There are billions of people in the world. And while we are all different, most of us share something in common. We are constantly looking for something online. And we are looking for it nearby. Whether it be a car dealership, a pharmacy, or a general store — we want it here and now. With people searching for businesses near them every second of the day (and night), the desire to have yours as visible as possible to them becomes a necessity. Google recently announced that over a third of mobile searches are location specific and that trend tends to intensify with each year. Google’s answer to that trend is its new GMB dashboard.
So, what’s new?
With Google launching a new GMB API, a new agency dashboard, and a new agency partner program, change is definitely on the horizon. The API is set to enable agencies to manage various categories of content, such as business descriptions and posts for multi-location companies.
The new Google My Business dashboard comes with two major promises — to be fast and easy to use. Its main benefits are:
- Businesses operating in multiple locations can now manage an unlimited number of locations with a single registered account on GMB — there is no longer a limit of 100 locations only.
- User Groups can manage internal teams and control the access to locations.
- Easier product workflow to send/receive invitations to manage listings.
- Improved search functionality — searching for locations within an account and across location groups is made more efficient.
Not familiar with Google My Business?
Formerly known as Google Places, GMB is a free online platform that belongs to Google. Its purpose is to help businesses increase their online visibility and connect with their target clients. It also helps people find and review the businesses in their local area. Being the most comprehensive and easily accessible business directory, getting on GMB can significantly increase the chances of your business showing up in Google’s Local Pack, Local Finder, Google Maps, and organic rankings in general.
Not sure you can handle managing your GMB account? We, at 411 Locals, will gladly do that for you. Let our SEO company guide you and your business to success! Stay tuned for our next topic!