The rapid spread of the coronavirus has left many questions in its wake for business owners and consumers alike. Businesses are weighing the merits of staying open, and selections of those still traveling are wondering which businesses are still in operation. With a time of considerable uncertainty at hand, any transient travelers need something to ground them, and having updated information on your Google My Business listing can provide comfort to your future guests. There are additional merits to updating it as well, such as increasing your visibility in searches. We’ve previously covered this topic, but knowing what to update first can save you a lot of time and earn you more business moving forward. Today, we’ll cover a few critical steps you should take during a time when occupancy is low, and you have a bit more time on your hands.

Make sure your listing is verified.

To make faster, worthwhile edits to your business listing, you’ll need to be sure your listing is verified. It’s a simple process: find your business through Google My Business by first inputting the address. Then, click “Claim this business,” then “Manage now.” There are on-screen verification steps to guide you, and once this is complete, your hotel will be eligible to appear in searches across Google products like Maps and Search.

However, the main reason you want to ensure your listing is verified is to remove the disclaimer that Google will put up about your information potentially not being up-to-date. This disclaimer may make some guests more hesitant to utilize your business, especially if they would prefer not to call the property and need information at a glance. Taking the time to ensure your property is in order now can save your occupancy by increasing your visibility on Google and showing travelers you’re available for booking. 

Edit your business information.

Your next highest priority for your Google My Business listing is updating your business information: this includes everything from your service area to your check-in and check-out times. If you have a relaxed policy, this would be the time for you to submit your changes. All of your information can be updated on your Google My Business listing on the page of the location you’d like to manage. Be especially careful if you’re a manager of multiple properties and make sure you’re editing the information for the correct location. As you make your changes, click “Apply,” and they’ll be sent to Google for review. Luckily, if you are managing 10 or more locations, Google gives you the ability to submit your changes in bulk. Google’s support page provides a useful tutorial for compiling this information here.

If you’ve had to temporarily close any amenities on your property due to health concerns for your guests, you’ll be able to provide updates to your hotel information, as well. In addition to your amenities, you can edit attributes, which are available to hoteliers with verified listings. You can utilize this space to showcase nearby restaurants or partnered businesses that will provide services to your hotel, such as delivering food or retail such as grocery stores. Having this information readily available will help ease some of the heavy lifting from your front desk team. Plus, if you make long-term partnerships with local restaurants or retail businesses, you won’t need to worry about taking this information down in the future.

Add a temporary closure, if needed.

If you’ve had to take more drastic measures during these unprecedented times, it’s still important to communicate this to Google so they can update your listing accordingly for travelers. As the authoritative source for this information, Google will take your word for when to remove the temporary closure notice. All you need to do is provide a date, and that will be the day the notice is removed, and travelers can start booking your property again. In the interim, guests will still be able to view your amenities, reviews, and posts, so it is still valuable to ensure your information is accurate before marking the closure. Additionally, a COVID-19 post may answer guest curiosities and give you the chance to share when you’ll be open again, as that date will not be posted on Google Maps.

Updating your property’s information on Google My Business may seem overwhelming, but it is crucial for the benefits it offers to your hotel. We have a dedicated resource center full of additional tools and materials that provide further ideas in helping you shape your digital marketing strategy during this difficult period. Our industry is resilient, and taking steps to improve your marketing now will put you in a position to grow when travel resumes.