Google My Business is a free and easy way to promote your company on Google Search and Maps, two crucial platforms for consumer discovery and knowledge. 

However, simply creating a company profile will not provide you with all of the digital marketing advantages that this suite of resources has to offer.

The trick to enhancing your local or regional business's discoverability is to create or assert your Google My Business listing and optimize it. 

It's an important part of your local SEO strategy because it means that clients and prospects can find the information they need when they need it. 

Use these seven Google My Business optimization tips after you've claimed your listing to make the most of it!

1- Always keep business information up to date

Holding your Google My Company listing up to date is one of the most important things you can do as a business owner. 

Make sure your listing is updated if information about your company changes. Customers can see the most up-to-date information as they browse, which will help the company gain loyalty and reputation.

Updates to be aware of could include:

• Business hours (including holiday and special hours)
• Physical address
• Phone number
• Website URL
• Category of business

Customers may see your Google My Business listing as the first — or only — result of a Google search. 

To improve your chances of winning customer business, make sure the information on your website is correct. This will make you look professional and trustworthy.

2- Download the Google My Business mobile app

You can use a desktop computer to access your Google My Business profile, but the tool also has a free smartphone app. This software helps you to keep track of your business data when on the go.

Many of the same features as the desktop version are included in the app, including the ability to:

• Manage how your local business appears on Google Search and Maps
• Edit your business information, such as your address, phone number and hours
• Respond to reviews, questions and messages from customers
• Share new photos and create Google Posts with special offers and events
• See customer insights, including how people find and interact with your business on Google

Using the Google My Company mobile app, updating your business listing and promoting new activities or deals is now simpler than ever. 

Although the software is stable, it does vary from the desktop edition in a few ways. On the app, you can't delete or pass ownership of a listing. 

You can, however, see your followers on your phone, which is a mobile-only feature.

3- Split responsibility between additional owners and managers

Running a company entails a great deal of responsibility, and you may not have the time to keep your online profile current. 

Consider enlisting the assistance of a few coworkers to ensure that your Google My Business listing receives the attention it deserves. You can grant multiple owners and managers access to the tool, allowing them to make edits, react to feedback and queries, and build engaging articles.

You can add and delete users at any time as the listing's primary owner, granting one of three forms of user access:

Owners: Owners have the most rights and access to your listing, including the right to use all of Google My Business's resources and settings. Other owners and managers may be added or removed by the owners. They can also make changes to the listing's details and delete the business profile altogether.

Managers: Managers have many of the same rights as operators, but they are unable to delete the company profile or handle user access. They have access to all company data and can view Insights.

Site manager: The lowest level of access is granted to site managers. They may not have administrative authority, but they do have the ability to edit certain business records, such as hours. They can also connect with customers by posting on social media and reacting to feedback.

4- Share more (and better) photos

Adding images to your Google My Business page is a perfect way to increase potential customers' loyalty and reputation. 

According to Google's report, company listings with photographs attract more requests for driving directions and more clicks through to their websites than listings without photos.

Customers will get a sense of what your company is all about and what your products and environment are like by looking at high-quality pictures. 

Photos of the interior and exterior of your company, product photos, and photos of your team are all good options. 

Make sure the images are transparent, well-lit, and in focus. Your images should be at least 720 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall, and in either JPG or PNG format, according to Google.

5- Reply to all customer reviews and questions

You'll want to respond to all customer feedback and inquiries, both good and poor, in order to create a good reputation and maintain a professional image. These public comments demonstrate your concern for future customers. 

They also aid in the awareness of local searches. Google bases its search engine results on the quantity and content of feedback (as well as your responses).

It's important to handle both positive and negative feedback professionally. If you don't, you risk losing your customers' confidence and loyalty, as well as your online credibility. 

Also, refrain from copying and pasting replies. Customers trust authentic, one-of-a-kind answers to their concerns and questions.

6- Promote contests, events, and offers with Google Posts

Your Google My Business listing isn't just for letting people know where you're located or what hours you're open. 

You may also share Posts with more specific details about new promotions, announcements, and business or blog updates. 

Customers can learn more about your company by tapping on these Posts, which appear right on your business listing.

According to Google, 70 percent of people look at multiple businesses before making their final selection. 

Using Posts to showcase your business’s newest products and offers can help you stand out and influence customer decisions. 

You can also include calls to action like “Buy” or “Call” buttons on each post, which will further streamline the customer decision-making process.

7- Monitor performance using Google My Business Insights

It's crucial to keep track of digital marketing activities in order to figure out what needs to improve for better results. 

With Insights, Google My Business makes this easy. This tool shows you how many people find your company on Google Search and Maps, how they found you, and what they do after they've looked at your page.

Potential Insights data could reveal how many customers found your company through direct search (i.e., visitors who type in your website's URL) versus branded search (a search including your business name). 

Customers' behaviors on your listing will also be shown in Insights, such as how many people clicked through to your website or tapped "Call" on their phone. 

This data will help you fine-tune your Google My Business listing and remind other aspects of your digital marketing strategy.

By following these guidelines for optimizing your Google My Business profile, you will ensure that consumers searching for your company or the goods you sell are provided with reliable details that will assist them in making a purchasing decision.

Don't let your company's listing get lost in the shuffle! Keeping it fresh and updated with new images and posts will increase credibility and attract more customers.