A franchise is a great way to get your business out there without having to get yourself out there more than you are capable. As you look at Google Business Profile (GBP), you may wonder if there’s a way to get every franchise location in the Google Local 3-pack, or in the top three results of a local Google search. Managing multiple Google Business Profile (GBP) listings isn’t hard, but you do need some knowledge so you can do it effectively. Whether you run a large business or a small one, be sure to claim each location on GBP so you can optimize what other people find. It also improves the chance that your business will reach the Google Local 3-pack.
Getting Your Account Set Up Correctly
A GBP account is free to set up and free to use. Once you verify your business through a quick verification process, you can add locations, pictures, and other information to the account.
To qualify as a multi-location business, you must have 10 or more locations. It’s also required to not be a business offering services or an agency with multiple clients. If you fit these requirements, the next step is claiming and verifying each location. As you begin your search, you might run across duplicate listings or similar accounts made by coworkers. Delete these and only claim one account per location.
If you find an employee or someone else has claimed your business, contact them to get the login information. You can then make yourself the primary owner. If you’re not sure who claimed the listing, you can request ownership.
Connecting Multiple Locations
One of the best ways to manage multiple GBP listings is by creating a main website for your business as a whole, and having microsites for each specific location. Your dashboard has a “Manage Locations” button where you can take care of everything. The following are a few recommendations for managing your locations.
1. Link to Location Pages
Each microsite will essentially be a location page. The content on your main site should mention locations by name, and you should link to those microsites when they are mentioned. Each location page should also have its own GBP listing, claimed and verified.
2. Links in Social Media
Social media sites such as Facebook are a great platform for promoting your GBP account. Each of your accounts should have individual social signals and embedded Google maps.
3. Be Consistent
Although each location might run independently, it’s important you are consistent with information such as the business name, contact information, and website.
4. Collect Unique Ratings
Your main business page should have some ratings and reviews, but each microsite GBP should also have independent reviews. You can do this by sending customers to a link where they can leave a review. Each page should also contain the Google review icon.
The location manager tool has some awesome features that make management easy. You can check statistics, remove a location, create groups, and transfer groups.
Updating Information
It’s easy to update information on your GBP account, but other people can have a say in that as well. Google will update the information it receives from typically credible sources, but that doesn’t always mean the changed information is correct. Log in to your dashboard to review these changes and to make your own. Google is supposed to notify you when changes are made, but it doesn’t always happen, so be sure to stay on top of it.
Keeping your information up to date is essential to business. You need to be sure every location is current, phone numbers are accurate, etc.
Hiring Help as Needed
If you’re new to this, you’ll probably run across a few speed bumps, and that’s okay. You don’t have to manage all of this on your own. At V Digital Services, we’d like to help you manage your GBP listings. Give us a call today and let’s get started.