Google My Business & Your Website: Working Together

Google My Business & Your Website:  Working Together

As Google continues to take over the world of Internet search, businesses have no real choice but to play along or get left behind.

None of this is more true than claiming and setting up your Google My Business page (GMB) which we’ve discussed how to do in previous blog posts.

Some pundits have even gone so far as to say that Google My Business (GMB) pages are replacing websites altogether.  Which may or may not be their intent but I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.

Part of Google’s plan, however, is trying to make search results faster as well as generating more traffic for their pay-per-click ads.  As a result,  they are increasingly providing basic information about your business right on the search result page, like this:

SEO Company NJ

chalkboard icon DOES THIS MEAN YOU DON’T NEED A WEBSITE?

According to a recent BrightLocal study 64% of consumers have used Google My Business to find contact details for local businesses, 56% of consumers expect local businesses’ websites to have the most accurate contact information.  Meaning:  for quick info like contact info, directions, hours of operation, etc, having an updated Google My Business listing was key.  But it really depends on your type of business.

According to this same study, 56% of these searches were for restaurants.

[bctt tweet=”56% of searches ending on a Google My Business page were for restaurants.” username=”samsonmedia”]

What this means, in my opinion, is that more complex services that require additional information and research still need updated, informational websites.  Need help putting your father into assisted living?  You’re going to go to the website for additional information before setting up an in-person tour of the facility.

bar chart icon TYPES OF SEARCHES ENDING AT A GMB PAGE

Website development NJ

aspengrovestudios iconOTHER KEY FINDINGS

And another surprising finding, according to the study, was that 23% of respondents had also visited an online business directory to seek an address or phone number, separate from your GMB page OR your website!

Other highlights from the study:

  • Consumers trust details from local business websites more than Google My Business or online directories
  • 64% of consumers have used Google My Business to find contact details for local businesses
  • The GMB features consumers are most likely to have used: 1. Opening hours, 2. Directions, and 3. Reading reviews
  • Only 8% of consumers never look at websites when choosing which local business to use
  • 50% of consumers would be deterred from using a local business if contact information was out of date on their website

[bctt tweet=”STUDY: 23% of respondents had also visited an online business directory to seek an address or phone number, separate from your Google My Business page OR your website!” username=”samsonmedia”]

user graduate iconCONCLUSION

While websites may be taking a back seat to some searches, it would certainly be premature and presumptuous to think that websites are no longer needed.  In fact, once your Google My Business listing is triggered in a search, 50% of those searches then visited the website from the GMB listing and the website link on the GMB page.   So basically, your GMB is a critical doorway to the rest of your online presence:  your website!  Not a replacement.

smt3 transfer within a station icon ACTION STEPS

To cover all your bases, it would be best practices to (click each one for more info):

You want to make sure you present a consistent message across the Internet in as many places as possible.  GMB is low hanging fruit so grab it and take a big bite!

New Jersey SEO Company