How to Maximise Your Business's Reach With A Google Business Profile

A Google Business Profile is an amazing tool that can help businesses to promote their products and services on Google Search and Maps. It lets you create an online presence for your business, helping you to reach customers when they search for you on Google. To get started, all you need to do is follow our step-by-step guide to setting it up. So let's get you optimised for Google...

What is a Google Business Profile, and Why Do I Need One?

A Google Business Profile is an online presence for a business on Google that allows businesses to showcase their information such as opening hours, contact information, location and most importantly, reviews. It’s crucial for businesses to have a presence on Google because it’s the world’s most popular search engine, handling 90% of the internet’s search traffic. What’s more, based on a study of Google My Business listings across various industries, it was found that 84% of searches for businesses are ‘discovery searches’, while only 16% are direct searches, and 34% of local businesses are visible in over 1,000 discovery searches per month. What this means in plain language is that having a Google Business Profile puts your business in front of substantially more potential new customers who are actively searching for a product, service or solution like yours right now.

This means setting up a Google Business Profile should be a priority for any business that wants to be easily found online to welcome more organic traffic to your website. It also makes your profile a great tool for local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), as it allows you to easily create a profile that boosts your ranking in search – which makes it easier for potential customers to find you online.

Additionally, customers can leave reviews on your profile, which helps boost your visibility and credibility even further. Savvy businesses also use their Google Business profile to post updates and special offers, making it easier for customers to stay up to date with their activities.

How To Create a Google Business Profile in 8 Easy Steps

Creating a Google Business Profile is a great way to increase visibility for your business and make sure you're appearing in search results. To help you get started, here are 8 easy steps to follow to create your own profile:

1. Add or claim your business through Google Maps

On your computer, sign in to Google Maps through the Google account you want to associate your business with. You can add your business in 3 ways:

• Enter your business name or address in the search bar. On the left, in the Business Profile, click ‘Add your business.’ If your business name comes up, click 'Claim this business.'

• Right-click anywhere on the map. Then, click ‘Add your business.’

• In the top left, click Menu > ‘Add your business.’

Follow the on-screen instructions to finish signing up for your Business Profile and choose the verification method that's most appropriate for you.

2. Or go to the Google My Business page and sign in with your Google account.

You'll need the Google account and email address that you want to use and associate with your business.

3. Add your Business Category & information

Once you're signed in to your My Business page, you can begin to customise your profile to make it more SEO-friendly. You can fill out the profile with detailed information about your business, including your business name, address, phone number, website address and contact information. Select the business category that best describes your business.

4. Add photos and videos

Now you can upload some images and videos to showcase your business. Businesses that add photos to their Business Profiles receive 42% more requests for directions on Google Maps, and 35% more clicks through to their websites than businesses that don't. If you’re operating in a highly visual industry like hospitality, for example, you’ll need more photos – so make sure you research the average number of images uploaded in your particular industry.

We recommend uploading a mix of the following:

• Your logo

• A profile photo-style headshot or a team shot of you looking friendly, confident, well-groomed and approachable

• Your business exterior so the person searching will know they've found you if they need to visit your location

• Your business interior, e.g. show the inside of your salon, plus your hairstyling equipment, the range of products you use – video might be ideal here to show a 5-second video of walking into the salon and a friendly face showing you into your chair

• If you're a retail business, upload your best product images or – in the case of the hair salon – some finished hairstyles that you're especially proud of

• Any accreditation logos that are relevant for your business

5. Make sure you verify your Google Business Profile

Verifying your Google Business Profile is important to ensure the accuracy of your business information. Not only does it allow customers to find the right information, but it helps to create a more trustworthy brand identity. It also helps to increase your SEO rankings, as Google will take your profile into consideration when ranking local results.

6. Get friends/customers to write Google reviews for your business

Google Reviews are important social proof for your business and, since they are indexed by Google, they can be used to increase your visibility in organic search results. By encouraging your friends and customers to leave reviews, you'll build trust among your target audience. Customer reviews can also help to increase your relevance in the eyes of Google, as they show you have customers who are actively engaging with your business.

7. Respond to Google reviews to show you’re active

Not only does responding to reviews show you're engaged with your customers, but it also helps build trust with potential customers. Additionally, it can help boost your ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). By responding to a review, you can demonstrate to potential customers that you're active, attentive and appreciate their feedback. This can help increase customer loyalty and potentially lead to more sales. From a business perspective, responding to reviews is also a great way to show potential customers that you're actively working to improve your services and products.

8. Keep your hours and location updated

Having accurate and up-to-date hours and location information on your Google Business Profile helps search engines to accurately locate and rank your business, so it's essential for improving your SEO performance. It will also mean that potential customers will be able to find you more easily, as well as being able to plan their visit in advance. Updating your hours and location information also makes it easier for Google to add your business to their local results. If you have multiple locations, it’s important to make sure they are all accurately listed and updated. This will ensure that customers can find you in the right place at the right time.

If you would like to discover more about SEO strategy and how you can use Google Ads to supercharge it, read more here.