What is Google my business

 What Is Google My Business & Why Do I Need it ?

What is Google My Business?

As mentioned, Google My Business is a tool that enables you to manage and optimize your Business Profile on Google—which is one of many important business directory listings. So to explain what Google My Business is and how it works, let’s first make sure we’re clear on what a Business Profile is.

Your Business Profile is Google’s term for your Google business listing. Business Profiles appear in Google Maps and in the local results of Google Search.

Business Profiles on Google Search look like this:

Business Profiles on Google Maps look like this:

 

And Business Profiles on mobile look like this:

Creating a Business Profile is the same thing as adding a place to Google Maps—which is something that anyone (including a random stranger or an automated listing generator) can do. All that Google requires is the business name, location, and category. Once Google confirms it is not a duplicate, they will create the Business Profile for that location. The Business Profile is then open to consumers to leave reviews, add photos, ask questions, and even answer questions. The Business Profile may also get populated with information that Google pulls in from across the web.

What this means is, a Business Profile can exist on its own, apart from a Google My Business account. And whether you created your own Business Profile or not, you don’t have the ability to manage the information it displays or the reviews it collects.

That is where Google My Business comes in. By creating a Google My Business account, you can access, customize, manage, and enhance your Business Profile on Google, all still for free, which we’ll get into next.

How to use Google My Business for local marketing

So we’ve established that Google My Business is not your Business Profile, but rather a tool by which you enhance your Business Profile to boost its visibility and effectiveness. Let’s cover the four core ways you can use this Google My Business to make your profile on Google listing a better local marketing tool.

1. Engage with consumers

There are a lot of ways consumers can interact with your Business Profile, and you use your Google My Business account to engage back with them. You can respond to reviews, answer questions, enable direct messaging, and set up associated alerts. You can even use Google My Business to publish posts to your Business Profile, much like you would with Facebook and other social media platforms.

Your Google My Business dashboard is where you can respond to reviews, publish posts, and answer questions asked on your Business Profile.

2. Highlight your business

A Business Profile alone contains limited information about your business. But through your Google My Business account dashboard, you can provide hours, a link to your website, products and pricing, attributes, and other details that make your business unique. You will also use your Google My Business to make edits and updates as needed.

A complete Business Profile offers a complete snapshot of your business, including its best features, right in the SERP.

3. Gain insights

You can use the Google My Business dashboard to gain key insights on your audience and local search performance. In the analytics tab of the platform, you can see the queries customers are using to find your Business Profile, whether they found you on Google Maps or Google Search, a breakdown of actions taken on your listing, and how your photos are performing compared to other profiles in your category. Note also that there are ways to track clicks from a Business Profile via UTM parameters and Google Analytics.

4. Perform local SEO

Just as Google has algorithms for ranking its ads and websites, it also has one for ranking Business Profiles. Through your Google My Business dashboard, you can incorporate keywords into your Business Profile and perform other optimizations to help it rank in local results, which we’re going to cover next.

Google My Business can help you optimize your Business Profile to show up in the coveted 3-Pack.

How to use Google My Business for SEO

Google Business Profiles are dynamic. Not only do they change form based on platform, but Google will also prioritize sections of your profile according to the term that was searched as well as the type of information most important to consumers in your category. Even better, Google will embolden keywords in the content of your profile that it thinks are relevant.

But there needs to be information to prioritize and keywords to embolden in your profile in the first place. Just as you (or your agency) would use a content management system like WordPress to optimize your website for search engines, Google My Business is used to optimize your profile and expand your reach. How do you use Google My Business for local SEO? Well, since optimizing for Google is essentially optimizing for searchers, it all comes down to the same three things: targeting, quality of information, and trust.

Target your information

To use Google My Business for SEO, make sure to incorporate relevant keywords into your Business Profile so you can tell Google what you’re trying to rank for. Use them in your “from the business” description, your responses to reviews, your answers to questions, and in the posts you publish. Make sure to incorporate them naturally just as you would with any other SEO strategy.

Include keywords in your description, editable through your Google My Business dashboard.

Maintain quality of information

The completeness and accuracy of your Business Profile impacts its rank, so make sure to provide the requested information in every section of your Google My Business dashboard. Especially important here is your contact information, special hours, and attributes.

Build trust

The final approach to using Google My Business for SEO appeals to the trust component of Google’s algorithm. Keep your information updated and accurate as your business evolves. Keep a steady stream of reviews coming in and respond to them. Also, signal to Google that you are active by regularly uploading photos and publishing posts to your Business Profile through Google My Business.

Reviews and responses appear on your Business Profile. Be sure to manage them through your Google My Business dashboard.

SEO is important for any business, but particularly for small businesses that can use local targeting to compete against large competitors on the SERP. Google is making local SEO even easier with its robust Business Profiles, so a Google My Business

 Accounting is essential for any business trying to maximize visibility in their local market.

Speaking of online visibility, how strong is yours? Find out in 90 seconds with the free LOCALiQ Website Grader!

How to sign up for Google My Business

A free tool that turns my Business Profile into a power marketer for my business? Where do I sign up?

To get a Google My Business account, go to google.com/business and click “Manage now,” which will take you through the steps of creating an account. Remember, a Google My Business Account does not automatically create a Business Profile—it gives you access to it and the ability to add more to it. So you’ll want to make sure you have an existing Business Profile to access.

Also remember that creating Google My Business account does not give you automatic access to your Business Profile. Once you create and are logged into your Google My Business account, you will then need to locate your separate Business Profile on Google Maps and then select the “Claim this business” or “Own this business?” link seen right on the profile. Once you complete that process, your Google My Business account will then be connected with your Business Profile and under your management.

Get started with Google My Business today

With a clear understanding of exactly what Google My Business is, how it works, and how to use it, you can now see that using this free tool isn’t just a good idea for local marketing but a must. Get your Google My Business account up and running now so your Business Profile can outshine your competitors and attract more customers on the world’s most popular search engine.

 How to Sell on Facebook Marketplace: Rules & Best Practices

Facebook Marketplace has become a ubiquitous online force, as one of the world’s largest businesses with billions of monthly active users.

In 2016, the company expanded into the world of ecommerce businesses, building out its eponymous platform Facebook Marketplace.

By leveraging the enormous customer base already present within Facebook, the company and platform reached immediate success, with more than a billion monthly visitors by 2021.

For both individual sellers and small businesses, Facebook Marketplace signifies a real opportunity. By knowing how to sell, what to sell and not sell, you can be empowered to take the challenge head-on

Why Facebook Marketplace?

Facebook is an essential tool for brands interested in selling their products to targeted audiences.

Previously only available as a peer-to-peer shopping marketplace, Facebook Marketplace has expanded to include merchant selling. As the retail world becomes increasingly omnichannel with more and more opportunities to sell in different places, Facebook Marketplace gives brands a chance to capitalize on the interactions already taking place on Facebook.

By 2021, more than a billion visitors each month will use Facebook Marketplace to browse, buy, or list items, allowing retailers to drive discovery and sales of key products in a place where their consumers are already shopping.

Things to Consider When Selling on Facebookmarketplace

Orders must be shipped within 3 days and received within 7 days.

After you sell an item on Facebookmarketplace, you have three business days from checkout to ship it using any carrier that has tracking services.

For sellers used to different delivery methods, you will want to readjust to ensure that your items arrive in a timely manner and that there aren't any issues. Your reputation as an online seller will suffer if anything does come up.

Not all ecommerce platforms sync with FacebookMarketplace.

Not every ecommerce business platform syncs up with Facebook. When reviewing whether or not your business wants to sell on FacebookMarketplace, ensure that they integrate with the platform. 

If it doesn’t, you could run into issues managing inventory counts or keeping listings up-to-date.

There will be lots of communication/messages from buyers.

As with any sales channel, on Facebook Marketplace you’ll receive questions from people who are interested in purchasing your product or from people who have already purchased and are organizing how they will receive the item.

You’ll want to quickly master your tone and communication templates for customers for pre- and post-purchase inquiries.

Customer service communications are an often-underused way to make your brand voice shine and genuinely delight customers.

The Benefits of Selling on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace has grown as an alternative option for online sellers and buyers, even surpassing for some the traditional online markets of Amazon, Craigslist and eBay.

They accomplished this primarily because of two reasons:

Extended reach.

Facebook is a social media behemoth, with nearly 3 billion active monthly users on the platform. The Facebook app is also the platform on which users in the US spend the most time during the day.

With these numbers backing it, Facebook Marketplace has grown significantly in 6 years, with a billion monthly visitors of its own and a million monthly active Facebook Shops.

For sellers, there may be no better market available to reach the widest audience.

Personalized customer experience.

Like Facebook itself, Facebook Marketplace grew in popularity due to its customizability — especially for its customers.

Through the help of a smart algorithm, the platform surfaces products relevant to consumers and their search patterns, helping your business find the right customers.

This also helps to ensure that your product is being seen by the right audience, resulting in the increased likelihood that an interaction will lead to a purchase.

How to Sell on Facebook Marketplace

Selling on Facebookmarketplace is a relatively straightforward process. However, it is different for merchants versus individuals. Here, we’ll dive into both.

For individual sellers.

For first time individual sellers, the process should be streamlined. If you already have an active Facebook account, simply go to the left-hand side of your Facebook newsfeed and click on the FB Marketplace tab.

From there, click on the "Create new listing" tab.

Once you add a product photo, title, price and product description, you’re set and ready to sell.

For BigCommerce merchants.

Integrating the Facebook Marketplace into your BigCommerce store is easy and takes little time with the help of our Channel Manager.

Channel Manager allows you to discover, connect to and manage all sales channels available for your store and offers free BigCommerce-built integrations for Facebook Marketplace and Instagram.

To start, go to Channel Manager, click + Create Channel and then click Connect next to Meta.If you don’t already have a Facebook Page/Business Page for your store and/or a Meta Business Manager, you can create them now.

When you’re ready, click “Connect”. You will then be redirected to Facebook. On the subsequent few screens, you will be asked to:

• Connect your BigCommerce store to Meta.
• Select an existing catalog or create a new one.
• Select or create a new Ad Account,
• Select or create a new Meta Pixel.

Once complete, you’ll be returned to your BigCommerce control panel to finish setting up shipping options and payment method details for your Facebook Shop.

By connecting your BigCommerce store to Facebook, you’ll be able to create ads for your products that appear in Facebook users’ feeds and offer your products for sale onsite on Facebook via Shops and Marketplace.

Facebook Marketplace Rules

To learn more about Marketplace — including what kinds of products are allowed and prohibited — make sure to view the Facebook Marketplace Commerce Policies.

The Commerce Policies apply to Marketplace, buy and sell Facebook groups, page shops and Instagram Shopping.

What can be sold on Facebook Marketplace.

As long as you follow Facebook’s Commerce Policies, you can sell almost anything on Facebook Marketplace. According to Facebook, the top five most popular item categories are:

• Household items.
• Furniture.
• Baby and kids items.
• Women’s clothing and shoes.
• Automobiles, including cars, trucks and motorcycles.

What cannot be sold on Facebook Marketplace.

Facebook maintains a list of items not allowed to be sold on Marketplace. These items include:

• Digital products or subscriptions.
• Weapons, ammunition or explosives.
• Animals.
• Illegal, prescription or recreational drugs.
• Medical or healthcare products.
• Tobacco products and related paraphernalia.
• Ingestible supplements.
• Adult products and services.
• Real money gambling services.
• Real, virtual or fake currency.
• Misleading, deceptive, or offensive items.
• Recalled products.

You must sell a physical item.

Anything that isn’t a physical product for sale cannot be sold, such as:

• “In search of” posts.
• Lost and found posts.
• Jokes.
• News.

Services like housekeeping and event tickets are only available on the marketplace by coordinating with one of Facebook’s partners.

The description of the item must match the image.

The photos of your items that you upload must match the title and description that you give it. Although descriptions are not required, adding an honest one to your listing can help you to get more offers and gain more trust with potential buyers.

Additionally, Facebook Marketplace listings cannot show or describe a before and after picture to describe the benefits of a product.

"Taking Your Business to New Heights with Dronestock: The Ultimate Solution for Aerial Imagery and Video."

Dronestock.com is an online marketplace for drone footage and photography. It is a platform that connects drone pilots and photographers who have captured stunning aerial clips and images with individuals and businesses who are in need of these drone footage services. The website provides its users with a large variety of high-quality drone footage and photography for a range of different applications including commercials, music videos, films, real estate, tourism marketing, and more. In this blog, we will be reviewing dronestock.com, including its features, functionalities, and benefits.

The first thing that stands out about dronestock.com is the sheer number of drone footage and photography available on the website. The site provides an extensive range of high-quality, royalty-free footage covering a diverse range of landscapes, including beaches, cities, mountains, jungles, and other natural wonders. The website also offers a wide range of drone services, including custom drone footage requests and drone pilot hiring. These features allow businesses and individuals to customize their requirements and meet their specific needs.

The website also provides a user-friendly interface that caters to both novice and seasoned drone photographers. The home page is easy to navigate, with various categories arranged in a way that makes it easy for visitors to find what they need. These categories include aerial shots, landscapes, cities, nature, and more. Additionally, the search bar on the website allows users to search for specific images and footage, making it convenient for those looking for a specific type of content.

Dronestock.com offers its users the option to purchase individual elements or a set of footage or images. Pricing on the site starts from $49 for an individual element, while sets range between $200 to $400. The website prioritizes image and footage quality, ensuring that users get the best value for their money. Additionally, the site offers bundle deals, where users can access a range of images for a discounted price.

In addition to providing high-quality footage and images, dronestock.com also offers its users a unique way to monetize their drone footage and photography. The website allows drone pilots and photographers to upload their work to the platform and earn a commission on every sale. Dronestock.com sets a 70% commission rate for its contributors, which is higher than most other drone footage providers. This high commission rate makes it attractive for photographers and drone pilots who want to monetize their work.

The dronestock.com website is also mobile-friendly, which makes it easier for users to access it on the go. The mobile version of the website offers the same ease of use as the desktop version, with simple navigation features and the search feature. The mobile version makes it easier for drone pilots and photographers to upload their footage and images to the platform while on the field.

One feature that sets dronestock.com apart from other drone footage websites is its dedication to customer service. The website provides a concierge service which allows users to submit a request for a custom drone shoot, and the platform will help connect them with local drone pilots to meet their needs. This feature makes it easy for clients who may not have access to a local drone pilot to get the footage they need. Additionally, the dronestock.com team provides excellent support to users who require assistance navigating the platform or uploading their footage.

Another unique feature of dronestock.com is the “Inspiration” section of the website. This section features a range of stunning drone footage and photography from various contributors, serving as a source of inspiration for aspiring drone pilots and photographers. The inspiration section helps new contributors to get ideas, learn techniques, and find inspiration for new projects.

Overall, dronestock.com is an exceptional drone footage marketplace that offers high-quality footage and images, personalized services, high commission rates, and excellent customer service. The website is easy to navigate, easily accessible on multiple devices and is an excellent option for businesses, producers, and photographers who require drone footage services. The website is a one-stop-shop for drone pilots, photographers, and businesses in need of high-quality drone images or footage.

Before and After Donating Blood | Jc Dr A Tamizha Karthic, ZC Need Blood Call Jaycees

 Before donating blood

§  If you are willing to donate blood, but don’t have good body weight, include more carbohydrate and dairy products in your food, to ensure your body weight increases.

§  If your hemoglobin level isn’t good enough, eat wet or dry dates, green leafy vegetables, beetroot, jaggery, ragi, soya bean, sprouted grams, apple, apricots and other food items that are rich in iron.

§  Non-vegetarians can eat red meat, sea food etc.

§  At the time of donation, you should be medically fit for blood donation. You should not be affected even by cough or cold.

§  Eat your food four hours before you donate blood.

§  Eat healthy food which is rich in iron.

§  Avoid fatty food including pizza, burger, packed wafers, fried items etc.

§  Have a complete eight hours uninterrupted sleep.

§  Wear loose clothes that will allow easy movement of body. Prefer short sleeves so that is doctors don’t have to struggle to attach syringe.

§  Drink lot of water to avoid dehydration.

§  A week prior to blood donation day, have food rich in iron. This will keep up haemoglobin count in your body.

§  Avoid consumption of cigarette or alcohol at least 72 hours before donating blood.

§  Before donating blood, answer all the questions that doctors ask or the questionnaire has, truthfully. Just because you want to donate blood, don’t put recipient’s life at risk by giving false information on the health front.

§  Give your contact numbers when asked. It will help in case of emergencies, like when somebody else needs blood sometime later, or doctors find out anything alarming about your blood and need to inform you.

§  An option is given to you during the ‘getting to know you’ session, whether to contact you if your blood test results show any kind of abnormality later. It is recommended to accept the request, for your own good.

After donating blood

§  Don’t hurry up to go back home after donating blood. Sit back for some 20 minutes so that doctors can keep an eye on possible post-donation problems like dizziness, nausea etc.

§  If you feel dizziness, lie down straight on your back and close your eyes. Also you can try sitting down with your knees folded and tuck your head between them. No need to panic, this is very normal.

§  If you continue to feel dizzy for long time, contact the doctor at the blood donation camp (In your certificate, you will find the number of the person to be contacted) or your family doctor and get yourself checked.

§  Have juice or eat biscuits or chocolates or any other refreshments provided to you in blood donation camps.

§  Do not forget to take the contact number of the doctor or the blood bank, if in case you need it in future.

§  Chain smokers and alcoholic people must not consume tobacco or alcohol immediately after blood donation.

§  Do not ride two-wheeler or four-wheeler or cycles after donating blood. Prefer a public transport to commute back.

§  Do not carry out any activity that requires a lot of strength at least for two hours or maximum one day.

§  Engineers or workers at construction sites should avoid working in high altitudes after donating blood, at least for a day.

What happens in a blood donation camp? Will I be paid for my blood? | Jc Dr A Tamizha Karthic

 What happens in a blood donation camp?

§  There may or may not be a queue for registration. Don’t walk away if you see a queue. have patience till your turn comes.

§  After the registration, your blood will be tested for haemoglobin count. For this, a small amount of blood will be taken from the tip of your finger.

§  Once your blood is approved, you will be quickly checked up for your blood pressure, weight and your medical history.

§  Some questions may turn out to be very personal. Do not get offended if they ask you about your sex life or menstrual dates. It is to ensure the safety of both the donor an the receiver.

§  The blood is tested for various five diseases: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, malaria and Syphilis.

§  Once you are approved for blood donation, your signature will be required on the consent form, which is usually printed behind the same blood donor questionnaire form. The doctor who checked you will also sign it.

§  From here you will be headed to your bed. Follow the instruction of the doctor or nurse. Lie down straight on your back and relax.

§  Be ready for a small sting on your hand when the syringe meets your nerve. Sometimes you will be given a soft ball to press, to facilitate easy flow of blood into the bottle.

§  Ensure you have a warm clothes, as your body temperature might fall due to loss of blood.

§  If you feel any kind of stiffness in your hand or body, call your doctor. It is not necessary to fill the bottle completely.

§  After completion of whole process, wait for the refreshment and final nod from the doctor that says, “Yes, you are fit to go.”

Will I be paid for my blood?

No. Professional blood donation was banned years ago in 1998. However, like all other acts, it was also flouted. National Blood Transfusion Services Act 2007 proposed by Union Health Ministry, demanded the professional donors (donors who donate for money) to be imprisoned for three months with a hefty fine.

So donating blood is a voluntary affair. If you wish to donate, you can donate blood but if not then no one can force, not even a doctor. You will not be paid for the blood under any circumstance.

Blood Donation Facts | Who can donate - Who Cant Donate - Jc Dr A Tamizha Karthic, ZC Need Blood Call Jaycees

When can you donate blood?

Men can donate blood once in three months; Women can donate once in four months.

Who can donate blood?

§  If you are aged between 18 and 60, you can donate blood, irrespective of your gender.

§  Your body should not weigh less than 45 kg.

§  Your haemoglobin level should be normal – that is, 12.5 gm/cent.

§  Blood pressure  must be under check. If you are not aware of your blood pressure, don’t worry. At the camps they quickly check whether the blood pressure is at the aceptable level.

§  If you even have the slightest doubt that you are infected by Hepatitis, HIV, AIDS or any other venereal disease, you should not donate blood.

§  If you have suffered from diarrhea, jaundice, malaria, dengue, donate blood after a gap of six months, only when you completely recover.

§  If you have swollen glands, persistent coughs, transfused blood or have had a any major surgery or dental extraction, you need to take doctor’s advice before donating blood.

§  If you have tattoos imprinted recently, or have used drugs like cocaine and ganja (drugs that are prohibited by Indian Law) doctors recommend you to take a gap of six months. This is because, if the needles / syringes used are not clean enough, you have the chances of contracting HIV which would be detected only after a few months.

§  If you have been vaccinated for Cholera, Typhoid, Diptheria, Tetanus or plague or taken a Gamma Globulin shot within last 15 days, you should not donate blood.

§  An interval of a year is recommended in case you have undergone a major or minor surgery, or you or your close relatives have suffered from typhoid, jaundice, chickangunya fever, rabies vaccine or hepatitis.

§  If it has been five years since your recovery from cancer and have completed your treatment, then you can donate blood provided you show you are medically fit.

Who should not donate?

§  People suffering from serious ailments should completely refrain themselves from donating blood. These include heart, lung, liver, kidney (Chronic Nephritis), allergic and sexuallly transmitted disease, any type of cancer, tuberculosis, epilepsy, asthma, schizophrenia or endocrine disorder, abnormal bleeding, fainting spells and leprosy or diabetic patients under the control of insulin should not donate blood.

§  People who have history of various types of cancers such as leukaemia , myeloma, lymphoma cannot donate blood.

§  People who frequent sex workers or those having multiple sex partners should maintain a gap of six months without having sex, again because of chances of contracting venereal diseases.

§  Persons with single sex partners (married men/women who don’t resort to unsafe sex practices can donate blood.

When shouldn’t women donate blood

§  When they have low level of haemoglobin

§  When they are underweight

§  When they are pregnant

§  When they are breastfeeding the baby and baby isn’t weaned out

§  A minimum wait of 10 days is advised after menstrual period, before donating blood, as body loses high amount of blood and weight during those days.

Once you know that you are eligible to donate blood, here are a few precautions to be taken before and after donating blood.

 

Regards
Jc Dr A Tamizha Karthic

Zone Trainer

ZC, Need Blood Call Jaycees