Google My Business
For Real Estate Agents
Exclusively for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties
How-To
Simple online step by step instructions straight from Google. Setting up Google My Business for Real Estate Agents is the same process for everyone.
Beginner
So Many Questions?
How does Google My Business help me reach more customers, can I get tailored advice to help my business?
Find answers directly from Google.
How This Agent Makes Easy Work of Google My Business
Hear Jimmy Burgess of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida and Heidi Harris discuss how she makes Google My Business (GMB) work for her.
This 27 minute video just might change your career forever!
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Lindsay Levin
A Helpful Hint
Reviews
Why So Important?
Dan Petersen
A Challenge For You
Is There A Service Who Can Help Me?
Don’t worry if this is a little confusing. Just when you think you understand Search Engine Optimization and you figured out that’s what SEO meant, Google changes the game. But the days of generating leads from simply having a good website and ranking high are fading. Online search and SEO has evolved. People don’t want to endlessly click on websites to find a Realtor…And Google knows that.
If this seems daunting or you’re short on time, you can get help. One company that is connected with multiple listing services and Google is Homesnap. This makes verifying your business quicker versus having Google send a verification postcard to your office or home. Ask when signing up to retain your business profile in the event you decide to stop using their service.
Why Reviews Matter
Get at least 50 Reviews on Google My Business
Reviews on Google are incredibly important, and perhaps the second most important feature to your Google My Business account
Where should clients review you? Facebook? Zillow? Yelp?
I say send them to Google. Over 80% of all online queries are conducted on Google.
1. Helps your search engine optimization and visibility
Google tracks the activity of ratings and boosts the businesses that have a large number of high ratings, as well as ones who have a high number of ratings because it recognizes those businesses that try to engage with their customers. A good review rating can push your business to the Google Local Pack, which lists the first three businesses near the top of the search page based on location.
2. Good reviews can influence potential customers
Did you know that 91% of consumers regularly or occasionally read online customer reviews to determine whether a local business is good or bad? Did you also know that 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation, and 74% of consumers say that positive reviews make them trust a local business more?
3. It helps you interact with customers
Being timely with responding to reviews shows that you care about the opinions of your customers, both good and bad. Google recognizes active responders to their reviews and propels them up the rankings.
4. Improve click-through rates with your website
If your business has a high review rating, internet goers are naturally more likely to click your website and see what your operations are about, making your product more aware to them.
5. Google rules the search engine world
70% of online searches go through Google, so chances are high someone is going to find you and your business through the world’s most prominent search engine. Doesn’t it make sense then to put a focus on optimizing your reviews on such a prominent platform?
It's already happening...Google Screened For Real Estate
Google Screened for Real Estate
It’s pretty obvious that Google owns the online search experience. And for many, you can benefit from rankings without any advertising expense. But the days of leads from good website SEO and ranking well are fading. Online search has evolved. People don’t want to endlessly click on websites to find a Realtor…And Google knows that.
So Google has evolved. Now, Google offers a compelling Local Services ad product for real estate Agents. I say compelling because they place these ads with a Google Screened badge and your reviews on top of their regular search ads. They trumped their own ads. If you type in ‘Realtor near me‘ you’ll see what I mean.
But to get this coveted badge, you need to participate in their Local Services ads. So should you pay to play? You should strongly consider it. Google Screened Agents now appear above all other ads and listings. The image below shows a typical search results page with various local listings where you can see how prominent the three Local Service Ads (and the Google Screened badge) are.
Yes, for a number of reasons:
Local Services Ads combined with the Google Screened badge create a one-of-a-kind ad unit. It’s essentially a combination of a top-of-the-funnel ad (when consumers first become aware of your business) and a bottom-of-the-funnel ad (when consumers are ready to take action). That’s because someone could search for “real estate agents in East Cobb” instead of a specific agent, get served a list of Google Screened results — seeing these specific agents and their five-star ratings for the first time — and then tap an ad to call one of the verified agents.
Within a single search experience, you can be discovered for the first time and immediately contacted, thanks to the high level of trust that users have in Google to screen and recommend businesses.
This is a bit more complex than setting up your Google My Business page. However, don’t let that deter you.
The Google Screened badge is exclusive. Since you need to go through a traditional background check process to get approved, it puts you on a different level from other agents. This requires more effort, but it also gives you a competitive advantage when you’re trying to win new business because Google sends more leads to agents with a Google Screened badge.
At the very least, it’s worth your time to research. Your competitors already have…but it’s not too late. [See Your Competition]
Tom Ferry's The 2021 Real Estate Guide to Google Ranking Success
Download His 2021 Google My Business Guide
