Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence across various Google products, including Google Search and Google Maps. It’s a crucial resource for businesses looking to connect with local customers and enhance their visibility in search results. Here are the basics of Google My Business:
- Creating a GMB Listing: To get started with Google My Business, businesses need to create a listing for their establishment. This involves providing basic information such as the business name, address, phone number (NAP), website URL, hours of operation, and category. Once the listing is created, it will appear in Google Search and Maps results.
- Verification: After creating a listing, businesses need to verify their ownership to gain full control over their Google My Business profile. Verification typically involves receiving a postcard from Google at the business address with a verification code, although other methods such as phone verification may be available in some cases.
- Managing Information: Once verified, businesses can manage and update their information within the Google My Business dashboard. This includes editing business details, adding photos and videos, responding to reviews, and updating hours of operation.
- Customer Reviews: Google My Business allows customers to leave reviews and ratings for businesses, which can significantly impact their online reputation. Business owners can monitor and respond to reviews through the GMB dashboard, demonstrating their commitment to customer satisfaction and addressing any concerns raised by customers.
- Insights and Analytics: GMB provides businesses with insights into how customers find and interact with their listing. This includes data on the number of views, clicks, calls, and requests for directions generated by the listing. These insights can help businesses understand their online visibility and make informed decisions about their digital marketing strategies.
- Posts and Updates: GMB allows businesses to create posts and updates to engage with customers and promote special offers, events, or new products/services. These posts appear directly in the business’s Knowledge Panel on Google Search and Maps, increasing visibility and driving engagement.
- Messaging: Some businesses have the option to enable messaging within their GMB listing, allowing customers to send direct messages to inquire about products, services, or appointments. This feature can help businesses communicate more effectively with potential customers and generate leads.
- Attributes: GMB lets businesses add attributes to their listings to provide additional information about their offerings, such as whether they offer outdoor seating, Wi-Fi, wheelchair accessibility, and more. These attributes can help businesses attract customers with specific needs or preferences.
Overall, Google My Business is a powerful tool for businesses to establish and manage their online presence, attract local customers, and drive traffic to their physical locations. By optimizing their GMB listing and actively engaging with customers, businesses can enhance their visibility, reputation, and ultimately, their success.
Google My Business Basics Exam Answers
Question 1: The Google My Business messaging tool allows customers to reach business owners through what type of communication?
- Text messaging
- Bulletin boards
- Video chat
Question 2: You are using Google My Business to promote your restaurant online and attract new customers. What feature can you use to encourage new people to try you out?
- In-search call button
- Customer reviews
- Insights
- Dynamic ads
Question 3: What can you use to write applications that manage a Google My Business account and location data?
- Google My Business with AdWords location extensions
- Google My Business website builder
- Google My Business application programming interface (API)
- AdWords Express
Question 4: Cozy Coat Factory is a large chain retailer of discount fashions. Many of their stores are located within shopping centers and outlet malls. How should you input the business name of these locations in their bulk upload spreadsheet?
- Include the name of the shopping center in the business name
- Use the core business name, as it appears in the real world
- Add the store code to the business name
- Use the shopping center’s name as the business name
Question 5: You just started using Google My Business and you want to see how many of your customers have been interacting with your business online. What feature can you use to access this information?
- Insights
- Google My Business data reporting
- AdWords Express
- Location tracking
Question 6: Michelle wants to know how she can improve her business listing so it reaches the most people online. What can she do to get the information she needs?
- She can use insights to see how many people saw her business online and the types of things they were searching for when her listing appeared.
- She can review the call information to see how many customers are calling her directly from their online search.
- She can ask her customers to provide the information as part of their review.
- She can review her AdWords Express account to see what ads she has connected to her listing.
Question 7: You just created a new product and want to get in front of potential customers who use Google Search and Maps. What is the most suitable Google My Business tool you can use to accomplish this?
- Website builder
- Analytics
- Posts
- Messaging
Question 8: Juan wants to claim an existing listing for his business. What does he need to do to get started?
- Start a new listing and request to merge it with the existing listing
- Click on the listing and start editing his business information
- Request a verification postcard with a code to access his listing
- Log in to Google My Business, search for, and select his listing
Question 9: How can business owners benefit from using AdWords Express with their Google My Business listing?
- It gives them the ability to instantly verify their business through AdWords Express.
- They can create and manage a website in AdWords Express right from the Google My Business profile.
- They can log into AdWords Express right from their Google My Business profile to create an ad campaign.
- They can add their business listing to Google Maps.
Question 10: What are the verifcation options for businesses with 10 or more locations?
- They can import and verify their locations in bulk.
- They only need to verify one location, and the rest will be automatically verified.
- They will have to enter and verify their locations individually.
- They can enter their location information in bulk, but will have to verify each location individually.
Question 11: You made changes to your business listing, but Google flagged the edits as pending. What do you need to do so your updated information appears in your listing?
- Review the information and make any necessary changes
- Complete a change of information form
- Delete your information and resubmit it
- Submit a request to Google for approval
Question 12: Lamin has requested and is awaiting his verification code, when he realizes he needs to edit some of his business information. What should he do next?
- Edit his listing and request a new verification code
- Edit his listing and enter the verification code when he receives it
- Call Google support so they can edit his business information
- Re-start the process to claim his listing and request a new verification code
Question 13: Bob owns a small café with a Google My Business listing, but he’d also love to have a mobile-friendly website as well. He doesn’t know much about creating websites. What’s a tool that Bob can use to create his site?
- Posts
- AdWords
- Messaging
- Website builder
Question 14: Jessica has claimed and edited her listing, but she is still not seeing her changes live on Google Search. What step does she need to complete to finalize her listing?
- Account verification
- Link her account with AdWords
- Business verification
- Create a Google My Business owner account
Question 15: Alan wants to make sure customers searching online know about the new line of shoes his store is now selling. What can he do with his Google My Business listing so customers learn about his new product?
- He can add photos of the new products so customers will see them when they search online.
- He can review customer interactions in insights to see what his customers are searching for.
- He can respond to customer reviews about his products so they know about the products he has to offer.
- He can update his business listing so the brand name appears in his information.