Most internet searches start on Google. Its therefore very important that you make sure your "Google My Business" listing is updated with the latest information and content.
An updated Google My Business listing increases Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), potentially increasing traffic to your own website by more than 50%.
Using Google Hotels also has the potential to drive bookings directly through NightsBridge.
Check to see if your Google My Business listing has been claimed and verified.
You may need to claim and verify the listing before you're able to get full access to your listing.
Click here to see how you can claim and verify your listing.
Login to your Google My Business profile.
If you already have access, or have finished claiming your listing, you can login here.
Once in, you'll be able to update the content that's shown on the listing.
Updating your business category.
In some cases, your Google My Business category could've been setup incorrectly. You're able to change the category on your Google My Business profile by following this guide here.
NightsBridge currently only works with Google My Business listings that have been set to the Hotel category. Any other category is not supported (incl. Vacation Rentals).
Learn more about linking NightsBridge to Google Hotels here.
Choosing the correct business category.
Accommodation businesses are provided with 2 different kinds of categories on Google My Business. You can choose to either be listed as a Hotel or Vacations Rentals, depending on whether or not you have a front-desk, on-site staff, and accept walk-in customers.
If you do not have permanent on-site management (someone that can tend to a walk-in guest), then your business will be considered as a Vacation Rental.
For more information these two categories, please click here.
Update your main property information and make sure it matches NightsBridge.
You need to make sure that the information on NightsBridge and Google match. There cannot be any discrepancies between the two systems as all your channels (including Google) take the information you have on NightsBridge to build an online presence/profile.
There are are differences in the information, you're may have issues with duplicate Google My Business listings or issues with linking NightsBridge to Google.
To see how you can make sure your property information matches, click here.
Add more (and better) photographs:
Properties with more than one photograph receive 35% more clicks through to their websites than properties without photos. You could even add videos to let the traveller know what they can expect when they arrive.
Click here to see how you can add photos to your listing.
Keep in mind that as an open platform, other users are able to add photos of your establishment in reviews, etc. You can flag these for removal, click here to see how.
Update your hotel attributes and amenities:
These are useful features that can make your listing user-friendly and your property more appealing. These amenities and attributes are used in Google's search algorithms and so make sure that you've gone through all of them and tick all that are applicable to your establishment.
You can also set COVID-19 specific attributes on Google to reassure your guests that you are following health and safety protocols. Read more about that here.
Set up answers to frequently asked questions:
Help travellers to quickly find the information they're looking for about your property, your suburb or your town. The more helpful you can be in terms of providing up-to-date information, the more Google recognises your efforts. Set up a Frequently Asked Question section on your listing.
Watch a helpful video on setting this up here.
Request more Google Reviews & respond to those you get:
Google reviews give your business a lot of credibility, and boosts your Google ranking at the same time. Send your guests a link in a follow-up mail after their stay to ask for them to review your property on Google. Click here to see how.
Your reviews are based on more factors than can be counted, but luckily there is one thing that makes Google happy, boosts SEO, and is absolutely free: responding to reviews. In fact, responding to reviews has the power to increase your average rating by as much as half a star. That’s why responding to ALL reviews—both positive and negative—is essential.
You're also able to flag inappropriate reviews for removal. This guide explains how.
Insights and reporting.
One of the best tools that come with a Google My Business (GMB) listing is Insights. GMB Insights show you how your customers interact with your GMB listing.
This data includes information like:
- How many views your listing had.
- How and where customers find your listings.
- The actions customers take on your listings.
- And other interactions customers have with your GMB listing.
Click here for more information.
