The benefits a free website with Google My Business can provide.

June 3, 2020

You have many options as a business owner to be online. You can hire a professional or do it yourself. Each option varies on the amount of resources and time available to your company. If you're unsure about the power of owning your own site, or simply want to get started without committing to an expensive process, give Google My Business a try.

Owning your own website has never been easier. Google My Business (GMB) is a free listing tool provided by Google. Google gives business owners the chance to post basic information to improve local search results for free. As a business owner, you may already use Google My Business to display business hours, phone number, and directions to your business. Along with a web search listing, Google gives business owners the ability to host a free basic website.

You don't need any design or coding skills to set up your free site. Just fill out pre-selected fields such as business name and other basic information and you're set. The Google site has a basic web page editor for you to add pictures, include "make an appointment" buttons, and chose from a variety of layouts. This is as simple as it gets. Granted, a free page may be limiting compared to a paid service, but it's a good way to get your name out there and make your business more presentable.

Will this work as well as a paid service? Maybe. That's because every industry is different. Perhaps your business is not conducting online sales and you're not expecting heavy web traffic. You may just want something simple that works. Something where you can place your portfolio for prospective clients.  It's not for everyone, but it's a good start.

At the very least, having your own site can give you knowledge of where your customers are, and what times they are searching for you. The site is powered by Google, which means access to Google Analytics. That is valuable information you can use to create an effective marketing campaign.

Note that creating your free Google My Business website does not mean you committed Google for any set period of time. You can always upgrade to a paid service with the designer of your choice at anytime. You can migrate your site to a different domain and make updates however you choose. It's your business, you are ultimately in charge.

Full disclosure: Top Hat Central offers a web design service. A Google My Business Account and access to a Google powered website are free services provided by Google. We offer custom coded websites to our customer's liking and specifications. We do not use templates. We focus on positioning our clients branding first. We provide a professional photography service along with other tools to better help our customers. The intent of this post was helping those that may have questions about making their own website. Top Hat Central understands that not all small business have the resources and expertise to specialize in web design. As such, not everyone needs a complex site, thus adding an unnecessary expense to some. We help evaluate our customer needs and recognize that small/micro business owners often designate several hats to a single employee. We offer to be one less hat for those looking to grow their online efforts.