The Ultimate Guide to Google Business Profile

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What if we told you there was a free and simple way you could boost your ranking on Google searches, improve your conversion rate and essentially get free advertising? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, Google Business Profile, previously known as Google My Business, can do all of this and more. Make the most of Google Business Profile with our ultimate how-to guide.

What is Google Business Profile?

A Google Business Profile is a free tool that shows potential customers useful information about local businesses like yours. It is displayed in the form of a listing on the first page of local Google search results and on Google Maps.

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When people are looking for a business online, their first impression is often a Google Business Profile. Seeing useful information at a glance – including a phone number, physical and website addresses and opening hours – makes it easy for people to contact a business. Reviews and images also help people compare multiple businesses.

According to a study by BrightLocal, almost half (49%) of businesses gain more than 1000 Business Profile views via Google Search results a month, while one-third achieve more than 1000 views on Maps. And with ‘near me’ searches increasing exponentially over the past couple of years, putting yourself front and centre of search results is invaluable.

Google Business Profile is for businesses that have in-person contact with customers, which can include physical stores, restaurants and service providers such as plumbers and electricians. If your company is exclusively online, you will have to use other tools such as Google Ads to try to gain some of the benefits offered by the Google Business Profile tool.

How Do I Set Up My Business Profile?

Digital Pie is happy to help you set up your Google Business Profile, but here is a simple step-by-step guide so you can take charge of your listing:

    1. Sign into Google Maps.
    2. If your business is not on Google Maps, enter your business address in the search bar and click Add your business on the left in the Business Profile section. Next, fill out the required information to sign up.
    3. In the search bar, type your business name and click on the correct one.
    4. Click the Claim this business link, then click Manage now.
    5. Enter your business’ information.
    6. Before the setup is complete, Google will need to verify you. They will either give you a verification code via a phone call or in the mail.
    7. Once you are verified, follow our checklist to finish setting up your account.

If you want to convince potential customers to choose you and increase your chances of earning a prominent position in local Google searches, you should complete and optimise your profile. Here are our recommendations:

Profile Checklist

Essentials

    • Business name
    • Business category
    • Location

Highly recommended

    • Contact phone number
    • Business website
    • Opening hours
    • A business description up to 750 characters
    • Photos of your business, products or services
    • Encourage reviews from customers

Good to have

    • Posts
    • The bookings function, if applicable
    • Relevant and informative videos

Maintenance To-do List

    • Is there any way you can optimise your listing? Check up on insights data, which shows the number of people who have seen your profile, how they found you and how they interacted with your listing.
    • Is all the information on your listing correct? Beware people can suggest edits to your profile, so be sure to check your listing for accuracy.
    • Could your business description be improved? Adding some keywords can help with SEO and improving your ranking. But don’t overdo it, because Google will penalise your profile. It is also a good idea to make the most the 750-character limit.
    • Is there a public holiday coming up or are your hours temporarily changing? Be sure to let people know by updating your opening hours.
    • Has someone just asked a question about your business? Providing prompt answers reflects well on your customer service and may be just what you need to convert someone into a customer. You can also upload your frequently asked questions.
    • Have you received a new review on your products or services? Good or bad, it is good practise to respond to reviews.

Business is competitive, and a Google Business Profile is a great way to stand out from the crowd. How could you resist a simple and free way to advertise your business? Jump on it before everyone catches on.

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