Google Posts Now Available on GMB
If you’ve been reading my posts at all, you know you need a Google My Business page. And if you haven’t claimed your GMB page yet, there’s now another great reason to get out there and do it. As of June 2017, Google Posts is available for any business that has a current GMB page.
The vast majority of people today search the web to find local businesses, so claiming and optimizing your GMB page is crucial, especially for local SEO. In your quest for optimized online presence, the to-do list can be daunting, and the amount of time needed to rise in the organic search results can take months. Google Posts is an optimal way to highlight your unique products and offers in front of customers quickly. Google’s streamlined the process to add and manage your posts, so why not get started?
Google Posts – Getting Started
Google has made it quick and easy to use the Google Posts feature. Login to your GMB account using a desktop or mobile device. The “Posts” option is in the list on the left of the screen, as shown in the image below.
To create a post, click in the “Write your post” box in the upper right. A pop-up will appear, similar to the image below. You can now add images, text, dates and times of events, and links or buttons to allow customers to make reservations, register or even buy a product.
You can edit or delete any previously published posts by clicking on them in the above screen (lower right of the screen).
Benefits of Google Posts
Google is constantly looking for ways to provide fresh and relevant content to people using their search engine. You are adding fresh content every time you add or edit a Google Post on your GMB listing.
And it’s a quick win! The post is captured immediately by Google Search and Maps, so you get the immediate attention of consumers. The post appears as part of your GMB listing, right below the Name, Address and Phone Number of the business. (See below for an example. The Google Post is outlined in red.)
Google Posts can be used for several reasons, including:
- To offer periodic specials
- To announce new products or services
- To promote new or upcoming events
- To take appointments or reservations
- To offer a free materials, like white papers, newsletters or e-books
- And so on….
Managing the posts is easy too. Google posts are automatically deletes by Google seven days after they are post, or after the end date specified in the Post. In the example above for Valhalla Wellness & Medical Centers in Las Vegas, Nevada, they offer a September Special, so their post specified an end date of September 30. If they don’t modify or delete the post beforehand, Google will automatically delete it on October 1, 2017.
Google Posts can be a great option for many businesses to improve their local SEO. Your special and unique offerings are highlighted and put in front of customers faces immediately in search results. Any business that sells a product or service, offers coupons or specials, takes appointments, etc. could benefit from this feature.
Contact Philadelphia SEO for Growth to Improve Your Online Presence
A detailed and comprehensive online strategy is needed to have an online presence that captures customers’ interest, is ranked highly by search engines, generates leads and gets you found online. Philadelphia SEO for Growth can help you improve your SEO with a plan that works for your business. Contact us today to learn more!