Google Maps has become the daily companion for everyone walking or driving to a place they’ve never been to. All they have to do is look at the map and follow the step by step directions. And, as they walk or drive down streets, they see various business names pinned to their precise locations: restaurants, banks, supermarkets, beauty salons, etc. Many such businesses get new customers simply because they see the pin on Google Maps and remember that they need to make a quick purchase.
So, how do you get your business featured on Google Maps? As you will learn from this article, it is extremely easy and free. That’s right, you yourself can add your business to Google Maps and you don’t have to pay anything for it.
Google Maps Marketing: The Solution for Small Businesses
If you run a small local business, you should definitely get your business on Google Maps. Consumers are generally interested in finding product and services close to them. And one way to do it is by checking the location of a business on Google Map in order to see how much they’d have to drive to get there.
Also, pinning your business location on Google Maps will also help you rank higher for local searches. Google uses various sources to match a user’s location to the businesses/ products they are looking for. A verified Google Map pin is one of these sources.
Get Your Business Featured on Google Maps
Now that you know why it is so useful to do it, it’s time to get your business location pinned on Google Maps. All you have to do is follow the steps below:
1. Sign In to Your Google Business Account
Go to www.google.com/business and sign in using your username and password for Gmail or Google Drive. One of the key benefits Google offers its users is a single account for all its products, from Google My Business to YouTube or Google Analytics.
2. Check If Your Business Is Already Listed
It is likely that you or one of your employees already created a pin for your business location. In order to check this, select the Manage tab in the dashboard and start typing your business name. If it appears in the list, all you have to do is to claim it (in case someone unconnected with your business created it).
3. Create Your Google My Business Listing
If your business does not exist, you need to create a listing for it. We explained the steps to do so in this article.
3. Add Your Location
Depending on the case, you have to create a location for your business or add a new location (a new store, working point, etc.). In both cases, you simply have to click on Add New Location in your Google My Business dashboard.
You will be prompted to type in the full address of your business.
4. Add the Pin for the Location
After adding your business location, Google will show you a map of the local area where your business is situated with a red pin on it. Zoom in the map until you can identify the precise location of your store and then click and drag on the pin to position it.
5. Verify Your Business
The last step is to confirm your business location by postcard, email or phone (options vary by region). Once this is done, your business is now featured on Google Maps.
Final Considerations
If you want your business to stand out, you can also opt to pay for a promoted pin. Promoted pins are larger and coloured purple, so they stand out more prominently on the map. You can get a promoted pin using Google Adwords Express (Smart Campaigns).