Many local businesses struggle to build a good website, but the new Google My Business website builder is hoping to change that.
Creating a good website for you local business can seem complicated and expensive. There are many options out there – Wix, SquareSpace, WordPress, and Shopify just to name a few. Most of them offer you a plethora of features, which is great for some businesses … but not all.
Google’s now getting into the game and will soon be adding a website builder to your Google My Business listing. The website will automatically pull relevant information like your business name, address and phone number (NAP) from your listing to build a the site.
If you’re seeking a simple, quick, one-page website, look no further. The site is templated so that all you need to do is fill in the fields with your information. It’s easy to edit, and Google My Business websites will also look great on mobile devices because they’re mobile responsive. You can even use your own domain name for the site.
There are some limitations though. It doesn’t appear to work well for business that have multiple locations. Multi-location businesses should probably look at a different option, although that may change in the future.
One other drawback is that the template that makes building the website so user-friendly, also causes the websites to look very similar. You can customize colors and images, but the layout is virtually the same for every site at least right now. Wix, SquareSpace, WordPress, and Shopify all allow for more customization and brand differentiation.
At the end of the day, the best way to prepare for the new Google My Business website builder is to make sure you’ve claimed and optimized your Google My Business listing. When it’s rolled out to all accounts, you can then determine if it’s the right way for you to go.
