Google My Business For Hotels – 9 Easy Ways To Optimize Your Listing

Alisha Shabnam
November 14, 2024
A person with long hair sits on a window seat, looking out at palm trees and rain through a large window.

Hey there! Are you a hotel owner looking to increase your online visibility and attract more potential guests? Look no further than Google My Business!

In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever for hotels to have a strong online presence, and Google My Business can help you achieve just that.

By optimizing your business listing on this platform, you can increase your visibility on Google Maps and in the local search listings, making it easier for guests to find and choose your hotel.

But where do you start with Google My Business?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps to optimize your hotel’s Google My Business profile, from setting up your business listing to utilizing features like hotel attributes and high-quality photos.

We’ll also cover how to monitor and respond to guest reviews, use Google Posts to promote your hotel’s amenities and special offers, and more.

So whether you’re a new hotel owner just getting started with a Google business profile, or you’re looking to improve your existing profile, keep reading for our expert tips and best practices.

Beautiful Resort Business Google My Business Scaled 1
Beautiful Resort Business

Setting up a Google My Business Listing

As a hotel owner, one of the most important steps you can take to increase your visibility online is to claim and verify your Google Business profile.

This is a free tool provided by Google that allows you to manage how your hotel appears in searches and on Google Maps.

Not only does it give you greater control over how guests see your hotel, but it also improves your search engine rankings and makes it easier for customers to find your hotel online.

A. Importance of claiming and verifying your listing

Claiming and verifying your Google My Business is a critical first step in your hotel’s online marketing strategy.

Without a verified listing, your hotel won’t show up in Google’s search results, and potential guests won’t be able to find you when they search for hotels in your area.

By verifying your listing, you not only increase your visibility, but you also gain access to valuable insights about how customers are finding and interacting with your business online.

You can see how many people are viewing your listing, where they’re coming from, and what they’re searching for.

This information can help you make informed decisions about how to optimize your business information and attract more customers.

B. Step-by-step guide to setting up a listing

Setting up a Google Business profile or listing is a straightforward process.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

  • Sign in to your Google account, or create a new one if you don’t have one already.
  • Enter your hotel’s name and address, and select a business category.
  • Choose how you want to verify your listing. Google offers several options, including mail, phone, email, and instant verification (if your hotel is already listed on Google Maps).
  • Follow the prompts to verify your listing. Depending on the verification method you choose, you may need to wait a few days for a postcard or phone call.
  • Once your listing is verified, add additional business information, such as your hotel’s hours, website, and photos.
Google My Business Scaled 1
Google My Business | CloudFly.so

C. Tips for Google my business optimization for local hotels

To make the most of your Google Business profile, there are a few key tips to keep in mind:

  • Keep your business information up to date: Make sure your hotel’s address, phone number, and hours are accurate and up to date. This helps guests find you and ensures that they have a positive experience when they arrive.
  • Use good-quality photos: Photos are an essential part of your listing and can have a significant impact on how guests perceive your hotel. Make sure to use clear professional pictures that showcase your hotel’s best features.
  • Add hotel attributes: Google allows you to add attributes that highlight specific features of your hotel, such as “pet-friendly” or “free Wi-Fi.” Adding these attributes can make your hotel more attractive to potential guests who are searching for these amenities.
  • Encourage guest reviews: Reviews are critical to your hotel’s online reputation, and they can have a significant impact on how your hotel appears in search results. Encourage your guests to leave reviews on your Google My Business listing and respond to any feedback you receive.
  • Use Google Posts: Google Posts allow you to share updates, special offers, and other news about your hotel directly on your Google My Business listing. This can help you stand out in search results and attract more customers.

Remember to keep your information up to date and engage with your customers to build a positive online reputation.

Related: 6 Restaurant SEO Tips to Rank Higher on Search Engines

Optimizing Your Google Business Profile

A. Importance of a complete and accurate profile

You should know that having a strong online presence in today’s cyber world is essential for success in the hospitality industry.

One of the most critical aspects of your online presence is your Google Business profile. It’s important to make sure that your profile is complete and accurate to ensure that guests can easily find and learn about your property.

Having a complete and accurate profile can also help your hotel show up in search results, as Google considers the information in your profile when determining which businesses to display.

By optimizing your profile, you can increase the visibility of your hotel and attract more potential customers.

B. Optimization tips for hotel attributes, property details, and business information

To optimize your Google My Business profile for your hotel, you should start by ensuring that your hotel attributes, property details, and business information are accurate and up-to-date.

Make sure that you’ve provided accurate information about your hotel’s amenities, such as whether you have a pool or fitness centre.

It’s also important to provide accurate property details, including your hotel’s address, phone number, and website URL.

When it comes to business information, make sure to provide up-to-date information about your hotel’s business hours and any other relevant information that guests may need to know.

C. Guidelines for high-quality photos and cover image

In addition to providing accurate information about your hotel, it’s important to make sure that your Google Business profile includes high-quality pictures.

Your photos can help give guests a sense of what it’s like to stay at your hotel and can help you stand out from the competition.

When choosing photos for your profile, make sure they’re high-quality and show off the best aspects of your hotel. You may want to include photos of your hotel’s rooms, common areas, and amenities.

Your cover photo is also an essential element of your Google Business profile.

It’s the first thing that potential guests will see when they come across your profile, so you want to make sure it’s eye-catching and representative of your hotel.

D. Importance of creating an FAQ page

Finally, it’s important to create an FAQ page for your hotel. This can help answer common questions that guests may have and can help reduce the number of calls or emails your hotel receives with basic inquiries.

When creating your FAQ page, think about the questions that guests most commonly ask. This may include questions about your hotel’s amenities, check-in and check-out times, or cancellation policies.

By creating an FAQ page, you can not only provide helpful information to guests but also improve your hotel’s online presence.

Google looks for relevant information when determining which businesses to display, so including an FAQ page can help you rank higher in search results.

Google Analytics
Google Business Analytics

Google My Business Insights and Analytics

Google My Business provides valuable insights and analytics that can help businesses optimize their online presence and increase their visibility in search results.

These insights give businesses access to data on how customers interact with their Google My Business list, such as the number of views, clicks, and actions taken on the listing.

Some of the key insights available in Google My Business include:

  • Total views: This metric shows the total number of views for your Google My Business listing over a specific period of time.
  • Search Queries: This metric shows the number of times your business appeared in search results for specific keywords or phrases.
  • Customer actions: This metric shows the number of actions taken on your listing, such as calls, website visits, and requests for directions.
  • Direction requests: This metric shows the number of times customers requested directions to your business.
  • Phone calls: This metric shows the number of calls made to your business directly from your Google My Business listing.

Insights can help you understand how your customers are finding and interacting with you online, and give you insights on how to improve your visibility and attract more customers.

Here are some tips for using insights to optimize your profile:

  1. Use the search query data to optimize your listing content: Review the keywords and phrases that customers are using to find your business, and use those keywords in your listing description and other content on your website.
  2. Monitor customer actions: Keep an eye on the customer action data to see which actions are most popular and optimize your profile accordingly. For example, if you notice that customers are frequently requesting directions, make sure that your address is accurate and that you have clear directions on your website.
  3. Analyze the total views data: Keep an eye on the total views data to see how often your listing is being viewed, and adjust your profile accordingly. For example, if you notice that your views are low, consider updating your cover photo, adding more photos or reviews, and optimizing your listing description.
  4. Use direction requests and phone calls data: Review the direction requests and phone calls data to see which locations and phone numbers are the most popular. Make sure that your contact information is up to date, and consider adding more locations or phone numbers if necessary.
  5. Keep track of trends: Monitor your insights over time to see if there are any trends in how customers are finding and interacting with your business. Use this data to adjust your profile and stay ahead of the competition.
Marketing Cloudfly.so

Google My Business and Local Search

As a hotel owner or manager, it’s crucial to understand the importance of local search for your business.

Local search refers to the process of finding information about a local business, such as a hotel, through online search engines like Google.

With the rise of mobile devices, more and more people are turning to their phones to find businesses near them, making local search even more important.

It allows guests to find your hotel quickly and easily. By optimizing your business’s online presence for local business search, you can improve your visibility and reach a wider audience.

This can help increase your bookings and revenue, as well as improve customer satisfaction by making it easier for guests to find and book your hotel.

B. Explanation of how Google My Business impacts search visibility

One of the most effective ways to optimize your hotel’s online presence for local results is by using Google My Business.

Google Business profile allows business owners to manage their online presence on Google, including search results and Google Maps.

By setting up and optimizing your Google My Business profile, you can improve your hotel’s search visibility.

This means that when someone searches for hotels in your area, your business is more likely to show up in the search results.

This is because Google uses the information you provide in your profile, such as your business name, address, and phone number, to determine your relevance to a user’s search query.

C. Tips for improving search ranking

To improve your hotel’s search ranking, there are several things you can do:

  • Claim and verify your Google Business profile: This will allow you to manage your online presence on Google and ensure that your business information is accurate and up-to-date.
  • Optimize your Google Business profile: Make sure that your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and business hours are accurate and consistent across all online platforms.
  • Use hotel attributes: Google My Business allows you to add hotel-specific attributes, such as “pet-friendly” or “free parking,” which can improve your visibility for users searching for those specific amenities.
  • Encourage positive reviews: Google My Business uses reviews as a ranking factor, so encouraging your guests to leave good reviews can help improve your search ranking.
  • Use high-quality photos: Including quality photos of your hotel can make it more appealing to potential guests and improve your search ranking.

D. Overview of local search results and the Google Local Pack

Local search results refer to the list of businesses that show up on the search engine results page (SERP) when someone searches for a local business.

The Google Local Pack is a specific type of search result that appears at the top of the search results and displays a map with three local businesses that are relevant to the user’s search query.

To appear in the search, you need to have a Google My Business profile that is optimized for local search. Your business also needs to have high-quality reviews and a high level of engagement with users.

While appearing in the Local Pack can be beneficial for your business, it’s important to note that it’s not the only way to improve search ranking in your area.

Google Reviews and Reputation Management

As a hotel owner or manager, one of the most important aspects of your business is your online reputation.

In today’s digital age, people rely heavily on online reviews to make decisions about where to stay, dine, and travel.

Positive reviews can lead to increased bookings and revenue, while negative reviews can have a significant impact on your bottom line.

In this section, we will discuss the importance of reviews, how to encourage guests to leave reviews, guidelines for responding to reviews, and reputation management tips.

A. Importance of reviews for hotels

Good reviews are essential for the success of any hotel. They provide social proof that your hotel is a great place to stay, eat, and relax.

According to a recent survey, 91% of travellers read online reviews before making a booking decision.

In fact, 84% of people trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations. Those golden starts not only attract more customers but also help build brand trust and loyalty.

B. How to encourage guests to leave reviews

Encouraging guests to leave reviews can be a challenging task, but it is a critical part of building a positive online reputation.

Here are some tips on how to encourage guests to leave reviews:

  • Ask for a review: Make it a habit to ask guests to leave a review at check-out or in a follow-up email after their stay. Be sure to provide a direct link to your Google My Business page, as well as other review sites like TripAdvisor or Yelp.
  • Provide incentives: Consider offering guests a discount on their next stay or a free upgrade in exchange for leaving a review. Just make sure to follow Google’s guidelines and do not offer incentives in exchange for reviews.
  • Make it easy: Provide guests with clear instructions on how to leave a review, and make the process as simple as possible. Consider creating a handout or an email template with step-by-step instructions.
  • Follow-up: If a guest mentions a problem during their stay, make sure to address it promptly and follow up with them afterwards to ask if they would be willing to leave a review.

C. Guidelines for responding to reviews

Responding to reviews is an essential part of reputation management. Here are some guidelines for responding to reviews:

  • Be prompt: Respond to reviews as quickly as possible, ideally within 24 hours. This shows that you are engaged with your guests and value their feedback.
  • Be courteous: Always respond to reviews in a professional and polite manner. Even if a guest leaves a negative review, responding in a defensive or confrontational way will only make the situation worse.
  • Be specific: Address the guest’s concerns in your response, and be specific about how you plan to address the issue.
  • Thank the guest: Whether the review is positive or negative, always thank the guest for taking the time to leave a review. This shows that you value their feedback and appreciate their business.

D. Reputation Management Tips

Reputation management is the practice of monitoring and influencing how your hotel is perceived online.

With the prevalence of online reviews and the ease of sharing experiences on social media, it’s important for hotels to actively manage their reputation to ensure a positive image.

Here are some tips for effective reputation management:

  • Monitor reviews: Set up alerts to be notified when your hotel is mentioned online. Regularly check review sites and social media to see what guests are saying about their experiences.
  • Respond to reviews: Respond promptly and professionally to all reviews, whether positive or negative. Thank guests for their positive feedback and address any negative feedback with empathy and a commitment to resolving the issue.
  • Address negative feedback: Negative reviews can be an opportunity to learn and improve. Use the feedback to make necessary changes to your hotel and show that you take guest feedback seriously.
  • Promote positive feedback: Share positive feedback on your website and social media channels. Use guest feedback to highlight the unique features and amenities of your hotel.
  • Train staff: Ensure that all staff members are aware of the importance of guest feedback and how to handle negative situations. Train staff on how to respond to negative reviews and how to address guest complaints.
  • Utilize other digital listings: In addition to Google My Business, make sure your hotel is listed on other digital listings to increase your online presence. This includes travel and hospitality websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com. These sites allow guests to leave reviews and can help attract more guests to your hotel.
location page

Google services that integrate with Google My Business

Google My Business integrates with a number of other Google services, such as

Google Maps, Google Search Console, and Google Ads.

  • Google Search Console is a free tool that helps hotel owners monitor and maintain their website’s presence in Google search results.
  • By integrating Google Search Console with Google My Business, hotel owners can track their search performance, identify issues, and optimize their website content to improve their search rankings.
  • Google Maps is another powerful tool that integrates with Google My Business. It helps hotels enhance their visibility on Google Maps, showcase their location, and hotel owners can also boost their visibility on search results.

Optimizing your Google My Business profile for your hotel is crucial for improving your online presence and attracting potential guests.

By including high-quality pictures, accurate and up-to-date information, and positive guest reviews, you can increase your visibility in search results and ultimately drive more direct bookings.

Remember to regularly update your profile and take advantage of other Google services such as Google Search Console, Google Maps, and Google Ads to further enhance your online presence.

We highly recommend our services to assist you in optimizing your Google My Business profile and staying ahead of the competition.

Don’t wait any longer, choose us and start benefiting from the power of Google My Business today!

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