08-03-2016, 05:49 AM
I'm looking for an honest answer on something from those who might know.
I know when I google a service, product, or company on Google for my own use ... I always look firstly for a video to pop up in the organic results and then everything else in the organic results section. Rarely if ever will I look at the Google My Business section.
This brings to mind "Does optimizing Google My Business and Google Maps REALLY help the local business owner GET MORE BUSINESS or is this just something we say to them to get us more business simply because we can show we added something to their GMB and Google Maps?
I ask this because I've been in advertising for years. When I started I was taught that businesses needed their name in front of people so anything goes as long as their name got out there. We were selling ads on bathroom stall doors so you could see them while sitting there and on walls in front of urinals and other places to businesses that you would probably never remember their name once you walked away because that was not the right place for their ad to be. I guess I was so young and naive that just because I saw my manager or trainer selling something to a business owner and both seemed happy at the time of sell that it must be a productive and good thing. I mean Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Marlboro, Winston, Nike all had their name plastered everywhere so small businesses also should do that. That was before I understood branding, direct response, etc.
So again ... can anyone tell me how a local business actually REALLY benefits from Google My Business other than someone who is actually looking for a particular business. They already know the name and they may just be looking for the phone number or location ... which I see and understand that.
I guess my real question is will an optimized Google My Business and Google Maps REALLY benefit a local business owner much if at all when someone doesn't know that particular company even exists. I KNOW a ranked video that stands out like a billboard in the middle of a desert of their competitors helps them but just don't see GMB and Google maps as anything more than courses that IM'ers make money off of.
If you KNOW that the local business owner gets business from GMB or GM's please tell me how they do.
My biggest interest is in getting the business owner a positive ROI by getting them customers ... not getting them a pretty website or simply ranked on 1st page, etc. I want their phones ringing and customers walking in their door. Direct response marketing!
I know when I google a service, product, or company on Google for my own use ... I always look firstly for a video to pop up in the organic results and then everything else in the organic results section. Rarely if ever will I look at the Google My Business section.
This brings to mind "Does optimizing Google My Business and Google Maps REALLY help the local business owner GET MORE BUSINESS or is this just something we say to them to get us more business simply because we can show we added something to their GMB and Google Maps?
I ask this because I've been in advertising for years. When I started I was taught that businesses needed their name in front of people so anything goes as long as their name got out there. We were selling ads on bathroom stall doors so you could see them while sitting there and on walls in front of urinals and other places to businesses that you would probably never remember their name once you walked away because that was not the right place for their ad to be. I guess I was so young and naive that just because I saw my manager or trainer selling something to a business owner and both seemed happy at the time of sell that it must be a productive and good thing. I mean Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Marlboro, Winston, Nike all had their name plastered everywhere so small businesses also should do that. That was before I understood branding, direct response, etc.
So again ... can anyone tell me how a local business actually REALLY benefits from Google My Business other than someone who is actually looking for a particular business. They already know the name and they may just be looking for the phone number or location ... which I see and understand that.
I guess my real question is will an optimized Google My Business and Google Maps REALLY benefit a local business owner much if at all when someone doesn't know that particular company even exists. I KNOW a ranked video that stands out like a billboard in the middle of a desert of their competitors helps them but just don't see GMB and Google maps as anything more than courses that IM'ers make money off of.
If you KNOW that the local business owner gets business from GMB or GM's please tell me how they do.
My biggest interest is in getting the business owner a positive ROI by getting them customers ... not getting them a pretty website or simply ranked on 1st page, etc. I want their phones ringing and customers walking in their door. Direct response marketing!