Google Business Profile is a free tool that lets you manage and optimize the way your business appears on Google. In terms of local SEO, It amplifies your presence in local search results and on Google Maps. By optimizing your profile with accurate information, imagery, and positive reviews, your local search ranking will improve, enhancing your business’s prominence on Google. This will help attract and engage your local customers, and increase your local search visibility.
What is Google Business Profile?
If you aren’t using Google Business Profile (GBP), you’re missing out on some major opportunities and potential customers!
You may be thinking: don’t you mean Google My Business? The answer is yes, Google has changed the name of the tool but the intention behind it is still the same.
Think of Google Business Profile as a business listing that you can manage and optimize, that provides viewers with your contact information, customer reviews, easy access to your website and location, Q+As, posts, and more. With GBP, you can manage how your local business shows up across Google products, like Maps and Search, all for free!
Now you might be wondering, “How can this help my business?” Keep reading…
Why Do I Need A Google Business Profile?
GBP plays a significant role in local SEO by enhancing your business’s online presence and visibility in local search results. Who doesn’t want that?!
1. Increases Visibility + Attracts New Customers
When it comes to local SEO, having a GBP is a very important factor. By having your business appear in a Google listing when people search for a solution or a product or service related to yours, you significantly increase your visibility to users who otherwise may not have known about your business. And the more they see you, the more top-of-mind your business becomes.
2. Makes A Good First Impression
When someone searches for the solution you provide, business listings are one of the first things they will see. As you know, first impressions are key and having an optimized Google Business Profile will help build credibility and create a positive experience for your potential customers. As a consumer, think about how reassuring it is to see a business whose info is complete, helpful, consistent, up-to-date, and visible.
3. Provides Convenience for Customers
It’s so important to provide a seamless online experience for your customers and clients. Your Google Business Profile listing will allow customers to easily access your business’s phone number, address, website, and directions, including links to give them exactly what they’re looking for. This level of convenience will encourage them to contact, learn more about, or visit your business.
Did you know that 62% of customers will disregard a business if they can’t find them online? We don’t want that for you!
How Do I Get Started with GBP for My Business?
First of all, you will need to find out if your business already has a listing. It’s common for businesses to have a dormant listing somewhere, or a listing that isn’t quite accurate any longer if there hasn’t been anyone actively monitoring it. If you are in this boat, don’t panic and keep reading.
If your business has a listing, that’s great! At the very least it may need a tune up and some optimizing. At the most, you may need to start all over. Ideally, you keep the business listing and make a few key changes. There are, however, a few reasons why you may consider closing the listing and starting fresh.
Determine this by asking yourself a few questions:
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Is the listing associated with your account the same business as it is currently?
If the listing is for an entirely different business and the only commonality is the address then it would be okay to suggest an edit and mark the business as closed or moved.
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Is the information accurate?
If not, a lot of the information can be updated such as the address, phone number, etc.
If the listing has some accurate information and looks like it just needs a tune up then you will want to keep this listing.
If the listing associated with your account is inaccurate, you can suggest an edit to mark it as closed. You would consider doing this if it’s a former business at the same location as yours. Your next step is to request management access. On the listing you should see a link that says “Own this business?”. Go through the prompts on Google to request access and become a manager of that Google listing.
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Are there good reviews?
If you can’t decide whether to keep the listing or not, consider the reviews. If the listing has lots of positive reviews then we would recommend keeping the listing as reviews are a large factor in SEO rankings for Google.
How to Create A Google Business Profile
We could walk you through how to create a profile, but the truth is that Google says it best. Follow these steps here to create a Business Profile on Google.
NOTE…
If you are a:
or an ecommerce platform, you will want to follow the instructions provided through these specific links.
You’re Invited
Just because we’re directing you elsewhere doesn’t mean we don’t hope to see you back again! Keep an eye out for our in-depth Google Business Profile Best Practices article coming from us in the next few weeks. Check here for more information!
If you’re ready to dive a little deeper and gain a better understanding of how you can harness its power for your business, we can get you started with our 3-day SEO, Google Ads + Analytics program.
