As a realtor, it's important to have a strong online presence in order to reach and connect with potential clients. One often overlooked but highly effective method for improving your online visibility is optimizing your Google My Business page.
Tom Ferry talks about the importance of utilizing a Google My Business page and has talked about it several times at conferences. Check out a recent video where he talks about some advanced tactics.
Google My Business is a free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including in search results and on Google Maps. By optimizing your Google My Business page, you can improve your visibility to potential clients searching for real estate services in your area.
Do you even have a Google My Business page yet? Let's get started!
Creating a Google My Business page is easy and only takes a few steps:
1 - Go to www.google.com/business and click on "Start now" in the top right corner.
2 - Sign in with your Google account. If you don't have a Google account, you can create one for free.
3 - Enter your business name and address.
4 - Choose a business category (such as Real Estate Agent) and enter your phone number and website (if you have one).
5 - Verify your business. Google will send a postcard with a verification code to the address you provided. Once you receive the postcard, enter the code on your Google My Business page to verify your business.
Once your business is verified, you can start optimizing your listing by adding photos, a business description, and other relevant information.
That's it! Your Google My Business page is now set up and ready for you to start optimizing it to improve your online presence and attract potential clients.
Now, let's get it optimized for maximum exposure!
Claim and verify your business: This ensures that the information displayed about your business is accurate and up-to-date. Verifying your business also gives you access to additional features and insights on Google My Business, such as the ability to respond to reviews and track your performance.
Complete your business information: Be sure to fill out all of the fields on your Google My Business listing, including your business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for potential clients to find and contact you.
Add photos: Visual content is incredibly powerful, and adding photos to your Google My Business page can help give potential clients a better idea of what your business looks like and what sets it apart. Consider adding photos of your office, team, and any unique features or amenities that you offer.
Use relevant keywords: Include relevant keywords in your business name, description, and categories to help potential clients find your business when searching for specific terms on Google.
Utilize the "posts" feature: The "posts" feature on Google My Business allows you to share updates, promotions, and events with your audience. Use this feature to keep your listing active and engage with your followers. Consider adding your professional listing photos here!
Encourage customer reviews: Reviews play a significant role in the credibility and perceived trustworthiness of your business. Encourage your clients to leave reviews on your Google My Business page to help attract more potential clients. It's also important to respond to any reviews that you receive. This helps to build trust and show that you value your clients' feedback.
Monitor and track your performance: Use the insights and analytics provided by Google My Business to track your performance and see how your listing is performing. This can help you identify areas for improvement and optimize your listing for better results.
In addition to these tips, there are a few best practices to keep in mind when optimizing your Google My Business page. First, it's important to keep your business information consistent across all online platforms, including your website, social media profiles, and directory listings. This helps to build trust and credibility with potential clients.
Second, keep your listing up-to-date with accurate and current information. This includes your business hours, contact information, and any changes to your services or offerings.
Finally, be sure to regularly monitor and update your Google My Business listing. This can help to keep your listing active and improve its visibility in search results.
Bonus Tips:
Geo tagging your photos on Google My Business can help improve your online visibility and make it easier for potential clients to find your business. Geo tagging involves adding location data to your photos, which allows them to be displayed on a map and searched for based on location. This can be especially useful for real estate businesses, as it allows clients to see the location of properties and get a better idea of the surrounding area. To geo tag your photos on Google My Business, simply ensure that your device's location services are turned on while taking the photos, and they will automatically be geo tagged when you upload them to your listing.
The products section can also be used to market your listings and get more exposure. Utilizing the geo-tagged photos will help considerably. Check out GeoImgr to tag your listing photos for free.
In Conclusion
By following these tips and best practices, you can effectively optimize your Google My Business page and improve your online presence, ultimately leading to more traction and exposure in your local real estate market. Don't underestimate the power of this simple but effective tool - start optimizing your Google My Business page today and start seeing results.