Why Is A Google My Business Listing For Your Tax Business Important?
Google reports that a staggering 46% of all searches have local intent. That means, people are looking for business near them! This could be your local coffee shop, pizza place, mechanic, or even tax business. Yet, despite knowing this information, so many tax businesses fail to take advantage of the FREE-To-Use Google My Business Platform.
Benefit #1: Show Up In Google Map Searches
Next to online reviews, the second most important factor that consumers take into consideration when searching for a local business is proximity to their location.
Whether searching for local mechanics or a popular spot to get some ramen noodles, Google Maps will quickly populate with dozens of red markers, each indicating a local business that meets your search criteria.
By simply creating a Google My Business listing and completing the verification steps, your store location will start to pop up for local searches as well. This is a great benefit that allows users to instantly see how close you are to their location, increasing the likelihood that they’ll pay you a visit.
For your tax preparation business, having a Google My Business will allow your business to show up for searches like the one below
Benefit #2: Show Up In Google's Local 3 Pack
If you’ve been following Google’s local search results for the past few years, you’ve probably noticed that the once inclusive 7-pack has now become the limited 3-pack. In order to get into this special club, businesses around the world have been trying a number of different SEO tricks to boost their local rankings and odds of being included in Googles local 3-pack.
What most brands don’t know is, by simply creating a free Google My Business listing, you can greatly increase your odds of making it onto this list. Want to know the best part about being in the local 3-pack? Not only do these listings show users where your business is located on Google Maps, but they also show up BEFORE organic results—offering a major benefit to your visibility.
To better demonstrate just how important this is from a business perspective, brands that show up on Google’s local 3-pack get a whopping 700% boost in clicks over brands that don’t.
Benefit #3: Earn Trust From Customers
For modern customers, one of the biggest hurdles is enough trust to confidently make a purchase. As a business owner, your job is to help them make that jump as easily as possible. To do this, one of the simplest steps you can take is that of helping potential customers see that your business has an actual location.
Due to the inherent trust and confidence most users place in Google, your business benefits whenever it pops up in a local search, as prospects will automatically be more likely to trust your brand. In fact, brands that show up on Google are 2.7 times more likely to be considered reputable by consumers.
Benefit #4: Star Ratings Boost Your Appeal
Few factors can influence a potential customer’s purchase decision as much as online reviews. As a consumer, think about the last time you were buying something online. Did you go with the product that had the highest reviews, or the lowest?
With a Google My Business listing, customers will be able to review your business and leave feedback for others to see. In doing this, not only will you get honest evaluations about what you’re doing right and what you could be doing better, but you’ll also get that star rating system next to your business on Google.
As long as you’re delivering quality products and a quality experience, over time, you’ll start to collect more reviews and a higher overall rating.This is especially helpful when there are competing businesses nearby and you need to gain a competitive edge.
Benefit #5: Increase Traffic And Sales
Another challenge local businesses face is that of maintaining an increase in quality web traffic, and keeping a steady supply of foot traffic filtering through their doors. While there’s no way to completely avoid the ups and downs throughout the year, having a Google My Business listing can greatly help boost your numbers across the board.
Just by having a listing and showing up in local searches, Google has found that businesses are as much as 70% more likely to attract location visits from browsing potentials. An even more impressive figure revealed that customers who find a brand through their Google My Business listing are up to 50% more likely to make a purchase.
Benefit #6: Increase Engagement
Google My Business profiles provide ample opportunities for engagement. Potential customers can access your website or call you in one tap or click. Even more beneficial is the ability to reserve a table or book an appointment directly through your listing.
Benefit #7: Stand Out From The Competition
Your Google My Business profile displays the essential information potential customers need in order to engage with your business. In addition, it also displays a brief description to help users quickly identify if your business is what they’re looking for. An effective Google My Business description offers a snapshot of your business, includes relevant keywords, and depicts something unique or authentic to help you show your value.
Through a small snippet of content, your Google business description gives you an opportunity to stand out from your competitors in a consumer’s initial scan through search results—don’t pass up this benefit!
