Google My Business –Do This Now for Your Roofing Company

Google is always changing and the latest changes with Google My Business are huge for roofing contractors.

Google+ No More

As you may recall, Google had a product called Google+. It was an effort to create a yet another social platform. It never took hold. Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter held that position.  Google is a search engine in people’s minds – so it never got any real traction. We call it “Social Media Fatigue” because people were not willing to have yet another social media platform to keep up with and post about their lives. Misfortune for Google perhaps, but in August of 2018, Google reported a hacking of the Google+ database.  With this hacking, Google found their excuse to announce the ending of Google+.

Google is a Search Engine

From the Google+ experiment Google learned some valuable lessons. One thing they learned is that they can make or break the success of a business online like no one else. Facebook is social, Twitter is news breaking, Google is business!  The Google search platform is incredibly valuable to the potential success of every roofing company and owner.  The changes to Google My Business require more of each business owner now – but it also offers more opportunity for business owners to take advantage.

Google My Business Requires Your Attention

The Google My Business (formerly known as Google Places) information was previously just the entry portal into Google maps information and Google reviews (perhaps the most valuable assets).

Google My Business Social Changes

Google has incorporated some of the social aspects of Facebook and Twitter, like encouraging posting about your business, making offers, featured offers and more. They have also provided expanded areas to talk about your products and services, and photo areas for you and your customers to post about your business.

Optimizing Your GMB (Google My Business)

Your company can optimize your GMB quickly and easily. Just start at the top and complete every section available. Google My Business sections can vary slightly from listing to listing but generally the sections to complete are:

• Posts – start posting! Google wants you to do this and do it regularly.
• Info – this is a large section and perhaps the most important to complete accurately and carefully. This is all your business address, website, phone, hours, products and services, descriptions and photo’s.
• Reviews – this section is where you go to respond to reviews and YOU SHOULD! Every review, good and bad should be recognized by you. A hearty thank you if positive and if not, some explanation or context to the complaint help others read into the situation. Most people can recognize someone who is being unfair – either way. So it’s good to show the other side of the coin if need be.
• Messaging – turn on this feature to be notified if someone tries to reach you via text through the GMB
• Photo’s – this is where you can add lots of photos of your business, your customers, your products and more. Load it up with images you took. Avoid stock images here – keep it real.
• Website – this is a new area that may become more valuable and useful in the future. We guess Google has big plans for this. Right now it’s not too compelling of a website but Google likes things that keep users in the Google system and this does that. More on Google Websites soon.
• Create an Ad - this redirects you to the Google Adwords area that Google would love to make simple and effective for roofing contractors. Anyone who has built an ad campaign in Google knows “it’s complicated”. They are working hard to make it easier and more effective for the average Joe to execute. This product still a ways to go here…

This article could be a book if there was time to write it. Google My Business opportunities for your Roofing Company are evolving and now is the time to get in there and max it out. Start making it a part of your marketing strategy because most roofers are not…but Google wants it to be.

If you need help maximizing your GMB for your Roofing Company, this is a big part of what we do and we can help. Give us a call and we can put together a plan just for your business. We offer a full range of marketing services including roofing SEO, digital marketing, and reputation management.

First Posted right here: Google My Business –Do This Now for Your Roofing Company