You know that one drawer in your office where you toss random cables, old USB drives, and maybe even a forgotten stress ball or two? Ignoring Google My Business (GMB) is kind of like that. You might think, “Eh, I don’t need this right now,” but someday, you’ll be digging through that drawer, wishing you’d organized it sooner. GMB might not flood your inbox with leads overnight, but if you don’t set it up, it’s like throwing away the one key to your business’s presence on the world’s largest search engine.
1. Manage Your Online Presence (Or Let Google Guess for You):
Imagine letting Google randomly decide your MSP’s business hours or, worse, displaying an old address where your MSP used to be. Without GMB, that’s exactly what can happen. It’s the only direct way to manage your entry in Google’s vast database. So, unless you enjoy having potential clients show up at your old office where that weird smell still lingers, it’s best to keep your GMB up to date.
2. Build Trust With Potential Clients:
People trust businesses they can see. By updating your GMB with your current address, phone number, and, yes, pictures that aren’t from 2010, you’re showing that your MSP is active, reliable, and, most importantly, open for business. Show off your office, your team, or even that fancy new coffee machine in the break room—whatever makes your MSP look like the professional outfit it is.
3. Show Up in Local Search Results (Even If You Don’t Care About SEO):
Even if you’re not obsessed with search engine optimization (SEO), your prospects are still searching for local MSPs like yours. GMB is one of the simplest ways to ensure your MSP pops up when someone in your area types in “IT support near me” at 2 AM after their server crashes. You don’t want them finding your competitor just because you didn’t bother to fill out a simple profile.
4. It’s Free Advertising (Why Wouldn’t You?):
You love free stuff, right? GMB is essentially free advertising from Google, and who says no to that? You can post updates, share your latest blog articles, upload event photos, and even respond to reviews—all for zero dollars. At Giant Rocketship, we use Buffer to manage our GMB posts, pushing out blog articles, pictures, and events to keep our presence fresh and engaging. If you’re not doing the same, you’re missing out on some serious visibility.
5. Leverage Insights to Know Your Audience:
GMB isn’t just a set-it-and-forget-it deal. It offers valuable insights into how people are finding you, what actions they’re taking (like clicking on your phone number), and where they’re located. This data is gold for refining your local marketing strategy. Think of it as your MSP’s personal Google Analytics, without the need to dive into complicated dashboards.
In Laborious Conclusion..
Setting up Google My Business might not seem like the most glamorous task on your to-do list, but it’s a crucial one. It’s like laying down the foundation for your MSP’s online presence—simple, effective, and something you’ll thank yourself for later. So, go ahead, claim your spot on Google, and make sure your MSP is the one people find when they’re in desperate need of IT help. And remember, Google won’t do this for you—take the reins and show your MSP in the best light.
