Have you ever grabbed your phone while out and about and wanted to know the closest yoga studio? If you used Google Maps, you used Google Business Profile (previously called Google My Business). Anytime you search on Google, you may receive a Google Business result.
What is Google Business Profile?
As entrepreneurs, we know that managing our online presence is crucial to the success of our businesses. That’s why I want to introduce you to one tool that can make all the difference: Google Business Profile. This free tool offered by Google allows you to customize your profile with important details such as business hours, photos, services, and contact information.
By optimizing your Google Business Profile, you can enhance your visibility to potential customers who are searching for a business like yours. You’ll also stand out from the competition and gain valuable insights into how customers interact with your business online.
As a result, you’ll improve your chances of appearing in organic search results and Google Maps, ultimately driving more sales to your business. With Google My Business in your toolkit, you can build trust and reliability with potential customers and create a solid foundation for your online presence.
Why consider using Google Business?
- To reach a wider audience
A Google Business Profile is crucial for reaching a wider audience. Companies can create a basic profile to ensure their information is correct on Google Maps and gain visibility on Google.com. Verified businesses are far more likely to catch the eye of consumers and appear more often in local search results, which is good news for local SEO. Additionally, visibility on Google Maps and search results can help increase phone calls, website traffic, and foot traffic into the store.
2. To improve your local search results
A profile can significantly improve your local search results by increasing your visibility on Google Maps and Google.com. It allows you to manage your business information, such as name, address, phone number, and hours of operation, ensuring accuracy and consistency across all platforms. By optimizing your profile with relevant keywords and services, you can improve your relevance score and rank higher in local searches. Additionally, managing your reviews and responding to customer feedback can increase your prominence score, making your business more well-known and trustworthy.
3. To increase your business’s brand awareness
A Google Business Profile profile can increase your brand awareness in several ways:
- It ensures your business information is correct on Google Maps, making it easier for potential customers to find you when searching for products or services in your area.
- It can improve your visibility on Google.com, as Google Maps listings often appear at the top of search results.
- It allows you to manage your reviews, helping build trust and credibility with potential customers.
- It can increase your store’s phone calls, website, and foot traffic.
By optimizing your profile, you can ensure that your profile shows up for the right keywords and that your target audience discovers your business. You can also increase brand awareness organically and improve your local SEO. Verified businesses are far more likely to catch the eye of consumers and rank higher on general Google search results pages.
For example, Donna Evans, founder and business owner of She Move, says that their Google My Business profile is one of the main places people find them, with over 40% of their leads coming directly through there. Additionally, according to Google, customers are 2.7 times more likely to consider your business reputation if you have a complete Google My Business profile, and they’re 70% more likely to visit your location.
4. To increase your business’ website traffic
A Google Business Profile can significantly increase your website traffic. By setting up a basic profile and optimizing it with a business description, product and service listings, photos, videos, regular posts, and customer reviews, you can gain tremendous visibility on Google.com. Google states that businesses with complete and accurate information are easier to match with the right searches, improving your relevance score. Additionally, customers are 2.7 times more likely to consider your business reputation if you have a complete Google Business Profile and 70% more likely to visit your location.
By incorporating the right keywords and using tools like Google Trends and Keyword Planner, you can improve your relevance and drive more traffic to your website. Remember to keep your business information up-to-date and verified and to ensure that your business is optimized to reap the benefits of increased website traffic.
5. To increase your business’s social media presence
You can create a free listing in Google Search and Maps by filling out all the information and enabling all the features. This allows potential customers to discover your business and access important information such as your business hours, website, and contact information. Additionally, by posting regularly and utilizing the Q&A feature, you can engage with customers and provide them with accurate information about your business. Monitoring your listing with Google Business Insights can also help you identify areas for improvement and optimize your listing to serve your customers better.
6. To offer a more personalized customer experience
A Google Business Profile can help you offer a more personalized customer experience by allowing customers to contact you directly through messaging and Q&A features. This creates an opportunity to remove any barriers preventing customers from taking the next step and allows you to respond to customer inquiries in real time. Additionally, managing your reviews can help you gain valuable customer feedback that can be used to improve your offerings and build trust with potential customers. By optimizing your profile with a business description, product and service listings, photos, and regular posts, you can further personalize the experience for your customers and increase your visibility on Google.
7. To increase your business’s search engine visibility
An optimized profile can significantly increase your business’s search engine visibility. Verified companies appear more often in local search results, which is great for local SEO. Additionally, they are more likely to rank higher on general Google search results pages. By optimizing your Google Business Profile, you can ensure that your business information is correct and up-to-date, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
A complete profile also increases the likelihood of customers considering your business reputable and visiting your location. Using the right keywords and incorporating them naturally into your business description can improve the relevance and increase brand awareness organically.
8. To increase your business’s presence on Google Maps
Having a Google Business Profile can increase your business’s presence on Google Maps because it helps to ensure that your business information is correct and visible on both Google Maps and Google.com. Google prioritizes local business listings over websites, making business listings more critical than ever and a crucial part of the purchase journey for your customers.
By claiming your free business listing, you can control your business’s appearance on Google Search and Google Maps. You can add your business name, location, and trading hours and monitor and reply to Google customer reviews. Customers are 2.7 times more likely to consider your business reputation if you have a complete Google Business Profile. They’re also 70% more likely actually to visit your location. This can increase phone calls, website traffic, and footsteps into your store.
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9. To increase your business’s presence on Google Posts
Google Posts are a powerful tool to increase your business’s presence. To create a post, log in to your account and select the “Posts” tab from the menu. From there, you can post by adding text, photos, and videos and choose a call-to-action button such as “Learn More” or “Buy.”
To optimize your post, include relevant keywords, use eye-catching images, and keep the text concise and engaging. Best practices involve posting regularly, adding a clear call-to-action, and using Google Posts to promote events, sales, or new products. By utilizing Google Posts, you can increase your business’s visibility on Google and attract potential customers.
A Google Business Profile is an invaluable tool for businesses of all sizes. It increases visibility on Google Maps, organic search results, and Google Posts and offers customers a more personalized experience. Business Google profiles can be optimized with relevant keywords, compelling business descriptions, customer reviews, and regular posts.
These strategies help businesses increase website traffic, build trust and credibility, and stand out. With a complete and accurate Google Business Profile, businesses can better reach their target audience and drive more in-store visits, phone calls, and website traffic. As Donna Evans from She Move said, “Your Google My Business profile is the main place people find you—don’t forget that!”
