Struggling to stand out? A Google Business profile could be the answer

Building your online presence is essential for connecting with customers and bringing in new business.

With so many resources and online channels available, knowing where to start can be a challenge, but Google Business is a powerful resource that can help. By easily establishing a digital presence and sharing the important details of your business with potential customers, setting up an account should be on your radar to grow your business.

What is a Google Business Profile?

From sharing opening hours to listing contact information, a Google Business Profile can help get all important information in front of customers, to help them easily engage with your business.

What’s more, you don’t need to find a specialist to help you set it up – and, even better, it’s free. To get started, all you need to do is provide your logo, phone number, location, opening hours, photos and website address. When complete, you’ll simply need to verify your business by email or phone. Once you do that, your business information will be available on Google for all to see.

How does it work?

Essentially, it acts like a digital phone book that enables your business to show up on Google Maps and appear in local search engine results when someone looks for the product or service you offer.

A Google Business Profile shows potential customers where, and how, to visit your business – whether your service is available online or from a set location. It improves SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) too, so your website appears higher in search results and your business is more likely to be recommended when people search for nearby businesses when using Google Maps.

Why should you set up a profile?

According to Google, customers are 70% more likely to visit and are 50% more likely to consider buying from your business after you set up a Google Business Profile. In short, it’s an easy, free way to drive customers to your website and help your business get noticed and stand out among competitors.

Plus, it lets you update customers with essential details, so they never miss out. You can share updates on whether you’ve expanded your services, introduced new products or closed for a holiday, as well as when you reopen following essential maintenance, or a refurbishment, for example.

It’s also a great free form of advertising because it lets customers share their experiences in real-time by submitting reviews, ratings and photos. People trust reviews left by others. Businesses worldwide heavily rely on customers spreading the word about their products or services. In fact, 90% of people are much more likely to trust a recommended brand – even if it’s from a stranger. A profile lets customers take their word-of-mouth marketing to the web.

Making the most of Google Business

Google is the world’s most visited website and one that customers use the most to find what they’re looking for. Creating a Google Business Profile is a simple, free way of attracting new customers, so if you haven’t created one yet, you’re missing out on a powerful advertising opportunity. After all, it’s a meaningful way of building trust and credibility for you and your business – and, once you’re set up, you’ll start seeing its benefits in no time.

Want to boost your profile even more with Google? Discover our post on three certain ways to supercharge your SEO strategy with Google Ads.