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It’s Time To Put Your Business On The Map

By Whitney Lemon

Google-On_The_Map-logoOver the past four years, thanks to the support of partners like America’s SBDC, the Get Your Business Online program has helped 325,000 businesses get a website.

This year, with a new program, “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map,” we’re helping local businesses in every city update their information where customers are searching for them most – on Google Search and Maps.

Being on the map matters. Research shows that businesses with complete online business listings are 2x as likely to be considered ‘reputable. ’ 1 Yet, only 37 percent of businesses have claimed their listing on a search engine.2 Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map helps businesses reach local customers by updating their info on Google Search and Maps at no charge. 

Google-On_The_Map-Example1So, what should your business do to make sure you’re being found by customers? Start with a diagnostic tool that examines your presence on Google Search and Maps. It’s available at www.gybo.com/business. Enter your business name and you’ll see a report that provides a snapshot of how—or if—your business appears across Google.

The tool highlights suggestions for areas that could use your attention, including:

  • Photos
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Hours of operation

From the report, you can access Google My Business, a central dashboard that allows business owners to manage information across Google.

Google-On_The_Map-Example2Not showing up on the map at all? No worries. Follow the steps on the results page of the diagnostic tool to get started creating a Google My Business account to get your business listed on the map, at no charge.

Gybo.com also includes additional resources to help your business, like a website through StartLogic, a series of video tips for online success, and a Google+ Community for small businesses.

On behalf of the entire Get Your Business Online team, I wish you great success growing your business.

Whitney Lemon, Google Small Business Engagement

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1 Google/Oxera, The Benefits of Complete Business Listings, December 2014
Marketing Sherpa, Search Marketing Benchmark Report SEO Edition, 2012

Whitney Lemon

BIO: Whitney is a marketing manager on Google’s Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map team. She hosts Friday 15: Small Business Tips, Google’s series to help small businesses succeed online. Friday 15 is part of Google’s Get Your Business Online program, providing small businesses with a custom domain name and web hosting–at no charge for one year.

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