In the fast-paced retail and food & beverage markets of the Middle East, visibility in search results is essential to creating and sustaining a successful business or restaurant. Nowadays, if your business can’t be found on Google, you almost don’t exist online.

Claiming and creating an accurate and informative Google My Business listing is key to that success. This listing ensures that your location, phone number, website, opening hours, and even business photos are available and accessible on Google Search and Google Maps for all potential customers to see. Naturally, this is a powerful local marketing tool that requires proper listing management. Localyser can help you optimize your visibility.

It’s important to take advantage of Google My Business’s free dashboard, which allows business owners and marketers to oversee their online presence in one centralized place. This enables businesses to manage the following:

• Updating business listing information on Google Search and Google Maps
• Uploading images or 360-degree virtual tours for the business profile
• Responding to Google reviews
• Integrating with AdWords Express to launch and analyze ad campaigns
• Pulling Insights reports on customer actions: number of calls, map direction requests, and website visits

However, managing a Google My Business listing isn’t always easy—especially in the GCC region, where precise addresses aren’t always maintained.

The first step is to check whether your business already has an online Google Business presence. If it does, you can request verification as the business owner to claim the listing. You will then be asked to verify via postcard or phone call (limited to certain businesses/areas) to confirm that your business is legitimate and under your management.

Once your business or location is verified, you're free to update what will appear in search results as a live listing. Remember, it’s critical to ensure that your listing matches the information on your business website—name, address, and phone number (NAP)—to build brand consistency across the digital space.

You should also select the most relevant and specific business category so potential customers can find you early in their discovery process. Keep in mind that your social media profiles should also remain consistent with your brand.

Finally, you’ll want to add dynamic images, updated business hours, descriptions, and current customer reviews to further optimize your online presence. Mastering all of these elements is a highly effective way to raise awareness for your business and reach new customers.

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