What are GMB services?

Google has been making efforts in recent years to become more than just an online search engine. The company is now known for its many other products and tools that make up their suite of offerings. Among those offerings are Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Android, Chrome OS, and even Nest Labs – which you may know as the maker of smart home devices like thermostats and smoke detectors. But perhaps one of the most important parts of Google's offering to users is what they call "Gmail". This email account can be used by anyone who wants access to the internet without needing another separate username or password.

It makes sense then that Google would want to get into the social media game too with a platform called Google+. It was originally intended to replace Facebook but quickly became popular among people looking for something different from the big-name site. Nowadays, however, Google+ is still around alongside much smaller competitors such as Twitter.

Another product that Google offers these days is called Google My Business (formerly known as Google Places). The idea behind this program is simple enough: Google's algorithms will take information about local businesses (such as location, hours of operation, address, contact info) and present them on maps so that customers can find businesses easily when searching for nearby locations.

In addition to providing easy map searches, Google also allows small businesses owners to manage their listings directly through the website itself. These options include adding new information, reviewing existing data, responding to customer questions, and managing their accounts. In fact, if you're interested in learning how to use Google My Business yourself, we have written guides outlining everything you need to know about Google My Business.

We'll start off today by taking a look at what exactly Google My Business is. Then, we'll explore how it works, why it's useful, and how you can benefit from using it.

What are Google My Business services?

Before diving deeper into this topic, let's first define what Google My Business actually does. As mentioned above, Google My Business provides a way for small business owners to promote themselves and their stores online. They can add details about their store including things like opening times and prices, create a professional photo, set up a video tour, and respond to reviews left by others.

The best part about having your own Google My Business page is that it appears near the top of Google results whenever someone types in your name or place of business. If someone were to type in "Apple Store" right now, they'd see Apple's official listings appear along with several pages of results from third parties selling Apple gear. Similarly, if someone typed in "Dollar Tree", they'd get a long list of Dollar Trees across the country.

When potential customers visit any of these sites, they'll see your Google My Business listing prominently displayed. You can choose whether to show only one listing per category or whether to display multiple listings under each category. For example, if you run two restaurants within walking distance of each other, you might decide to put both listings into one section while placing the second restaurant in a different section.

This gives potential customers a chance to compare the quality between the two establishments before deciding where to go. Of course, there are ways to optimize your listing further, which we'll discuss later.

There are three main areas of functionality available on Google My Business:

Posting content

Responding to reviews

Managing listings

Let's talk about each of these in turn.

What are Google My Business categories?

Categories allow Google to organize your listings into relevant groups based on similar topics. When creating your Google My Business profile, you specify which categories you would like to participate in. There are over 100 categories to select from, ranging from pet supplies to travel agencies to personal trainers. Each category gets a unique URL which helps visitors navigate to that particular area of interest.

For instance, if you wanted to sell hiking boots, you could pick out a category titled Hiking Boots and enter that URL into your browser instead of typing in the full web address. Doing so takes you straight to a dedicated landing page showing all the items listed under the specific category. From here, you can click through to individual listings and get more detailed information about them.

Is Google My Business a free service?

While Google My Business certainly isn't free, the good news is that you don't need to pay anything extra to sign up for the service. All of the basic functions are included in the standard plan offered by Google. Basic plans cost $0.20/month plus 10¢ per thousand impressions ($1.00 minimum charge), whereas premium plans begin at $5.50/month plus 5¢ per thousand impressions ($10 minimum charge). Premium plans offer additional benefits including better analytics, higher limits on total number of listings, the ability to edit your listing after creation, unlimited contacts, and more.

However, keep in mind that not every feature is available on every plan. Some advanced features require a paid upgrade that costs anywhere from $15 - $100 depending on the amount of work involved. And remember that all plans come with limitations regarding how often ads can be shown on your listings. After all, no matter how well optimized your listing is, it's bound to attract spammy comments and reviews. So, if you really want to reach a wide audience, consider upgrading your package.

What are some of the features of Google My Business?

Aside from being able to post new content, respond to reviews, and manage your listings, you should expect plenty of great perks associated with Google My Business. Here are four of the biggest ones:

Get featured on Google Search

If you've managed to build up a strong following on social networks, getting a spot on Google's front page can help drive traffic to your brand. People browsing Google will likely notice your listing and check it out. Plus, since your listing will always appear near the top of the results, you'll increase the chances that searchers will end up visiting your business.

Boost rankings

As mentioned earlier, Google uses algorithms to determine which websites rank highest on their search engines. However, if your business ranks high because of positive word-of-mouth referrals, it's possible that you won't receive the same boost from SEO techniques. That said, Google My Business can provide you with a leg up on the competition if you're trying to establish yourself locally. By optimizing your listing, you can improve your ranking position.

Improve visibility

With hundreds of millions of monthly visits going towards various Google properties, it's safe to say that Google knows a thing or two about marketing. One tactic that Google recently introduced was allowing advertisers to link keywords back to their ad campaigns. This means that if you target certain terms related to your industry, people viewing your ads will automatically be directed to your Google My Business listing. Not only does this mean increased exposure, but it also increases the odds that people will interact with your business via your listing.

Build credibility

One of the reasons why Google My Business is so effective is due to the sheer volume of companies using it. With nearly 1 billion active profiles worldwide, Google My Business represents a vast network of businesses from all walks of life and industries. Since Google doesn't limit participation to any specific demographic, you can rest assured knowing that your business stands out amongst thousands of others.

What are your thoughts on Google My Business? Let us know below! We think it's one of the easiest ways for small businesses to grow their presence online, especially considering the low barrier to entry. But, we also understand that it's not perfect -- there are definitely drawbacks that arise from relying solely on Google to represent you. Fortunately, there are quite a few tricks you can perform to enhance your listing beyond what Google can already do. Check out our guide to improving your Google My Business profile if you'd like to learn more.

Google's My Business (GMB) platform has seen a lot of changes in recent years. In fact, there have been so many that we've had to update this article several times since its original publication three years ago. With more than 500 million users worldwide logging into their accounts every month, you can bet that Google knows what they're doing when it comes to helping businesses grow online.

But how does one get started with using Google for marketing or customer engagement? How do you find out if Google will be right for your company? And where should you start first? Here are answers to those questions and more on what exactly GMB is, why you need it, and which packages might work best for your organization.

We'll also show you some tips for getting the most from your Google My Business account -- and tell you about the different types of support available to help maximize the value of your investment.

What is the difference between Google and Google My Business?

The two names may sound similar but they actually refer to very distinct platforms. The Google brand refers to search engine technology while My Business is an independent software product owned by Google. It was launched in 2010 as part of Google Places.

While both companies offer basic listings on Google Maps, only My Business includes information like ratings and reviews, contact details, and other features designed specifically for local businesses.

Both products allow people to post new content and respond to reviews through the same interface. You can even edit your own listing under each platform. But here's the key difference: When someone searches for your business using Google Search, the results include links to your Google+ page, plus info pulled directly from your Google My Business listing.

For example, if you use a logo image for your business, that image appears alongside any related Google search result pages. If someone who searched for "restaurant near me" saw your listing along with Google's standard map view, you'd see a link to your restaurant's website next to your address, hours, menu items, etc. That makes sense because these are things customers would want to read before deciding whether to visit your establishment. They won't click through to your site unless they know something about you already.

Similarly, if someone searching for restaurants nearby sees your Yelp review, they'll likely check out your Google My Business listing too. This provides another opportunity to connect with potential customers.

In addition to providing easy access to important data such as your address, phone number, opening hours, and location via maps, reviews, and logos, Google My Business offers tools that make managing your entire presence easier. These include:

- A built-in calendar for events, reminders, meetings, and appointments

- An integrated CRM system for collecting feedback and responding to comments

- Analytics for measuring performance against goals and metrics

- Tools for creating campaigns and advertising budgets

- Accessibility options for making sure everyone can easily reach your business' physical address

What are GMB categories?

Businesses can choose from five main categories to classify themselves within the My Business platform: Service Providers, Restaurants, Retail Stores, Hotels & Accommodation, and Professionals. Each type of business has its own set of benefits and requirements. For instance, hotels must provide at least four guest rooms, whereas retail stores don't necessarily require any specific inventory limits.

You can add up to 50 additional categories to your profile. Some common ones include: Automotive Dealerships, Child Care Centers, Construction Companies, Dentists, Doctors Offices, Dry Cleaning Services, Estate Agents, Funeral Directors, Hair Salons, Hotel Rooms, Landlords, Law Firms, Lawyers, Liquor Shops, Marriage Registrars, Pet Grooming, Plumbers, Pharmacies, Property Management Companies, Real Estate Agents, Resorts, Travel Agencies, Tutors, Wedding Venues, Wine Bars, and Zoos.

Each business category requires varying amounts of effort to maintain. While it's possible to create a single profile covering multiple categories, it's often simpler just to keep your business categorized separately.

What are Google business categories?

Like GMB, Google Ads allows buyers to sort ads based on keywords. So rather than showing paid ads above organic listings, you can place them below them. However, unlike GMB, there are no separate categories for paid and organic listings. Instead, advertisers simply select "All Categories" and pay per impression.

Here's how it works: Advertisers bid for space on Google's network, agreeing to pay each time their ad shows up in front of a searcher's eyes. Because each keyword matches hundreds of thousands of impressions daily, bidders compete fiercely over the top spots.

That means the higher ranked sites typically receive the bulk of clicks and conversions. As a result, advertisers tend to focus their efforts on optimizing their landing pages for high volume terms. Since low competition equals fewer visitors, businesses can afford to spend less money bidding for lower-volume queries.

This practice isn't ideal for small businesses, however. Most of us aren't able to afford to advertise on Google's massive scale. Also, the cost of running ads on competing networks like Facebook continues to rise.

So instead of trying to optimize for the highest traffic keywords, many marketers now prefer to target highly relevant long tail phrases that convert well.

Since Google uses algorithms to determine relevancy, it pays special attention to words that appear frequently across multiple domains. To learn more about this process, take a look at our guide to understanding SEO terminology.

What are examples of business category?

Examples of businesses that fall into various categories include:

- Auto dealerships

- Accounting firms

- Airports

- Banks

- Beauty salons

- Brick and mortar pharmacies

- Bookstores

- Building contractors

- Builders

- Cinemas

- Colleges

- Coffee shops

- Convenience stores

- Cosmetics retailers

- Dental clinics

- Design consultancies

- Dogsitters

- Drugstores

- Furniture stores

- Gas stations

- General practitioners

- Golf courses

- Handymen

- Hospitals

- Insurance brokers

- Jewelry designers

- Kitchenware specialists

- Laundromats

- Leisure centers

- Libraries

- Limousine operators

- Medical practices

- Mortgage lenders

- Motels

- Nail bars

- Newsagents

- Photography studios

- Pizza parlours

- Printers

- Public transport ticket offices

- Radio station call signs

- Restaurant chains

- Salon hair care facilities

- Sports clubs

- Supermarkets

- Taxis

- Tailoring boutiques

- Tiling shops

- Veterinary hospitals

- Video rental stores

- Water parks

- Web design agencies

- Wholesalers

- Window cleaning providers

- Wood chippers

- Zoological gardens

How much does it cost to manage my Google business?

It depends. Pricing varies depending on the package being purchased, the amount of activity generated, and the level of expertise required.

A few examples include:

- Basic - $10/month

- Pro - $15/month

- Premier - $20/month

- Elite - $30/month

- Premium - $50/month

- Ultimate - $100/month

- Enterprise - Unlimited

To estimate prices, consider the following factors:

- Number of unique monthly visits to your Google My Business listing

- Average conversion rate of visitors to actionable actions on your website

- Number of reviews posted over the past 6 months

- Number of replies received to reviews over the last year

- Number of locations listed

- Number of social media profiles associated with your business

- Number of staff members working for your business

When estimating costs, remember that not all activities generate revenue. Therefore, pricing starts off relatively cheap until you hit certain thresholds. Then, you'll incur additional fees to cover ongoing maintenance costs.

In general, though, the price of a GMB package shouldn't exceed 10 percent of your total annual budget.

Can I hire someone else to run my Google business?

Yes. Many organizations rely heavily on third party vendors for everything from accounting to IT to human resources. Often these experts operate as outsourced departments inside larger corporations. But others offer specialized skills outside of their day jobs. Either way, hiring a professional manager to oversee your Google My Business presence could prove beneficial.

If you decide to go down that route, you'll probably end up paying anywhere from $200-$400/mo for full-time oversight. Alternatively, you could contract with a freelancer or team member to perform specific tasks once or twice a week. Depending on what you're outsourcing, hourly rates range from $25-$75 per hour.

Another option is to enlist the help of a virtual assistant. These professionals complete administrative tasks on behalf of their clients, usually without requiring direct supervision. Rates vary widely according to the individual, but expect to pay around $40-$80/hr.

Which packages are worth the investment?

There really isn't one answer to that question. Every situation is different. Before signing up for anything, ask yourself the following questions:

Whether you're looking for local businesses or want to take advantage of new online marketing opportunities, there's no better way than with a Google My Business (GMB) account. The free tool helps manage listings across search engines such as Bing and Yahoo, reviews from third-party sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor, and more. It also gives you access to advanced features that can help improve your visibility on mobile devices -- which means even if people don't know where to look for you, they'll be able to find you when they need something done.

In this article we will explain what GMB is and how it works so that you can get started right away. We will also show you some helpful tools that make managing your GMB accounts much easier.

How do I find my competitor GMB category?

Google My Business allows you to create one main category for your business. You select the name of the category, add any subcategories that apply to your business, then choose whether or not those categories should appear in searches. If someone types "barber" into their browser address bar, they would see a link labeled Barber Services. Clicking on it takes them directly to your GMB page, where they can learn about your business and read customer reviews.

The same thing happens if someone wants to find a flower shop near them. They type flowers into the address bar and click on the Search Results tab at the top of the screen. In addition to displaying links to various websites selling flowers, you can also include information about your own company here, including contact info, hours, location, specialties, and more. This makes it easy for customers to find out everything they need to know before making an appointment or placing an order.

To find your competition within a specific city, use the Find nearby by ZIP code box located under the map. Type in your area code followed by the zip code you'd like to check against other businesses, and hit enter. For example, typing 80511 into the box above brings up a number of results for businesses in San Francisco.

If you have multiple locations but only want to target one specifically, you can narrow down your options using filters below the map. These allow you to set criteria like distance, ratings, languages spoken, etc., to limit the results to just the ones you care about.

You can also filter the results further by state or county through the dropdown menu next to each field. A quick glance at the map reveals several bars showing you exactly where the competing companies are based.

What is GMB listing in Google?

A Google My Business listing is essentially a digital storefront that lets people learn about your products and services without leaving your website. When customers arrive at your site via Google search, they see a summary of your business along with details about the product or service you offer, and maybe a picture or two.

They can either call or visit immediately, or continue reading to learn more about your business. There's plenty of space available to write detailed descriptions of your offerings and provide additional pictures. Customers can leave comments, ask questions, and share their experiences online. And since Google owns many major review platforms like Yelp, Trip Advisor, and others, these reviews are displayed alongside your GMB listing too.

Your GMB page appears in Google Maps, Google Local, and other places around the web. People who come to your site via Google search may notice a small blue button in the upper left corner of their screen. Clicking this shows them a preview of your GMB listing, letting them decide if they want to stay on your site or go elsewhere.

There are plenty of ways to optimize your GMB page for maximum exposure, starting with keywords. To begin creating effective keyword lists, head over to the Keyword research section of our guide to SEO. Once you've got your keyword ideas organized, it's time to start filling your pages with relevant content optimized for search engines.

We recommend hiring an expert to handle this task for you, but if you'd rather try things yourself, you can still reap great rewards by learning from experts on YouTube. Our favorite video is titled How to Create Your Own Killer SEO Content, which explains step-by-step how to develop high quality articles and videos that rank well on search engine rankings.

Other aspects of optimizing your GMB page include adding images and videos, writing compelling copy, and building strong backlinks. That last part involves finding related businesses and encouraging them to link back to you. Learn about linking strategies in our guide to SEO.

What is a GMB platform?

When you first sign up for a Google My Business account, you receive a free dashboard that includes basic analytics and reporting capabilities. Beyond that, however, the platform offers a variety of powerful features designed to increase traffic, conversions, and sales. Most importantly, though, it provides a centralized place for you to organize your entire brand identity. This includes everything from social media profiles and email addresses to logos, colors, messaging, and more.

It's important to note that although you can customize the layout of your GMB dashboard according to your preferences, it doesn't change anything regarding its functionality. Regardless of how you design your page, the core elements remain pretty consistent.

Here's a brief rundown of what you get included with every package:

- Listings - You can upload up to five different photos per property and enter custom text. All properties automatically display four standard photos taken during normal operating hours.

- Reviews - Each listing has three spaces reserved for public reviews. You can respond to negative reviews, post positive reviews, edit reviews, and delete unwanted reviews altogether. Additionally, you can post reviews of competitors' listings as well.

- Ratings & Badges - Use the star rating system to indicate how good or bad your business really is. You can also earn badges for achieving certain goals like growing your Yelp presence or receiving 100+ reviews.

- Contacts - On your GMB Dashboard you'll find a Contact Us form that enables visitors to send inquiries directly to you. By default, you can reply to messages sent from anyone outside of Gmail, Facebook Messenger, Twitter DM, Slack, and Instagram Direct. However, if you prefer, you can enable incoming emails from these apps instead.

- Management Tools - From scheduling photo shoots to sending automated replies to unread messages, you can use the built-in tools to automate tasks throughout your day.

- Analytics - Track visitor behavior and performance metrics like visits, bounce rate, average session duration, and more.

- Social Media Integration - Integrate your GMB account with popular social networks and track activity across all your channels simultaneously.

Of course, you can always upgrade your package later on once you feel comfortable working with the platform. But if you plan to stick with the free version, make sure to keep your expectations realistic because most of the paid plans require monthly subscription fees.

Finally, remember that while Google My Business does give you control over how your business looks, it cannot guarantee that potential clients won't find another business offering similar services. So regardless of how hard you work, sometimes nothing beats word-of-mouth recommendations.

What are the features of GMB?

While there's a lot to love about Google My Business, it isn't perfect. Here are a few examples of areas where improvements could easily be made:

- No ability to block spammy reviews

- Limited data export options

- Lack of integration with other Google products

Overall, though, this free tool serves as a valuable resource for everyone interested in increasing their online exposure. Whether you run a single store or operate several brick-and-mortar establishments, having a robust digital footprint is essential today. With Google My Business, you never again have to worry about missing out on leads simply due to lack of awareness or outdated advertising tactics.

To learn more about the basics of setting up a Google My Business account, browse our complete guide. If you'd like to dive deeper, consider signing up for our Google My Business Premium package.

Want to hear more tips about Google My Business? Check out our full guide to everything you need to know about the platform. If you're ready to get started, register for a Free Account now.