We are all unique, and so are the businesses we run. You have your own way of doing things, it’s what makes your business special, and why your customers come to you. But there is something every business shares, the need to reach out and find new customers.
A Google Business Profile, or GBP, is an essential tool in achieving that, and no matter what your business does, or how you do it, it is something every business should have. It puts your business name on the map, literally. Your Google Business Profile appears on Google Maps when people are looking for businesses like yours in your location. It’s the ultimate in local search visibility, and the best part is that it is entirely free!
If you don’t have a Google Business Profile yet, you are letting someone else take those local customers. But don’t worry, we have you covered with an easy-to-follow checklist that takes you through the whole process so you can have your own Google Business Profile too.
Why Google Business Profile Matters for Your Business
Over 70% of local purchases begin with a Google search for local businesses to meet a specific need. Your Google Business Profile taps directly into that, putting your business in front of those searchers, even appearing directly on Google Maps.
Not only does this make it easy for prospective customers to find you, but it also gives your listing the same trust Google has spent a lot of money building with its users. The result is more local consumers contacting your business, and if you do your job right, more conversions, more sales and eventually, more profits too.
Think of a Google Business Profile as another social media platform. It allows you to put your business in front of people who are interested in your product or service. But here, it is also location-specific, so you don’t have to worry about someone 3000 miles away asking about your roofing service.
It works like social media too, you can post blogs, photos, videos and updates, selling who you are and what you do right there on Google Maps or local searches. This has a massive impact on visibility, letting so many local consumers connect your business with the service or products you offer. It builds your brand, helps grow sales and boosts your business visibility exactly where it matters, with the people who can actually buy from you.
So, you know you need a Google Business Profile, but you don’t have one for your business. Now what? Just follow this checklist from start to finish and you’ll end up with an effective Google Business profile your business can be proud of. It doesn’t even take long to do!
Steps to Create Your Google Business Profile
Just follow this list to get the Google Business profile you need, don’t forget, it’s completely free, it’s very effective and it will bring customers to your business.
Create or Claim your GBP Listing
The first thing to do is set up the profile. Go to Google Maps and search for your exact business name, to see if there is already a listing. If there is, you need to claim it. You can do this by signing into your Google account and then clicking ‘Claim This Business’ on the left of the profile listing, and then following the instructions.
If there is no listing, then sign into your Google account, or create a new one to manage your GBP if you wish, and click on Create Listing at google.com/business.
Use Your Exact Business Name
The first part of setting up your BGP is your name, and accuracy is really important here. You will need to verify the account later on, so make sure the name you enter is the same as your business.
Provide Your Address or Service Area
If you have a restaurant, shop or office where customers visit you, enter the address, and again, make sure everything is accurate. If you work in an industry where you visit customers rather than they visit you, a roofer or landscaper for instance, then enter the area you cover here.
If you have more than one location, such as another shop location, then you can set up a Google Business Profile for each one with their own addresses or operating areas using the group function.
Add a Phone Number
Add the phone number for the business. You may use this to verify ownership, so make sure you enter it carefully.
Enter Your Website URL
If you have a website, then just enter the address of your home page or offer page here. Think about where you want potential customers to land on your site, as this is the URL they will be directed to when they click on your GBP. You could even create a dedicated page with welcome offers or something similar if you wish.
If you are a new business just launching and don’t have a website yet, you can enter your Facebook page or Instagram account here to give people more information about your business.
Choose the Most Accurate Primary Business Category
As with all digital marketing, the key to success is putting your business name in front of people who are looking for the things you sell. Which primary category you select will influence what searches Google associates with your business. So, spend some time and find the category that best fits what you do.
Set Your Business Hours
The next section asks you to set your basic business hours here. You can set each day individually, just work through each one and enter the hours you work.
Optimize Your Profile to Improve Visibility
Once your profile is up and running, you want to make sure you are getting the most for it. Optimizing your profile will ensure you rank higher than your competitors, increasing your visibility.
Here are some simple tricks to help you boost your GBP performance:
Upload High-Quality Photos
Photos of your business, products or services are great ways to grab the attention of those searching for similar things, but they do more than that. Engaging content like photos also provides valuable information, and Google loves that. With regular posts of quality photos, they will value your profile higher than others.
Write a Compelling Business Description
Don’t just say what you do, create a story. Your business is great at what it does, so make sure everyone knows it. Be bold, if you have a unique approach, then say so. Remember, this is probably the first time the reader has heard of you, so you need to make it count so that they want to visit you and be a customer.
Add Your Website URL
A website URL provides an easy way for a visitor to find out more about your business. Even if all you have so far is a Facebook page, make sure the link is there.
Enable Messaging
We all live fast-paced lives today, and we do everything in a rush. The easier it is for someone to get in touch, the more likely they will get in touch. Enable messaging and they can talk to you straight from your Google Business Profile, and you will find it results in many more people getting in touch.
Advanced Google Business Profile Optimization
While that basic optimization will get you noticed, and make it more likely that people who see your GBP will get in touch with you, there is more you can do. Try these advanced options to boost your visibility even further:
Use Google Posts to Share Updates
If you’ve ever used social media to promote your business, you know that regular, short but useful posts can really improve engagement. It’s the same here. Google Posts are viewed straight from your profile, so use them to announce sales or offers, new lines, new hires, or anything at all.
It boosts rankings, but regular content like this also connects with your customers and keeps them coming back.
Encourage Customer Reviews
One of the best things about Google Business Profile as a tool is that it brings Google’s brand and the trust that goes with it, to your business. Customer reviews take it a step further because your Google-verified reviews appear right in your GBP. Readers trust that they are genuine, so much so, that even if you get a bad review, taking the time to contact the review publicly and rectify the situation on the review page can give a very positive impression to potential customers.
Utilize the Q and A Feature
Getting as much information as possible out there for visitors to see and absorb means higher engagement, and as a result, better Google rankings. Make use of every tool, including the Q+A feature, and always answer any question as quickly as you can.
Track Insights and Analyze Performance
With powerful analytics tools built into your GBP dashboard, you can see where visitors are coming from, what they are searching for and so on. By analyzing every detail, you can tweak things and improve performance as you go, always building on success to create more success.
Why is Google Business Profile Important?
We have talked about the ways a Google Business Profile can help your business, but it can be a key part of your online presence and help with marketing your business in many ways. For a more detailed look, you can try our dedicated blog on the importance of Google Business Profiles.
Conclusion
Having a Google Business profile can have a huge impact on your business, opening the door to new customers and raising awareness of your work with your local community. However, you do need to set things up properly. Our GBP checklist is simple to follow, leaving you with a well-written, effective profile that will continue to generate interest from local customers.
With a great Google Business Profile set up correctly, you can take advantage of all the benefits it brings. Don’t forget, Google provides everything for free, you don’t have to pay them to be featured in searches and have your business highlighted on Google maps. But to make the most of it, you do need to have everything set up correctly.
Grid Rankers are experts in Google Business Profile Optimization, with a range of services designed to meet your needs and budget, maximizing the potential of your Google Business Profile and delivering sustainable sales growth. Talk to our team today, and we’ll create the perfect Google Business Profile strategy while you focus on running your business.
FAQ
Who can have a Google Business Profile account?
Any business that has face-to-face- meetings with their customers can use a GBP. That means physical stores and business premises that customers visit, along with service businesses that go out on-site and meet clients, such as gardeners, mobile mechanics and so on.
What do you need to create a Google Business Profile and verify your business?
You need a Google account and the details of your business including name, address, phone number and so on to set up the profile. To verify, you will need a verification code sent to the address via a postcard, an email to the registered email address, or either a text or automated call to the main phone number for the business.