04 Oct Google questions and answers – what you need to know
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Google questions & answers
what you need to know
So, you’ve set up your new website, created a Google My Business account and are looking to build and improve your business’ online presence and reputation. But where is the best place to start?
One such way to increase your business’ reputation is by using Google Questions and Answers. Launched in August 2017, this service allows people to ask you questions in a simple and straightforward manner, and also allows those who have encountered your business to respond too.
This feature is visible when potential customers search for your business on Google Maps and is also included in your knowledge graph on a SERP (Search Engine Results Page). Therefore, the likelihood of receiving questions from curious visitors is high, which will only increase as you develop and improve upon your SEO strategy.
The beauty of this feature is that it comes as standard when you sign up for a Google My Business listing, which means you won’t have to do anything extra to get started.
However, this also means that it’s a feature you can’t opt out of. It, therefore, has the power to directly impact your business’ online presence and reputation, which means making sure you use it to ensure maximum effectiveness should be on your list of priorities.
How will Google questions and answers affect your business?
So, what are the best ways to utilise this feature to your advantage? The best approach is first ensuring that Google Questions and Answers becomes an integral part of your marketing strategy.
While you may not be taking the time to contribute to it, your customers and others may be doing the work on your behalf – which can prove either beneficial or detrimental to your business. Therefore, keeping tabs on its activity is an absolute must.
Another way of making the most of this feature is by pre-empting what kinds of questions you may be receiving from curious customers and adding them to the page yourself. When you’re logged in with your Google My Business details, your responses will appear as answers directly from your business, which ensures credibility.
Not only will this create a positive first impression by showcasing that you are aware of their needs, but ensures that no incorrect information is added by others.
Put yourself in the shoes of your customer and consider their needs and demands to determine what questions they may ask. For example, if you’re a café, do you cater for allergies or vegetarian requests? Or do you have sufficient access for those with disabilities? Or does a member of your team speak a particular language?
These are all questions that you can use to your advantage, as it showcases your business’ consideration for a variety of lifestyles.
The next step will be creating a consistent monitoring plan to integrate it into your current marketing strategy. Familiarise yourself with how best to respond to questions in the most informative manner, and how to flag inappropriate content.
“build and improve your business’ online presence and reputation”
What are the benefits of using Google questions and answers?
Using Google Questions and Answers brings with it the benefit of being easy to use, as questions can be asked, and answered, on any device, including Google Maps and Android devices. This increases the ways in which you can easily interact with customers, especially with those who may be too busy, or unable to call, at traditional working hours.
When signed into your account, you’ll simply receive a notification when someone has asked a question, which ensures you won’t miss an opportunity to interact with your customers. By answering the questions promptly, you’ll not only give the impression that you’re ready and waiting to assist with their enquiries, but prevent unwanted responses too.
However, in the event of an inappropriate question or answer, it can be removed in accordance to Google’s content policy. For example, should a user add a phone number, email address or irrelevant URL to your page, Google will detect these and remove them.
The feature also allows for businesses to create an online hub where customers are provided with actual answers from the owners themselves. If a customer is undecided about using your service, or a similar one provided elsewhere, an informative and personalised Questions and Answers page could make all the difference.
This personal approach, combined with interaction from other users, will serve as a trustworthy and reliable source for potential customers.
For businesses seeking to adopt a proactive approach to maximising their business’ online presence, Google Questions and Answers is undoubtedly a must. By utilising a feature that allows for frequent interaction with your customers and easily accessible additional useful information, you’ll be keeping a step ahead of your competitors.
Any more questions?
For more information on how best to utilise Google Questions and Answers, and for your free SEO site analysis, contact our marketing team by calling 01202 798777 today.