We take a quick look at the benefits of a page and how to easily set one up for your store…
Reading time: 5 minutes
With 97% of people learning more about a local company online than anywhere else and with over 90% of adults using search engines to find information , convenience stores are potentially missing out on valuable footfall by not having a Google My Business page.
.
It will be no surprise that Google dominates the search engine market. On top of this, they have reported that 46% of all searches have a local intent. So, Google My Business (GMB) is a vital tool in helping local business owners manage and market their online presence, as well as attract customers. So, let’s get started…
First up, you'll need to create a Google account for your business. This is free and easy to set up. If your store currently has no presence online, you'll then be prompted to add further details to your GMB account, including business description, contact information, opening hours, photos and verifying your location. If your business already has a listing, but you don’t have access to it, you can click ‘Claim your Business’ and follow the verification steps so that you can update and edit the listing as above.
There are three main elements that will impact your local ranking with actions to take to improve your online visibility: Relevance: Help Google match your listing to relevant searches by using keywords such as ‘convenience’, ‘grocery’, ‘bakery’ or ‘tobacconist’ to name a few. Prominence: The more reviews and positive ratings you can generate, the more you're likely to show up. Ask your customers to leave a review after they've left your shop. Distance: Make sure your address is accurate. The more established and viewed your profile is, the higher it will rank on searches.
We know there’s a million things to do when running a convenience store. However, once set up, keeping your GMB profile up to date can be a quick and easy win to stand out amongst the local competition. Make sure you update your profile when changes happen, such as if you start offering more fresh food to go options or tweak your opening hours. Adding new imagery and appropriately responding to reviews can also help boost your rankings.
Great! Now you have a good online local profile and you're on your way to widening your customer base and increasing your sales.
