4
SEPTEMBER 2015 PRO INSTALLER
PRO NEWS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
In the last of her social media columns for Pro Installer, Sarah Ball,
Communications Director at Balls2 Marketing, talks about how to set up
Google+ to get the best results when you want someone to find you.
HELP PEOPLE FIND YOU
30 minutes to get on
Google maps
Here’s how to set it up:
The chances are that if you’re in business
you want customers and prospects to find
you. Google+ is the best way to get on the
map on the first page of Google.
When you set up a company page on
Google+, also known as Google My Business, set it up right and it will maximise
the chances to be seen on Google in your
area.
Step 1.
Here’s how it works
Google+ is a fully integrated Google
advert for your business. It also gives you
control over how your business is listed on
Google and Google Maps.
It is fantastic for local search results as you
can be listed with other businesses on the
map for relevant search results in your area.
But the best thing is that, apart from time, it
doesn’t cost you anything to set up.
Go to
https://
plus.google.
com/pages/
create.
You have
to choose your business type from Storefront, Service Area, or Brand.
A storefront – this is somewhere customers could visit you – so great for showrooms
or trade counters
A service area – this is somewhere you
work from but customers are less likely to
visit – distribution warehouse or factory
A brand – great for product brands that
are recognised separately from the company
name
For a store front or service area Google
will ask you to type your business name
into a search bar on a map. Find the correct
business and address and click on that.
It is important to set up your page as a
store front if you have a physical place for
customers to visit like a showroom or café
because anyone searching will be able to
find you. Then go to step 2.
If your business doesn’t appear, you can
create it as a new business here. Just fill in
the information Google asks for.
Or, you can go to Google and type in the
company name. Your company may appear
on the right
of the screen
with a map of
your premises,
address, phone
number and
reviews. Underneath this box
you will see a
message saying ‘Are you the business owner?’ Click on that and go to step 2.
Step 2.
Once you have clicked on your business,
Google needs to check it’s really you. You
have two options:
• If you want to do it straight away you
can verify your page immediately with an
automated call from Google to the number listed under your company’s details.
Google will provide you with a validation
code. Then a box will pop up where you
can enter the code. Make sure you do
this immediately as if you navigate away
from the page you can’t get back to it and
there will be no option for automating the
call for a few weeks after.
• Or you can have a post card sent to you
(usually within 2 weeks) with a validation
code. To input the code go to your business profile and there will be a message
at the top saying ‘verify now’ click this
and a box will appear for you to do this.
When done, the page is claimed as yours.
Step 3.
Now the page is verified you can start adding information. An email address, website,
opening hours and photos are all really
good things to start with. Make sure you
check any existing information listed for
accuracy and edit if needed. This includes
your address and where your pin is placed
on Google maps.
‘it will really help your
SEO if you set it up right’
You can also add a YouTube channel to
your page allowing customers and prospects quick access to any videos you have.
A couple of years ago it was predicted that
Google+ would be the next big platform for
social media. It’s not taken off in the way
they expected – but it will really help your
SEO if you set it up right.
I’ve really loved doing this series for
ProInstaller, and it’s the last one. You can
catch me live at FIT show seminars next
year talking about social media. If you’d like
to keep in touch choose the social media
you like best and say hello!
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sarah
@sarah2ball and @Balls2marketing, find
me on LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+
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