basis. We recommend adding a reminder on your calendar to take a look at it once each month, at a minimum. You should be looking at your reviews more often than that.
Addressing online reviews and comments
The online “conversation” between a business and its customers is one reason that social media is so popular. Customers post their opinions about your business for all to see and sometimes the outcome goes viral. Posting reviews has proven a useful way to get the attention of the executives at large, seemingly indifferent companies. The popularity of social media reviews means you need to have a game plan in place starting today so that you can begin to protect your online reputation. Keep in mind that how you respond—or if you do it at all— influences other people’s impressions of you and their desire to do business with you.
