If you’re a business owner or marketer, leveraging Google My Business (GMB) in Singapore is a powerful way to enhance your online presence and attract more local customers. By optimising your GMB profile, you can increase visibility in search results and on Google Maps, engage with your audience through reviews, and showcase your unique offerings.
This guide will help you maximise your GMB profile to boost customer trust, improve local SEO, and drive more foot traffic to your business.
Key Takeaways
- Google My Business is a vital tool for improving your local SEO in Singapore, increasing visibility on Google Search and Maps, and attracting nearby customers through accurate business information and engaging visuals.
- Managing customer reviews, responding to feedback, and posting regular updates can significantly boost your business’s credibility and enhance its online reputation.
- By integrating your social media accounts into your GMB profile and promoting events or special offers, you can drive further engagement and cross-platform visibility for your business.
Google My Business and Its Relevance for SMEs
Image Credit: Google
If you’re running a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Singapore, Google My Business (GMB) should be a core part of your digital strategy. It’s a free tool by Google that helps you manage how your business appears in local search results and on Google Maps. This includes your business name, location, hours, website, photos, and customer reviews.
Boost Your Local Visibility
When people in Singapore search for services or products near them, Google prioritises local results. With a well-optimised GMB profile, you can increase the chances of appearing in the top “local pack” – the map and business listings that show up before organic search results. This is particularly valuable in densely populated areas like Orchard Road or Tanjong Pagar, where local competition is high.
Build Trust Through Reviews
Reviews play a huge role in customer decision-making. GMB allows customers to leave public reviews and star ratings for your business. Positive reviews can act as digital word-of-mouth, making your business more credible. You can also reply to reviews, showing potential customers that you’re responsive and value feedback.
Showcase What Makes You Unique
Your GMB profile gives you space to highlight what makes your business stand out. You can add photos of your storefront, products, or team. There’s also a section for updates, where you can post about promotions, events, or new services. This keeps your audience engaged and informed.
Insights to Guide Strategy
GMB provides data on how people find and interact with your business listing. You’ll see how many views you’ve received, what search terms people used, and how they engaged with your listing. This helps you refine your marketing and better understand your audience’s needs.
Ideal for Singapore’s Mobile-First Market
With over 97% smartphone penetration in Singapore (IMDA, 2023), many people search for businesses on the go. GMB ensures that when they do, your business is visible, clickable, and easy to find on Google Maps.
Key Benefits at a Glance
- Free and easy to set up – perfect for lean SME budgets
- Improves local SEO – essential for footfall and visibility
- Builds credibility – through public reviews and ratings
- Mobile-friendly – suits Singapore’s digitally savvy population
- Increases engagement – with features like posts, direct messaging, and Q&A
Setting Up Your Google My Business Profile Account: A Step-by-Step Guide
Image Credit: EmbedSocial
Creating your GMB profile is straightforward and doesn’t require technical expertise. With just a few steps, you can make your business more discoverable and trustworthy online.
- Sign In and Start: Go to Google Business Profile and sign in using your Google account. Ideally, use a business account you’ll continue to have access to long-term. Click “Manage now” to begin setting up your free business profile.
- Enter Your Business Name: Type your business name exactly as you want it to appear on Google. If your business doesn’t appear in the suggestions, you can create a new listing. Avoid keyword stuffing. Stick to your actual business name to comply with Google’s guidelines.
- Choose a Business Category: Select the category that best fits your business. This helps Google show your listing to the right audience. You can add more categories later, but your primary one is most important.
- Add Your Location: If you have a physical storefront or office customers can visit, enter your address. If you provide services at customer locations, you can choose a service area instead. Google will display your address on Maps if you serve customers at your business location.
- Fill in Contact Details: Add your business phone number and website URL (if available). This makes it easy for potential customers to contact or learn more about you.
- Verify Your Business: Google will ask you to verify ownership—typically by sending a postcard to your business address. Other methods like email or phone may be available depending on your business type.
- Optimise Your Profile: Once verified, add photos, business hours, a short description, and any relevant updates. Keep your information accurate to maintain trust and ranking.
Verifying Your Business Location
Verifying your business location is essential to unlock the full benefits of GMB. Until your listing is verified, it won’t appear in Google Search or Maps. Verification confirms that your business is legitimate and located where you say it is.
Why Verification Matters
Verification helps prevent fraudulent listings and builds trust with customers. A verified listing improves your visibility and ensures your contact details, address, and opening hours appear reliably across Google services. It also allows you to respond to reviews, post updates, and access valuable insights on how users interact with your local business profile.
Verification Methods
For most Singapore SMEs, the standard method is postcard verification. Google mails a postcard to your business address with a unique code, which you then enter on your GMB dashboard.
Other methods may include:
- Phone verification – Receive an automated call or SMS with a code
- Email verification – Google sends a code to your business email
- Instant verification – Available if you’ve already verified the business with Google Search Console
- Video verification – A live video call or a recorded walkthrough showing your location and signage
Choose the method available to you, and complete verification promptly to start engaging with local customers online.
Optimising Your Google My Business Profile for Google Search
Image Credit: PinMeTo
Did you know that customers are 70% more likely to visit and 50% more likely to consider buying from a business with a complete GMB profile? This makes local SEO a powerful tool for Singaporean SMEs looking to attract nearby customers. To strengthen your online presence, ensure your GMB profile is fully optimised.
Provide correct business details
Accurate business details are crucial for both local SEO and customer trust. Ensure your operating hours, services offered, and business description are up-to-date. A well-written description should highlight what makes your business unique, while also using relevant keywords to help improve search ranking. Keeping this information current helps customers easily find your business and increases your credibility.
Include images and videos
High-quality images and videos can significantly enhance your profile. Use visuals to showcase your products, services, or store environment, creating an engaging first impression. Posts featuring videos or photos also capture more attention, increasing interaction and boosting local search rankings.
Encourage customer reviews and interactions
Customer reviews are a major factor in improving your GMB ranking. Positive reviews not only increase credibility but also improve your visibility in local search results. Engaging with reviews and updating your content regularly signals to Google that your business is active, which can improve your position in search engine results pages.
Utilise relevant keywords
Incorporating relevant keywords in your business description and posts can expand your reach. These keywords help Google match your business with local search queries, improving the chances of your business appearing in relevant results.
Partner with an SEO professional
To take your optimisation efforts further, consider working with an SEO expert. They can help refine your strategy, conduct keyword research, and ensure your GMB profile is fully optimised for maximum impact.
Leveraging Google Maps for Local Visibility
Image Credit: GoSite
To make the most of your GMB listing, you need to follow Google My Business optimisation best practices to boost your presence on Google Maps. This is where many local customers discover nearby services—especially on mobile.
- Keep Your Information Accurate: Ensure your address, contact number, business hours, and website are always up to date. Inaccurate details can frustrate potential customers and lead to lost opportunities.
- Use High-Quality Photos: Upload clear, professional photos of your storefront, interior, products, or team. Businesses with photos receive more clicks and direction requests on Google Maps than those without.
- Encourage Customer Reviews: Ask satisfied customers to leave a review after their visit. Reviews influence how Google ranks your business and also build trust with potential customers browsing on Maps.
- Add Relevant Business Categories: Use the most accurate primary category, and supplement with secondary ones if needed. This helps your business appear in relevant searches, such as “cafés near Bugis” or “tailors in Toa Payoh.”
- Include Keywords in Your Description: Write a short business description that naturally includes keywords related to your services and location. This can improve your searchability without appearing spammy.
Managing Customer Reviews in GMB
Customer reviews on GMB play a crucial role in shaping your brand’s online reputation. Whether the feedback is glowing or critical, how you respond matters just as much as the review itself.
- Respond to Every Review: Acknowledge all reviews, not just the positive ones. Thank customers for their support and show appreciation for their time. It signals that you value feedback and engage with your community. You can earn more too: Research shows that businesses that respond to at least 25% of their reviews see a 35% increase in revenue.
- Turn Positives Into Promotion: When you receive a positive review, respond warmly and reinforce the reviewer’s key points. This helps build trust with future customers and highlights your strengths publicly. For example, if someone praises your fast service, you can mention that efficiency is something your team prides itself on.
- Handle Negative Feedback Gracefully: Don’t ignore or delete negative reviews (unless they violate Google’s policies). Respond calmly, acknowledge the issue, and apologise if necessary. Offer to resolve the matter offline where appropriate. This shows other users that you’re proactive and professional, even when things go wrong.
- Report Inappropriate Reviews: If a review is fake, abusive, or violates Google’s policies, you can flag it for removal. Google may take action after reviewing the content.
- Encourage Honest Reviews: You can politely ask happy customers to leave a review after their visit or purchase. Avoid offering incentives, as this goes against Google’s terms.
Utilising Google Ads for Increased Reach
Pairing Google Ads with your GMB profile is a powerful way to increase your visibility, especially in local searches. This strategy allows you to appear in sponsored listings on Google Search and Maps, giving your business a competitive edge.
Link GMB to Your Google Ads Account
First, ensure your GMB profile is linked to your Google Ads account. This enables location extensions, which show your business address, phone number, and a map pin alongside your ad. It makes it easier for potential customers nearby to find and contact you.
Target Local Search Intent
Set your Google Ads campaigns to focus on geographic areas relevant to your business. Remember that Google remains the leading search engine, making it an essential platform for reaching your target market. With local audience ads, you can strategically position your ads using relevant keywords, ensuring they appear at the right time and place.
You can target users based on their current location or their interest in your service area. For example, if you run a café in Holland Village, you can reach users searching for “coffee near me” within that radius.
Highlight Local Offers and Call-to-Actions
Use your ad copy to promote limited-time offers, in-store promotions, or specific services. Include clear calls-to-action like “Visit us today” or “Book a free consultation”. When paired with your GMB listing, this reinforces your offer and improves conversion chances.
Monitor and Optimise Performance
Regularly review ad performance metrics such as click-through rates (CTR), calls from ads, and direction requests. These insights help you refine your ads and improve ROI.
Benefits at a Glance
- Appear prominently in Google Maps and local search results
- Drive more foot traffic and phone enquiries
- Reinforce your business presence across multiple touchpoints
- Tailor ads based on location, time, and user behaviour
Google My Business Insights and Analytics
Image Credit: BrightLocal
Understanding how customers find and interact with your business online is vital for making informed marketing decisions. GMB offers built-in analytics—called GMB Insights—which give you a clear view of your listing’s performance.
- Track Customer Discovery: GMB Insights shows how customers found your business, whether through a direct search (typing your business name) or a discovery search (looking for a product or service you offer). This helps you assess how well your local SEO strategy is performing.
- Understand Search Behaviour: You can see the exact keywords people used to find your existing business listing. This gives valuable insight into customer intent and helps you refine your online content and advertising strategy.
- Measure Customer Actions: Track what actions users take after viewing your profile. This allows you to see which elements of your listing drive the most engagement. GMB records data such as:
- Website visits
- Phone calls
- Direction requests
- Photo views
- Identify Peak Times: GMB shows when customers are most likely to contact or visit you. This can help you adjust your operating hours or schedule promotions to match peak interest times.
- Optimise Based on Insights: Use the data to guide updates to your GMB listing. For instance, if users often click for directions, ensure your address is accurate and easy to navigate to.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Managing Your Google My Business Profile in Singapore
For SMEs in Singapore, an optimised Google My Business (GMB) profile is essential for local SEO success. However, common mistakes can hinder visibility and customer engagement.
- Incomplete or outdated business details: One major mistake is incomplete or outdated business information. Inaccurate details on opening hours, contact numbers, or locations can confuse customers and lead to lost business. Regular updates are crucial to maintaining trust.
- Ignoring customer feedback: Another error is neglecting customer reviews. Failing to respond—whether to positive or negative feedback—misses an opportunity to build relationships and demonstrate excellent customer service. Engaging with reviews improves credibility and search rankings.
- Absence of images and regular posting: Businesses often ignore GMB posts and photos, limiting their ability to showcase products, promotions, or company updates. Posting consistently enhances engagement and visibility.
- Lack of monitoring: Lastly, not monitoring insights means missing valuable data on customer behaviour. Reviewing GMB analytics allows SMEs to refine strategies for better reach. Avoiding these pitfalls ensures a stronger online presence and improved customer interaction.
Best Practices for Adding Photos and Videos in Google My Business
Image Credit: BrightLocal
High-quality visuals are essential for SMEs in Singapore looking to enhance their Google My Business (GMB) profile and attract more customers. Adding compelling photos and videos improves engagement and boosts credibility. Remember that businesses with photos and videos on their GMB profile receive 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks.
- Use high-resolution images: To maximise impact, upload clear, high-resolution images that accurately reflect your brand, products, and services. Avoid blurry or poorly lit photos, as they can make your business look unprofessional. Exterior and interior shots help customers recognise your location, while product images and staff photos create a sense of trust and transparency.
- Post short videos: Videos should be short, engaging, and to the point. Showcase your store ambience, behind-the-scenes processes, or happy customer moments. Google recommends videos under 30 seconds and with at least 720p resolution. Captions or on-screen text can enhance clarity, especially when the audio is muted.
- Update consistently: Don’t let your visuals go stale. Regularly update your photos and videos to reflect seasonal changes, new promotions, or renovations. A frequently updated profile signals that your business is active and attentive.
- Utilise geotags and relevant keywords: Adding geotags and keywords in your image or video file names can support your local SEO. This helps Google associate your visuals with relevant local searches, improving your chances of being discovered by nearby customers.
Updating Business Information in Your Google My Business Profile
Customers rely on your GMB profile to find key details—like your address, phone number, and opening hours—before deciding to visit or get in touch.
Why Accuracy Matters
Incorrect or outdated information can lead to confusion, missed opportunities, or even negative reviews. For example, if a customer shows up to your shop only to find it closed despite what your listing says, it reflects poorly on your reliability. Google also rewards accuracy. A consistently updated GMB profile is more likely to appear in local search results, giving you better exposure to nearby customers.
Regularly refreshing your Google business profile content can increase audience interaction and improve your ranking in local search results. Also, keep updated with local SEO trends and be ready to identify new practices you can incorporate into your Google My Business Profile strategy.
Key Details to Monitor
Make sure the following are always current:
- Business name and location
- Contact number and website URL
- Opening hours, including holiday changes
- Services offered or menu items
- Health and safety information (if applicable)
How to Make Changes
You can edit your Google business account by logging into your GMB dashboard or through the Google Maps app. Most updates are reviewed by Google before going live, so ensure all entries follow their guidelines.
Promoting Special Offers and Events in GMB
Image Credit: BizIQ
Leveraging GMB for promoting special offers and events helps you reach more local customers and drive foot traffic or online sales.
- Use GMB Posts: GMB allows you to create posts that highlight your promotions or upcoming events. These posts appear directly on your profile, in both search results and Google Maps. Be sure to include clear calls to action, like “Book Now” or “Learn More,” to encourage immediate engagement.
- Add Event Details: For events, include the start and end dates, as well as any relevant details such as location, time, and ticketing information. This makes it easy for customers to discover and remember the event, which boosts attendance and engagement.
- Showcase Special Offers: Promote discounts, limited-time offers, or new product launches through GMB posts. Include high-quality visuals to grab attention and add a sense of urgency. You can also use the “Offer” post type to make the offer stand out more prominently.
- Monitor Engagement: Track the effectiveness of your posts by monitoring clicks, calls, and direction requests. Adjust your strategy as needed based on customer responses to your promotions or events.
Linking your social media profiles to your GMB profile is a great way to increase local search visibility and drive engagement, allowing potential customers to connect with your business across multiple platforms.
- Add Social Media Links: Make sure your GMB profile includes links to your active social media accounts, such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. This gives customers an easy way to explore your business beyond Google Search and Maps, helping to increase your online presence.
- Share Social Media Content Through GMB Posts: Use your GMB posts to promote your latest social media campaigns, product launches, or events. Add engaging images or videos from your social platforms to capture attention. Include calls to action, such as “Follow us for more updates” or “Check out our Instagram for exclusive offers.”
- Cross-Promote Social Media on Your Website: You can also cross-promote your GMB profile on your social media channels by encouraging followers to leave reviews or visit your Google listing. This helps improve your business’s SEO and strengthens your brand’s online reputation.
- Monitor Engagement: Track how customers interact with your social media links and posts on GMB. This will help you understand what type of content drives the most engagement, allowing you to refine your strategy for better results.
Know How to Best Use Google My Business in Singapore
Optimising your GMB profile is essential for boosting your local visibility, enhancing customer engagement, and driving business growth. By effectively managing your GMB account, responding to reviews, and utilising local SEO strategies, you can position your business to thrive in the competitive Singaporean market.
To maximise the potential of your online presence, consider partnering with MediaOne. Our team of experts offers professional digital marketing services tailored to your business needs, ensuring your GMB profile stands out and attracts the right customers. Call us today to discover how to best use Google My Business in Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have multiple Google My Business listings for different locations of my business?
Yes, if you operate multiple locations, you can create individual GMB profiles for each one. Just ensure that each listing has unique and accurate information relevant to the specific location.
How can I update my business information on Google My Business if I’m unable to access my account?
If you’ve lost access to your GMB account, you can request access through Google’s verification process. You’ll need to verify your business ownership by submitting relevant documentation or working with the current profile owner.
Can I manage my Google My Business profile on mobile devices?
Yes, you can download the Google My Business app to manage your profile on the go. The app allows you to edit details, respond to reviews, post updates, and access insights directly from your smartphone.
What should I do if my business details are showing incorrectly on Google Maps?
If your business information appears incorrectly on Google Maps, you can update the details directly through your GMB account or flag the issue for correction if it’s a mapping error by Google.
How do I track the effectiveness of my Google My Business profile in driving sales?
You can use the GMB Insights tool to measure user interactions such as website visits, phone calls, and direction requests. These metrics provide valuable data for evaluating how well your profile is driving customer engagement and sales.
