What are Google Business Listings?

Google business listings are a feature of Google My Business, which is a free tool provided by Google for Ottawa businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. Business listings on Google allow Ottawa businesses to provide information about their company, such as their address, phone number, business hours, and products or services offered, to customers who are searching for businesses on Google.

Frontpage Online provides Google My Business Listing Services in Belleville Brockville, Cornwall, and Kingston Ontario.

What does the Google Business listing cost?

Google provides these business listing free of charge. The key thing here is to have it set up and optimized properly. Our Google My Business Listing Setup and Optimization is a one-time investment of $350. If you are interested in having us do this for your business call 613-265-2626.

How can a Google Business Listing help my Ottawa business grow?

There are several ways in which a Google business listing can help your Ottawa business grow:

1. Improved online visibility: Having a Google business listing makes it easier for customers to find your business when they search for the products or services you offer on Google. This can lead to more customers discovering your business and potentially visiting your store or website.
2. Increased credibility: A Google business listing helps to establish your business as a legitimate and trustworthy company. This is especially important for small businesses or those that are just starting out, as it can help to build credibility with potential customers.
3. Customer reviews: Google business listings allow customers to leave reviews of your business. These reviews can be a powerful source of social proof, as they show potential customers that other people have had positive experiences with your business.
4. Analytics: Google My Business provides analytics that can help you understand how customers are interacting with your business online. This includes data on how many people are viewing your business listing, how many people are clicking through to your website, and how many people are requesting driving directions to your business. This information can help you identify trends and make informed decisions about how to grow your business.

How to set up and optimize your Ottawa Google My Business listing

To set up and optimize your Google My Business listing, follow these steps:

1. Go to https://www.google.com/business/ and click on the “Get on Google” button.
2. Sign in to your Google account or create a new one if you don’t have one.
3. Enter your business name and address. If your business has a physical location, select “Yes” and enter the address. If you serve customers at their locations, select “No” and enter a service area instead.
4. Choose the primary category that best describes your business.
5. Enter your business phone number and website (if you have one).
6. Click “Continue.” Google will verify your business by sending a postcard with a verification code to your business address.
7. Once you receive the postcard, enter the verification code to complete the setup process.

To optimize your Google My Business listing, consider the following:

• Add high-quality photos of your business, products, and services. These can help potential customers get a better sense of what your business has to offer.
• Use relevant keywords in your business description and throughout your listing to help customers find your business when they search for the products or services you offer.
• Make sure your business hours, contact information, and other details are accurate and up-to-date.
• Encourage customers to leave reviews of your business. Positive reviews can help improve your credibility and increase the chances that potential customers will choose your business.
• Use Google Posts to share updates about your business, such as new products or services, special offers, or events.
• Monitor your analytics and insights to understand how customers are interacting with your business online and make any necessary updates to your listing based on this data.

Tips for managing and responding to customer reviews on Google My Business

Here are some tips for managing and responding to customer reviews on Google My Business:

Monitor your reviews regularly: It’s important to keep track of what customers are saying about your business. Set up notifications so you can be notified when a new review is posted.

Respond to all reviews: It’s important to respond to both positive and negative reviews. Thank customers for their positive feedback and apologize to those who had a negative experience.

Be genuine and professional: When responding to reviews, be genuine and sincere. Avoid using templates or copy-pasting responses.

Address specific issues: If a customer raises a specific issue in their review, address it directly and provide a solution.

Offer to resolve issues offline: If a customer raises a significant issue in their review, it’s a good idea to offer to resolve it offline. This allows you to handle the issue privately and avoid any further public discussion.

Keep it brief: While it’s important to address the customer’s concerns, try to keep your response brief and to the point.

Don’t get defensive: It’s natural to want to defend your business, but getting defensive in your response will likely only escalate the situation. Instead, focus on finding a solution and apologizing for any inconvenience the customer may have experienced.

By following these tips Ottawa businesses can effectively manage and respond to customer reviews on Google My Business, which can help improve your online reputation and customer satisfaction.