Google is central to search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing. As a major platform, Google offers many tools to help businesses succeed online, including Google Business Profiles. This tool allows businesses to have a profile displayed within Google, which can be used to provide information to viewers, interact with potential customers, and even message with customers.
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile is a free tool available on Google that can be used to reach more people in your target audience and be more accessible to potential customers. Google Business Profile aims to help your business perform better in Google Search and Google Maps, and convert more customers. Google Business Profile also adds credibility to your business, by showing a professional profile with accurate information when people search for your business.
Benefits of Having an Up-To-Date Google Business Profile
Google Business profile can be a great digital tool for businesses of all sizes. Having a complete and accurate profile can provide businesses another way to reach more people and engage with customers. Here are some of the main benefits to having an up-to-date Google Business Profile.
Increased Visibility
Google Business Profile helps businesses expand their reach through increased visibility on Google platforms. Having a profile makes it easier for people to find you when they search for your business directly or when they search for relevant products and services. Rather than seeing scattered results, users can get a quick overview of your business from your profile. Your profile will allow customers to see your business hours, address, and contact information in a concise and organized way. This makes it easier for people to visit your shop or interact with your brand in another way.
To ensure Google Business Profile can benefit your visibility, it’s important to fill out all requested details and make sure your information is accurate.
Improved SEO
Google Business Profile is one way to improve your business’ Search Engine Optimization (SEO). By incorporating keywords into your Google Business Profile, it will help your business be seen more when people search for relevant products and services. Your business may also be recommended based on the location you include in your profile. Overall, including keywords relevant to your products and location in your Google Business profile can help boost your search rankings.
Increased Engagement
Google Business Profile provides multiple ways for your business to interact with your customers. Businesses can publish posts, which will display as updates on their business profile. This is another way to keep customers engaged and interested in your business. Google Business Profiles also allow customers to direct message businesses through their profile. This gives businesses an edge by enabling them to provide a personalized experience to customers.
Customer Reviews
Another way customers can interact with your profile is through reviews. Google Business Profiles allow Google users to post a review on a 5-star rating scale about their experience with your brand. This can be beneficial to your business by getting feedback from customers.
Reviews can also help build your brand’s credibility. Many people will check customer reviews on Google when considering your services for the first time. Therefore, having positive reviews displayed when people see your Google Business Profile is good for your business. Many businesses will even request that customers leave an online review, to get authentic feedback and boost the brand’s reputation.
Targeted Advertising
Google Business Profile makes it easier to run targeted Google Ads, which can drive traffic to your Business Profile and convert more viewers. Including your Google Business Profile in ads shows that your business is reputable and legit. It also provides important information for viewers to take further action with your business. These functions increase the impact of your ads and make it easy for viewers to become customers.
Google My Business Insights
Once you set up a Google Business Profile, you can use it to gather information about how viewers are interacting with your business online. Your profile will utilize Google My Business Insights to provide information about where your viewers are coming from. These insights will also tell you if and how viewers are interacting with your profile. Insights are a useful benefit to using a Google Business Profile because you can use them to elevate your strategy.
A good marketing strategy is constantly evolving to meet the needs of a business’ audience. Your business can use My Business insights to see how your profile is performing and determine what adjustments need to be made. Based on the data provided, you may want to adjust the content included in your profile to see a better conversion rate or to better meet other goals.
Setting Up Your Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile provides a wide range of benefits for both businesses and customers. It makes your business more accessible, increases your visibility, and helps you better interact with customers. It’s a fairly simple process to set up a Google Business Profile and what a better time than the present to start using this tool. With just a few simple steps, you can maximize your online presence and start reaching more potential customers.
Claiming Your Business
The first step in setting up your profile is to claim your business. This is another reason why it’s important to set up a Google Business Profile. If you don’t claim your business, Google will display details based on the information that’s available about your business, which is more likely to be inaccurate.
You can start creating your Google Business Profile from your existing Google account. If you don’t have a Google account for your business, you will need to create one. Once you’re logged into your Google account, go to Google Maps. Then, you can type in the name of your business in the search bar and enter your business name. Choose the result that matches your business and click the name. Then, click ‘Claim this Business’ and ‘Manage Now.’ Alternatively, you can go to Google to find and manage your business.
Adding Your Information
After you’ve claimed or added your business, you will need to add your business information. It’s important that the information you enter is complete and accurate. There will be a series of prompts after you have identified your business. First, Google will ask for your business’ location and your hours. If you don’t have a physical storefront, you can skip this step.
Next, you will enter the service area of your business. Be sure that this is accurate, but that you don’t overextend your service area. Google recommends you pick map points no farther than 2 hours from your store location. Lastly, enter your contact information for your business so people can contact you after finding you on Google. You will likely be asked to enter your business phone number and website address.
Verifying Your Profile
Once you’ve entered all your information, you will need to verify your profile. After you’ve finished your profile, Google will give you a few options for verification, such as phone, email, and text. You can choose to verify later, but your profile won’t display until you have verified it. Once you have verified, it may take a few weeks for Google to review your verification and implement your new profile.
Adding Photos
Once your business profile is verified, you should add some photos so that people who see your profile can visually recognize your business. According to Google, businesses that add photos to their profile get 35% more website click throughs than businesses that don’t. It’s a good idea to include your logo and a few feature photos that highlight your business. You may also want to add a cover photo. Because this photo will be featured, it should align well with your business’ values and goals.
Utilizing Google My Business Features
Once you’ve set up and verified your Google Business Profile, it’s crucial that you can use it to increase your reach and engage with customers. There are a few key features that your business can utilize in your business profile to elevate your digital presence.
Posts
Posts are one of the main ways that you can keep up with customers through your Google Business Profile. You can use text, photos, and videos to create posts in your profile. You may consider making posts to update customers about new offers, business changes, or just what you’ve been up to. Your posts will display under the ‘Updates’ tab. It’s important to keep your posts family-friendly, to avoid negative impacts on your profile. After you make a post, Google will approve or deny it.
Messaging
One of the best features that can help your business directly interact with customers is messaging. Google Business Profile gives customers the ability to message your business with inquiries or concerns. This is a great way for your business to be more accessible to customers and gives the opportunity for more one-on-one interaction with customers.
Insights
Insights are important because they provide valuable information for building the best profile possible. Insights will tell your business who is coming to your profile, from where, and whether they are taking further action with your business. This can help your business make adjustments to better optimize your profile for interaction and conversion. To access your insights, go to ‘Promote’ and click ‘Performance’ in your Business Profile. This will allow you to see recent insights or insights based on a certain date range.
Managing Google Business Profiles at Scale
The Google Business Profiles API allows businesses to manage and update multiple business listings on Google at scale. This can be particularly useful for businesses with multiple locations or franchises, allowing automatic updates to ensure that all their listings have accurate information. The API allows businesses to update business information, such as address, phone number, and hours of operation, across multiple listings in bulk. This can be particularly useful for businesses with high turnover or rapidly changing information. Additionally, businesses can also manage and respond to customer reviews, and view analytics on how customers are interacting with their listings.
Google Business Profile is an important and easy-to-use tool to increase the impact of your business. Your business can reach more people, interact with customers, and improve search rankings and conversions. Phierce Marketing is focused on taking an ethical, transparent, and trustworthy approach to marketing, to help businesses improve their strategy and make more sales. Schedule a call to get started today!
