{"id":5026,"date":"2020-11-16T04:15:24","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T04:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.verbat.com\/?p=2482"},"modified":"2024-05-23T07:16:46","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T07:16:46","slug":"google-my-business-in-covid-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.verbat.com\/blog\/google-my-business-in-covid-world\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Leverage Google My Business in the COVID World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the pandemic throwing open an array of challenges for small businesses, having an online presence has become increasingly significant. Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that support business owners in managing their online presence across the Google search engine and its portfolio of applications such as Search and Maps. Creating a Business Profile on Google allows potential customers to find your business on both Search and on Maps. This includes specific information like address, business hours, category and reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

If you are familiar with tools like Google+, or\nyour business already has an online presence, chances are that you already have\na Google My Business Profile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent months Google has rolled out several features to help small businesses make the transition to the next normal by updating their GMBs with relevant information that affects their operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us take a closer look at those latest updates and how to leverage them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1. COVID-19\nPost Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

So as to make COVID-19 announcements more visible for customers, Google has introduced a new Post Type for COVID-19 related posts. These posts do not contain images and would be featured higher on the GMB listing than the usual Google Posts<\/a><\/strong>. Such posts also have an extended expiry date of 14 days in place of the usual 7 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Search<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

# 2.\nTemporarily Closed<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With the latest updates, Google has enabled the \u201ctemporarily\nclosed\u201d feature for businesses which are not closed but has temporarily stopped\nproviding all services to mark as \u201ctemporarily closed\u201d. This would not affect\ntheir rankings on search results page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your business is closed due to COVID-19, you can update the information on your GMB dashboard. The option is available on the right hand side. You can reopen your business when your business fully or partially resumes operations. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Search<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

# 3.<\/strong>\nUpdate your Business Profile Directly\nfrom Google Search or Maps<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With a roller coaster ride of lockdowns, temporary closures, and re-openings businesses need to safeguard their reputations and stay connected to their customers. Hence it is important to quickly make changes to your business information and keep them up to date. You can create posts, reply to reviews, add photos, and update business information right from Google Search and Maps. This allows potential customers to find your business on both Search and on Maps, which a ton of people use.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n