What is Google My Business Page? How can hotels get listed?

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What is Google My Business Page? How can hotels get listed?

What is Google My Business Page How can hotels get listed

What is Google My Business (GMB) page?

GMB is a set of tools and features that help businesses manage their online visibility. It provides information relevant to a business (such as contact details, website, directions and more). Google shows this information at various places (e.g., Google Search Results and Google Maps). This information is very helpful for customers looking to visit the business, in person or online.
 

Why is GMB important for hotels?

A complete and accurate GMB listing has a significant impact on search engine optimisation (SEO) and can improve a business’ local SEO ranking. Complementing this, Google also displays this information on its various platforms such as Google Maps, Google search engine result pages (SERPs), etc. GMB is also required for Google Hotel Ads (GHA). According to Google, hotel owners can analyse traffic metrics, collect customer insights, and view & respond to Google Reviews.
 

With a Google My Business listing you can manage the following business information:

  • Details such as phone number, business hours, geo-marker for your location, button that redirects to your website, directions, amenities, etc.

  • Respond to reviews

  • Display high quality photos and videos

  • Create Google Ads and GHA to boost online visibility (Google Ads appear next to search results when customers look for products and services you offer. GHA helps potential customers to book a hotel room by providing pricing, availability, booking options, and other information. It is mandatory to have a GMB page for setting up GHA.)

 

How do you list your hotel on GMB?

  • Visit https://business.google.com/create where you can enter the details of your hotel and get it verified by Google.

  • There are two most common ways Google uses to verify a business. One is via phone verification, where the recipient receives a code from Google, either via call or SMS. Upon entering the code, the GMB verification process will be complete. However, this depends on whether the phone number has been provided to Google. The other method used is to send the verification code via postcard. The postcard will be sent to your hotel’s address and will generally be delivered to you within 12-14 days. You can enter the code present in the postcard to complete the verification process.

 

Best practices to follow on GMB

  • Fill out as much information as possible (name, contact, geo-marker for location, high quality photos and videos, etc) accurately. This helps in SEO and ranking higher on Google’s search engine result pages.

  • The name, address, phone number and website link displayed on your hotel website should be exactly the same as the one listed on your GMB page.

  • Encourage guests to leave reviews and always respond to them.

  • If you run a hotel chain, make sure the website link on your GMB page takes the customer to the respective landing page of the property and not your brand’s landing page. For instance, if a customer searches for Dream Hotels in Los Angeles, the GMB page should take her to Dream Hotels Hollywood (dreamhotels.com/hollywood) and not the brand website (dreamhotels.com).

  • Fill out the new features like “Health & safety” and “COVID-19 responder policy”. Travellers would like to know what hotels are doing to keep guests safe.

  • Keep in mind that Google will often make changes to the GMB pages based on other information. Therefore, it is essential to have a periodic process to review and approve or disapprove changes on your GMB page.

 

The Simplotel advantage

Simplotel has a number of support and account managers who will provide you with timely suggestions on what needs to be improved on the website and the GMB page to increase traffic for your website. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get you listed on Google. (Read how TGI Hotels recorded 12% of total online bookings through its website)

What is Google My Business (GMB) page?

GMB is a set of tools and features that help businesses manage their online visibility. It provides information relevant to a business (such as contact details, website, directions and more). Google shows this information at various places (e.g., Google Search Results and Google Maps). This information is very helpful for customers looking to visit the business, in person or online.
 

Why is GMB important for hotels?

A complete and accurate GMB listing has a significant impact on search engine optimisation (SEO) and can improve a business’ local SEO ranking. Complementing this, Google also displays this information on its various platforms such as Google Maps, Google search engine result pages (SERPs), etc. GMB is also required for Google Hotel Ads (GHA). According to Google, hotel owners can analyse traffic metrics, collect customer insights, and view & respond to Google Reviews.
 

With a Google My Business listing you can manage the following business information:

  • Details such as phone number, business hours, geo-marker for your location, button that redirects to your website, directions, amenities, etc.

  • Respond to reviews

  • Display high quality photos and videos

  • Create Google Ads and GHA to boost online visibility (Google Ads appear next to search results when customers look for products and services you offer. GHA helps potential customers to book a hotel room by providing pricing, availability, booking options, and other information. It is mandatory to have a GMB page for setting up GHA.)

 

How do you list your hotel on GMB?

  • Visit https://business.google.com/create where you can enter the details of your hotel and get it verified by Google.

  • There are two most common ways Google uses to verify a business. One is via phone verification, where the recipient receives a code from Google, either via call or SMS. Upon entering the code, the GMB verification process will be complete. However, this depends on whether the phone number has been provided to Google. The other method used is to send the verification code via postcard. The postcard will be sent to your hotel’s address and will generally be delivered to you within 12-14 days. You can enter the code present in the postcard to complete the verification process.

 

Best practices to follow on GMB

  • Fill out as much information as possible (name, contact, geo-marker for location, high quality photos and videos, etc) accurately. This helps in SEO and ranking higher on Google’s search engine result pages.

  • The name, address, phone number and website link displayed on your hotel website should be exactly the same as the one listed on your GMB page.

  • Encourage guests to leave reviews and always respond to them.

  • If you run a hotel chain, make sure the website link on your GMB page takes the customer to the respective landing page of the property and not your brand’s landing page. For instance, if a customer searches for Dream Hotels in Los Angeles, the GMB page should take her to Dream Hotels Hollywood (dreamhotels.com/hollywood) and not the brand website (dreamhotels.com).

  • Fill out the new features like “Health & safety” and “COVID-19 responder policy”. Travellers would like to know what hotels are doing to keep guests safe.

  • Keep in mind that Google will often make changes to the GMB pages based on other information. Therefore, it is essential to have a periodic process to review and approve or disapprove changes on your GMB page.

 

The Simplotel advantage

Simplotel has a number of support and account managers who will provide you with timely suggestions on what needs to be improved on the website and the GMB page to increase traffic for your website. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get you listed on Google. (Read how TGI Hotels recorded 12% of total online bookings through its website)