Google My Business is a Google listing that offers businesses a new way to organize and present their brands and locations on Google Search and Google Maps. It helps businesses to connect directly with their customers, whether they’re looking on Search, Maps or Google+.

For local businesses, creating an optimized Google My Business Profile and appearing on a Google map is key, especially on mobile, as it gives the user immediate access to all the information they need – all easily loaded into Google Maps or a GPS app. When users search for your product or service, the local search listings are the ones that dominate. A local search is when someone adds a location to the search term – such as “Visible One Singapore”. It also allows local businesses to get ratings from customers and rank higher in Google SERPS – all organically. Adding Google My Business to your overall Search Engine Optimization strategy will go a long way toward increasing your visibility and ranking higher on Google search.

Optimizing Google My Business

It’s important now and in the future to claim and much like the on-page Search Engine Optimization, Google My Business profile also needs to be optimized. For Google My Business rankings, consistency is important. It’s really imperative that you retain all references of your business as consistent as possible. Precisely, your business name, business address, and business phone number. By keeping the information consistent, your site will be known as an even more trustworthy business, which will pay off in terms of search traffic and search engine rankings. Here are some ways to optimize your profile quickly:

• Filling out the profile completely. The format should be your business name, your physical address and your phone number (it is important to keep this the same across all listings and update it whenever it changes).• Be sure to select the right categories for your business.• Ensuring that your business location is accurately represented. Drag the map balloon into your exact business location for better search matches.• Include relevant Keywords within your name and description when possible and natural.• Add data for all available sections including hours of operations.• Include appropriate and high-resolution images and videos.• Adding information about what payment types you accept.

Gather reviews from real customers

The more reviews on your Google business page and the better the rating of those reviews, the higher you will get for overall rankings and visibility as well as for click-through from the search engine results page. Have a plan and the appropriate process to ask your customers to share their experience and review your business by clicking “Write a Review” on your Google My Business page. This can help people in choosing your business over your competitor’s. The more positive customer reviews your business has online, the greater number of people will be interested and buy your product. Then it means an increased conversion and sales for your business. According to Reevoo stats, 50 or more reviews per product can mean a 4.6% increase in conversion rates and reviews produce an average 18% uplift in sales. Be sure to read and reply to each of these reviews in order to promote engagement and maintain an active web presence.

Be found around the web – local directories

One of the main things that can help your Google My Business page rank higher is your company’s presence on third-party directory sites such as Yelp, Foursquare and Yellow Pages. Creating a presence in local directories and on review sites indicate to Google that your business is well established or popular in your local community. And so, while creating a listing directly on Google My Business is authoritative if you want to rank highly in the local search results, creating a listing on all the other directories related to your business focus is also very important. For consistency across the Web, be sure to list the same information in every directory such as business name, address, phone number (commonly referred to as NAP), hours, and to a lesser degree, business description.

Once you have optimized your Google My Business listing, you can expect higher ranking in local search that outranks your competitors, an increased click-through-rate to your business website, and a better search experience for the users that are looking for you online. A search user, if you can rank high, is possible to become your next customer. You can also take advantage of the tracking data (provided for free by Google) to see the number of page impressions, clicks, click-to-calls and other user insights. All of this can be used to further improve your Search Engine Optimization efforts.

Google is always committed to providing the best for all customer’s needs. Now, Google has again proved why it is the most preferred search engine. The “Book Button” feature has already been rolled out for wellness and fitness classes, and previously, Google made things a lot easier by adding a new great addition to its Reserve with Google feature allowing you to book salon and spa appointments right from Google Maps and Search. This means you can book an appointment without visiting the business’ website, eradicating further steps for a smoother experience – from discovery to booking.

Gone are the days of searching for a business, having to call to get more information about their services before proceeding to the booking process. Nowadays, it all can be done from one place — Google.

A post from Google indicated, “Starting today (Thursday), you can book appointments at spas and salons across the U.S. on Google. So that fresh haircut or palm tree-green mani is only a couple taps away.”

To get started, you have to search for the spa or salon you’re looking for (or the exact place if you already know where you want to go) on Google Maps. On the page where you usually see hours and reviews, you’ll see a big “Book” button on participating businesses you can tap on to make an appointment.

On clicking the “Book” button, users will be asked to pick a time for their appointment and fill in their details like your name and phone number. Not every salon and spa in town is going to be signed up for one of those services, but a lot of them are. If you want to just look at businesses you never knew were just around the corner that can booked via Google, you can search using Google’s Reserve With Google site.

It’s likely not a feature you’re going to use to make an appointment at your hometown salon (though you definitely can) but more useful when you’re on a travel and realize you need a mani-pedi, or maybe a haircut, or need a massage because you’re tired traveling. Sounds convenient, isn’t it? So next time you’re feeling in need of a little self-care, this new feature might come accessible and hassle-free for you! All you need is your smartphone and an internet connection.

This new feature is not just beneficial for customers, it is also for local businesses since the site provides the listings and recommendations of services to the users looking for the same type of business to book an appointment with. So make sure to complete all the details in your Google listing to boost your local SEO and capture more people in your area looking for services like yours while still weighing their options.

Undoubtedly, Google will roll out more bookable services soon in Search and Maps, but for now, revel in the fact that it couldn’t be easier to nab an appointment in just a few clicks.