Why Your Local Business Needs Google Over Instagram

A study by Clutch found that 78% of people use Google to find local businesses.

There are a few key reasons why your local business’ marketing strategy needs to focus on Google over Instagram.

First, Google is the leading search engine in the world, while Instagram is a relatively new social media platform. This means that if you want your business to be found online, you need to make sure it's ranking high on Google.

Second, Google offers much more detailed information about businesses than Instagram does. When someone searches for a business on Google, they can see its address, phone number, hours of operation, and even reviews from other customers. By contrast, Instagram only provides a business' name and profile picture.

Finally, businesses that are listed on Google receive more traffic than those that are only listed on Instagram. In fact, a study from Yelp found that when a business is only listed on Instagram, it earns about half as much revenue as a listing in Google.

As a business owner, you know that it's important to be where your customers are. And increasingly, those customers are spending more and more time on Instagram. In fact, according to recent studies, about one-third of all American adults now use Instagram. That's a lot of potential eyeballs for your business!

Even though Instagram is popular, it might not be the best platform for you. Why? Because while Instagram is great for visual content and building relationships with customers, it's not as good as Google when it comes to finding information about businesses. In fact, a study by Clutch found that 78% of people use Google to find local businesses.

So if you're not already using Google My Business, you should be. Here's why:

Google has high search intent

When it comes to search engines, Google has always had the highest intent. This means that when people are searching for something, they are more likely to go to Google than any other search engine. In fact, a study by Clutch found that 78% of people use Google to find local businesses.

Google My Business will put your business in front of customers who are actively searching for it on Google Maps, the second-most popular search engine after Google itself (and an increasingly important source of traffic to local businesses). It can help bring more people into your store. According to Moz, "a single citation on Google Maps can increase the amount of foot traffic to a business by an average of 11%."

This is important for local businesses because it means that if you're not using Google My Business, you're missing out on a lot of potential customers. And not only that, but you're also likely to rank lower on Google than you would if you were using Google My Business.

77% of the world’s search traffic is handled by Google

This is a high number, and it's one that local businesses cannot afford to ignore. Google offers much more detailed information about businesses than Instagram. When someone searches for a business on Google, they can see its address, phone number, hours of operation, and even reviews from other customers. By contrast, Instagram only provides a business' name and profile picture.

So it's important for local businesses to keep this in mind and use Google My Business so they can stay ahead of their competitors.

Making use of Google My Business means that you can manage your online presence in one place, which includes posting new content and updating your location information.

According to a study by Chitika, Google had a whopping 63% market share in 2013. This means that out of all the internet users out there, 63% of them were using Google. And this number has likely only increased since then.

Your posts on Google get more organic traffic and views that your posts on Instagram

So why should your local business make use of Google over Instagram? Well, because your posts on Google get MORE ORGANIC TRAFFIC and views than your posts on Instagram. Additionally, with Google My Business, you can manage all of your online presence in one place, making it easier for customers to find you.

Take your local business to the next level with Google this year! For more on Google My Business, click here to schedule your FREE 15 minute call with me. On our call we will discuss ways to make your Google My Business listing work for your business!

In an age where people are constantly looking for information about local businesses, it's important that they can find you easily. With Google My Business you can manage your business information from one place. This includes things like the types of services you offer, hours of operation, and any other information a customer might need to know. The best part? You have total control over these listings so that they're always up-to-date and accurate!

Google vs. Instagram 

In summary, Google is the clear winner in search traffic and intent.

The reason your local business needs to focus its marketing strategy more on Google than on Instagram is because of the high search intent that Google has. 77% of the world’s search traffic is handled by Google, so if you want your business to be found, you need to be there. While not to discredit social media sites like Instagram and the likes, Instagram is great for building a brand and creating a community around your business, but if you want people to actually find your business, you need to be on Google.

The fact that your posts on Google get more organic traffic and views than your posts on Instagram is reason enough to make use of Google over Instagram. Additionally, with Google My Business,  you have total control over your online presence in one place by managing all of your business information from one space. This makes it easier for customers to find you, which is what local businesses should aim for in an age when people are constantly looking for information about local businesses.

So should you stop using Instagram entirely? Of course not! But if you're looking for ways to market your business more effectively, it might make sense to spend less  time on Instagram and more time building your presence on Google My Business.

Is your business found on Google?