What Are Google Posts and Why Should I Care?
By Malia K.
Digital Marketing Guide
Magnified Media
Everyone knows Google is the best search engine in the world. If you’re running a business or thinking of starting one, consider using Google to your advantage through Google Posts. Taking advantage of these features can be very beneficial for your organic search rankings. Why? Because they prove to Google that your site (and your business!) are reputable, engaging and meaningful destinations for your visitors.
What are They?
Introduced in 2017, Google Posts started out as a way for businesses to highlight offers. Google Posts allow you to connect with existing and potential customers via messages posted to your business listing on Google Search and Maps. New updates have made four types of posts available:
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what’s new posts,
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event posts,
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offer posts, and
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product posts.
What’s new posts provide general information about your business including photos, videos, and other info. Event posts promote an event your business supports or is involved in. Offer posts provide offers from your business or promotional sales that can include photos, videos, and coupon codes. Lastly, product posts emphasize a specific product you’re selling which would require a title and photo or video. The posts appear as cards in the knowledge graph when someone makes a local search for your business which is beneficial in improving online presence and sending more traffic to your website. Through these, they enable you to announce upcoming events, show off new products and services, promote offers, and share other types of information with your audience.
How Does It Work?
To get started, you must be verified that you’re an authorized representative for your business by searching for it and finding its knowledge panel then signing into one of the official sites. After you are done, you can view your current posts or create new ones by clicking on “Posts” in the sidebar under Google My Business. Or, you can type your business name and location into Google to find your local listing for editing or creating a new post.
Any business with a verified GMB listing can create a post on Google. Posts are visible to users on the Posts tab of the business listing on mobile and on Google My Business websites. Then choose the type of post you want to create, either: What’s New, Event, Offer, or Product. You will be prompted to upload an image, write between 100 and 300 words, and add other details (depending on the post). Each post type provides the audience with specific details and allows you to add a call to action (CTA) button to your post. Making things easy for users increases the chance that they take action.
Once it’s published, it will appear in the local search results when someone searches for your business along with other information from your listing that may also be shown on Maps, Search, and the Overview tab of business listings.
Why Should You Care?
When customers have more access to your business information and updates, it facilitates direct communication, improves customer experience, and creates a larger appeal for events and products. Customers will perceive your company as being more active online, which will improve your brand image.
With Google’s verified stamp, you’ll come across as a more authentic business and become more readily searched. Through Google Posts, you can amplify your brand, engage your audience, and keep your presence fresh on Google. Use this free and easy-to-use tool for managing your presence across Google. You have the opportunity to enhance your profile page to new heights and expand your brand reach.
Need an Agency You Can Trust?
Magnified Media specializes in online marketing for businesses and small companies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. We are their trusted outsourced marketing solution, focused on doing three things: getting them more online reviews, clarifying their marketing message and creating content for their social media platforms. Focusing on these key areas for our clients means they can run their business without worrying about when or where the next customer is coming. We help build their business through reputation. Interested in seeing what we can do? Schedule your Free Online Presence Audit now. (Here is a map to our location.)
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