What is a Google listing and why do I need one?
With such a large amount of consumers using Google to find businesses online, it’s easy to understand why being listed properly would be one of the most important marketing steps that a business should take. This is why it is important for business owners to know exactly what a Google My Business listing really is.
Is a Google Listing a website?
A Google listing is not a website; it is a listing on Google that shows up when consumers are searching for the name of your business or services you provide. It is an online footprint that displays your business’s contact information and brief summary of what it’s all about.
Where Does a Google Listing Appear?
A Google Listing can show up in a few different places during a local search.
Here is a list of some of those places:
1. Local Pack – This is the first area your listing can appear (see screen shot example labeled “Local Pack” on this page). The Local Pack displays the top 3 ranking local listings. Not every Google listing can or will show up in this section. Business listings with a lot of 5 star reviews, user interaction, regularly updating and professional optimization have a good chance at showing up in the local pack.
2. More Places (see screen shot example labeled “More Places” on this page) Appearing beneath the Local Pack area, you will see a “more places” link, which expands the Local Pack to show local business listings on multiple pages based on the search query. This is the second area your business may show up in.
3. Knowledge Graph (see screen shot example labeled “Knowledge Graph” on this page) – If your business has an extensive marketing reach within the location of the person doing the searching, then your listing can show up by itself on the right-hand side of the Google search page; providing your business with very high local visibility.
Google Listing Optimization
Having a Google Listing for your business is an excellent start, but it’s not enough. A listing must be professionally optimized to make sure it is setup properly and includes all necessary information about your business. An optimized Google Listing is important for search ranking, and for potential customers. If your business is not optimized, it can be penalized by Google’s ranking algorithm. Also, potential customers may not trust a business’s information, if it’s not accurate.
So, do I really need a Google Listing?
A Google My Business listing is the main place for all of your contact information on Google. Without a listing, you would be missing out on literally thousands of potential customers in your area, looking for services or products you offer.
