Author: thepro37

Once you’ve claimed your Google My Business account, you need to manage and optimize it. There are multiple ways you can optimize your Google My Business page that makes it easier for your customers to get the information they need. Some optimization also helps Google to understand what your business services and products are, which will in turn help with your search engine rankings.

When entering your business information into Google My Business, make sure you add your website, phone number, photos, business description, address, service hours and service areas (if applicable), and timely updates.

Basic Information – Website, Phone Number, Photos & Business Description

Add your website link to your Google My Business page. This could be your home page, contact page, or maybe a “request a quote” page. Some businesses that don’t have a website will link to a third party website like their Instagram portfolio or their Door Dash order page.

Add your business phone number if your listing. When you add your phone number, people who view your listing on their phone can click to call that phone number. This may increase the amount of inbound sales calls you receive.

Add photos to your Google My Business listing. You can add a cover photo, your logo, and other photos. You should add photos that represent your business – products/services, customers enjoying your business benefits, your office space if customers visit your office, etc.

Your business description should be clear and concise. It should tell your customers about what your business is and what you sell. Leave out any information about temporary promotions or special events because there is another area of Google My Business to post timely updates.

Address & Service Areas

If you don’t have a physical address*, you can add service areas to your Google My Business profile. For example, you could be an independent lawyer who works from home, uses a virtual mailing address in Vancouver, but services all of Vancouver and the surrounding area. In that case, you wouldn’t want your customers to come to the virtual office and you probably wouldn’t want them to come to your house.  Adding service areas to your Google My Business tells your customer which areas your business operates in.

*Beware of using your home address for Google My Business. It can work for some small businesses but you’ll want to have a business address you can use for registration, mail, marketing, etc. You cannot use a “virtual address” if the office is not staffed during standard business hours. The workaround is to sign up for The Profile’s virtual mailbox address because the office is staffed Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 to receive mail and greet your customers if they happen to stop by.

Reviews

Another aspect of Google My Business is reviews. Your customers can leave a star-rated review with photos and comments. As a business, you have the ability to reply to your customer’s reviews. It is important to monitor your reviews on Google My Business (currently there is no alert system to tell you when someone leaves a review). 

The more positive reviews you receive on your Google My Business listing, the better your search rankings will be. Typically listings with many positive reviews will be listed higher than businesses with no reviews, making it easier for potential customers to find you. One way to get more reviews is to make it a standard practice to ask your customer for a review after you serve them. Some businesses will even offer an incentive, like 10% off their next purchase, for leaving reviews.

It’s recommended to reply to every review, good or bad, but especially be sure to follow up with negative reviews. This shows that your business is active and that you have good customer service. Also, note that anyone can post a review regardless of whether they’ve purchased something from your business or not. That is why it’s so important to monitor your reviews. When you get a review from someone who you haven’t served, simply reply to let them know they are reviewing the wrong business.

Products & Services

You can add the products or services you offer to Google My Business. This can be especially helpful for companies offering a limited number of static products. Your customers will easily be able to see what you offer and how much it costs. 

When adding products, you can add a photo, product description, and product price. Your product price can be listed as a range or a fixed amount. You can also add a button that links to your site or the product page. This can be a helpful tool to increase your sales.

When adding services, you can select from suggested services or add a custom service. Similarly to products, you can list a fixed price, a price range, or a bottom price. Though you can’t add photos to services, you can add a service description.

Post Updates

You can post updates to your Google My Business page. Currently, Google is offering the ability for businesses to post their COVID-19 updates to let customers know if there are any changes. You can also post about special offers, upcoming events, or general business news. 

It’s beneficial to post timely updates. How often should you post on Google My Business? You should try and post an update once a week that includes a photo or video. There have been companies who have seen positive results from posting every day.

Here are some examples of ideas for Google My Business posts. If you have a new photo of a product that you might put on your Instagram, you should throw that up on your Google My Business as an update. Or if you are offering a new service, you should post an update about it. If you get a new review on a platform that is not Google My Business, such as Yelp or Yellow Pages, you could post about it.

Are you still confused about Google My Business? No worries, just contact us and we can help you register your business, set up your Google My Business listing with our virtual mailbox address, and more.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is an important online tool that helps businesses manage their Google business account. The importance lies with its ability to help your customers find your business easily and quickly. All businesses, whether online-based or with a storefront, should set up and optimize their google business listing. 

When customers search your business what do they see? The first listings that come up are Google ads, which you have to pay for. The second is the Google Maps listing where your Google My Business profile shows up – all free of charge. Your Google My Business listing may also show up on the right hand side of the search results. 

Typically the listings consists of:

• Business name
• Address
• Business hours
• Phone Number
• Website
• Directions
• Business description
• Photos that accurately represent your business

More advanced and well-optimized listings will contain:

• Timely updates
• Products or services
• Appointment booking (if applicable)

Why Should I Claim My Google Business Account?

As far as search engines go, this is prime real estate that everyone is going after. Statistically speaking, customers are far more likely to click on listings that show up on the first page. The data shows that most people won’t scroll very far to find what they are looking for. The easier you can be found, the more you will be seen, and (hopefully) the more you will sell.

So let’s run through an example. With The Profile, customers might search for a coworking office. They type in “coworking offices North Vancouver” to the Google search bar and immediately see The Profile’s Google My Business listing. When they click on it, they have all the information they need. They see our products and prices. They see our COVID-19 update that tells them we are still open. They can take action by clicking on our website link or calling us right from the business listing.

Your next step is to set up your account and optimize your listing to make the most of the Google My Business benefits.

How To Claim A Google Business Account

Now that you understand the benefits of a Google My Business, the first step is to claim your Google business account. All you need is a Google gmail account to claim your Google My Business. 

The process can be summarized with three simple steps:

1. Use your Google email address to start a Google My Business account.
2. Request your Google postcard to your business address and enter the code in your Google My Business account
3. Add your business information and optimize your Google My Business account

Using your Gmail Google email address, google the name of your business and your Google Maps listing should pop up. Within the listing, click the “Suggest an edit – Own this business?” link. This will take you to the Google My Business account set up page.

You need to enter your business address and select your business category. To make the most of your listing, you should also add your phone number, service areas, website, and a short business description.

Next, you need to verify that you own the business and the associated address. To do this, request your Google postcard on the Google My Business portal. Your Google postcard will arrive through the mail to your business address after a few days or weeks. It contains a code you need to enter in the Google My Business portal. Once that code is entered, you now own and can optimize your Google business listing. That’s it!

Can I use my home address to claim my Google business account?

When entering your address into your Google business account, there are a few things you should know. You can use your home address or business address to claim your Google business account, but not a PO box address. If you can, it’s best to use a business address to claim your Google business account. Using a home address to claim your Google business account is not best practice because it may not be the best idea for your business. Some small businesses can thrive using their home address, while others may struggle.

Although you can hide your address in your Google business listing, using your home address can still provide privacy concerns. Google will store your home address as your business address in your listing. Additionally, if you want to share an office address with your customers, you would have to provide your personal home address.

As you grow and scale your business, having a business address gives you a more formal and professional look. You may need to use your business address for registration, marketing materials, proposals or documents.

What if I don’t have a business address?

If you don’t have a business address, you still have options. Since a PO Box address won’t be accepted by Google, you can either use your home address or use a virtual mailbox address. A virtual mailbox address is recommended when you don’t have a physical business address.

Virtual Office Address

A virtual address, or vanity address, is a great solution when you don’t have a physical business address. It allows you to use a professional address without having to rent a physical office space. Most virtual addresses will also allow you to receive business mail and packages.

At The Profile, we offer virtual mailbox addresses. These are vanity addresses that businesses use to receive mail and packages, register their businesses, add to their website or business cards. And – of course – businesses use the virtual mailbox address to claim their Google business account and put the address in their listing. Each of our customers receive a business address with a unique office number. Our customers can choose between one of three virtual addresses in flourishing areas within Vancouver.

Still need help registering your business and getting your Google My Business listing set up? No problem, we are happy to help! Just contact us.

Many of us are hunkering down in our homes and obeying Dr. Henry’s stay-at-home orders while fantasizing about the good old days of attending sporting events and meeting up at a coffee shop with friends. We continue to optimize our perfect ‘home office’, until we realize that we miss our social spaces, including coworking spaces. 

Just as all co-living and co-sharing spaces are affected; coworking spaces, including The Profile, have been hit hard. While we carry on in utmost confidence that once this is under control our spaces will be a safe haven for those looking to be more productive out of the house. 

Coworking/flexible offices will also be a saving grace for many companies looking to relieve themselves from their own long term lease. We are committed to creating and adopting a new era of coworking once some of the pressure is relieved, and we look forward to sharing this new model with you in the next few months. 

Until that time, Coworking spaces can STILL provide benefits for members and prospective clients alike.

While going into the office has changed, business has not. Yes, you can use your home office, but you still need a business licence tied with a business address. At The Profile, you can get set up with a virtual address tied together with your company business licence. 

While The Profile has adapted by providing mail forwarding to the homes of all of our members, we look forward to launching our new virtual office plans with a focus on the new normal of safety and convenience. 

For more information on our mailbox options visit us at: http://www.vancouvervirtualoffice.com/

Coworking gives you a sense of community

We have all been through a lot over the last weeks. Business culture has changed, employees are working from home; and all of this is wrapped up in a lot of uncertainty. Coworking spaces offer the chance to be part of a community all going through and solving problems together. Here are a just a few ways our community is contributing:

• Manning Elliott

Our Community sponsors have been an integral source for us to share the constantly changing news.

As sponsors, they have also contributed some of their funds to helping out members in need of assistance. We will post more on this great contribution soon! Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

• North Vancouver Chamber Weekly Webinars

Our local chamber in Lower Lonsdale has provided webinars on lease protocols, and various government protocols that we can pass on to our members. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates.

• Within People

Members of our North Vancouver location, Laurie Bennett and his global Within People team felt it was important to start to examine what makes leaders stepping up in this coronavirus era different – and what they are doing practically to emerge stronger from today into a business they proudly continue to grow. On Wednesday, May 13th, The Profile members are invited to join their online webinars to learn more. Get in touch with us directly if you would like to take part. 

• Downtown Vancouver BIA

A constantly forward thinking group that is looking at ways our community can expand and be stronger in spite of the current environment. Actively hosting webinars, promoting local businesses, and sharing a tonne of information. We will dive more into this relationship in the coming months. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter and get updates on all their amazing initiatives happening in and around Vancouver.

• Feed Me Fit

Our favorite plant based meal delivery program based out of the North Shore is offering the community a bunch of different savings right now such as:

• Join their Community Support Bundle that includes 5 (freezer friendly) soups/stews for $25. The proceeds of this bundle are helping them feed and support families in need. 
• 20% off marked items on their website (which makes some meals only $10.40!)
• They opened up their delivery area to the whole Lower Mainland and waived all delivery fees, as well as ensuring no contact deliveries.
• They have also added 6 different Grocery Boxes that include fruits, veggies, baking ingredients, rice, milk, etc. at cost.

For more information on how to sign up for the Feed Me Fit program contact us or order here. You can also give them a follow on Facebook to stay up to date on all their current news and contests.

• Jamie Smith Artistry

One of our amazing members, Jamie Smith, is an artist and owner of THRIVE Art Studio who has created free colouring sheets for you and your family to enjoy! Sign up and get instant access here.

• Volition Virtual Pitch Event Canada 

Our long time event partners has not slowed down their commitment to entrepreneurs and will be hosting their first Virtual Pitch Event Canada on Wednesday, May 13th from 1:00PM – 3:00PM PT. They will be connecting with startups and entrepreneurs from different Canadian provinces.

Volition will be accepting applications until Wednesday, May 6th from all across Canada and will strive for geographic diversity. Get tickets here or apply here. You can also follow Volition on Twitter.

To continue to stay up to date with our community and everything else going on at The Profile, follow us below!

-Sunny Hundle, Cofounder/COO, [email protected]

If you’ve been to any major Vancouver Tech event, attended Vancouver Startup Week, or even come to any of The Profile’s three locations you would have noticed some familiar corporate logos and faces. Vancouver has a strong ecosystem with no shortage of corporate support from some great organizations. However, there has been one that consistently answers the bell in supporting The Profile Coworking Business Club; Manning Elliott Accountants & Business Advisors. 

A regular supporter to our ecosystem, Manning Elliott has now solidified their support by becoming a major sponsor of our Downtown location. ProfileMembers will have the ability to use and book the “Manning Elliott Innovation Room”, as well have the chance to sign up for office hours where they can meet with members of Manning Elliott to discuss their accounting and business needs. “The Profile prides itself on creating meaningful partnerships that benefits our membership base,” says Sunny Hundle, Cofounder/VP Operations at The Profile. “Manning Elliott is a fantastic resource for many of our entrepreneurs, and I am very excited to see how we continue to grow and develop this partnership.

We sat down with Paul Leedham, Partner with Manning Elliott to discuss this recent partnership:

What amazing things have been happening at Manning Elliott this year?

We continue to expand our technology practice services to keep up with the changing needs of our clients. We’re seeing exciting things happening in the technology community within British Columbia, with continued commitments of investor and government funding to small businesses as well as the development of new and interesting areas such as cryptocurrencies. As our clients grow and begin to conduct business across the Canadian border, we can help with the many challenges that will be encountered and develop strategies for success.

“Manning Elliott is a fantastic resource for many of our entrepreneurs, and I am very excited to see how we continue to grow and develop this partnership” – Sunny Hundle, Cofounder/VP Operations, The Profile

What made you decide to be a sponsor of The Profile?

Taking advantage of the opportunity to collaborate with our friends at The Profile was a no-brainer as it allows us to serve a common interest in assisting with the growth and development of early-stage technology entrepreneurs in the Lower Mainland.

What exciting things can we look forward to now that you are sponsor of The Profile?

During 2018, we’re looking forward to sharing our professional insights with members of The Profile through our bi-monthly office hours sessions, periodic lunch and learns on relevant hot topics, and getting to know everyone during some of The Profile’s social events.

What advice do you have for others doing business in Vancouver?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your professional advisors! We’re here to help you succeed and share our insights gathered through working with many individuals and organizations who have faced similar challenges.

How can people get involved with Manning Elliott?

Come chat with us when we’re onsite or reach out to Sunny and his team to put you in touch with us. You can also connect with our industry experts Fernando (http://www.manningelliott.com/partner-fernando-costa.html) or Paul (http://www.manningelliott.com/partner-paul-j-leedham.html) directly.

For more information on this partnership, to book the Manning Elliott Innovation Room for private meetings, or to reach out to Manning Elliott directly, contact:

Sunny Hundle, Cofounder/VP Operations, [email protected]