Growing your local search visibility and capturing more local leads go hand in hand since users generally want to buy a product or service close to them.
Google Business Profile page(formerly Google My Business) will help you generate better business by attracting more local authorities.
Over three-fourths of local mobile searches lead to a store visit or an online purchase. We tend to attract such customers to our business.
In this article, we will discuss how to create a Google My Business profile for your brand, how it can help your brand, and how to optimize it.
Table of Contents
What Is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile (or GMB Profile) is a free service for businesses with a physical presence that uses Google to connect customers to the companies where they can be most effective.
If you perform a search locally, you will find the results within the proximity of the location specified in Google.
It helps to get you found when people search for something you sell or provide.
By adding company information, services, an FAQ section, and photos, you can reach new customers and increase the visibility of your business in your local search area.
Why is Google Business Profile Used?
According to Net Market Share, Google dominates the search engine market, with over 70% of all searches conducted on Google’s site.
To attract potential customers to your small business, use Google Business Profile to build a listing that appears in the search results. Most online buyers will use Google Search to find products or services they’d like to buy.
Any idea what can happen when your business is listed and seen on Google Business Profile?
Over half of the people who see your Google Business Profile listing will click through to your website, and a few others will call your business directly. It is good news for small businesses looking to compete in an economy where major retailers are closing their doors.
Our survey also found that a GMB Profile listing can be a boon to local SEO success for small businesses, ensuring they are visible on Google Maps and search results.
GMB Profile is an excellent resource for getting in touch with customers right away. Analytics in GMB Profile helps to learn about customer insights like phone calls you got for a particular selected date, how many asked for directions, etc.
Also, reviews play a vital role for your business in creating credibility, building your brand, and getting new customers.
Several benefits make it worth using Google Business Profile.
Now that you know the benefits of using Google Business Profile let’s learn how to set it up for your brand.
Steps to Set up Google Business Profile
Here’s how to create a Google Business Profile page for your business:
Step 1 – Visit the official Google Business Profile site
“Click Manage Now” on the Official Google Business Profile Page.
If you do not have a Google account, you need to create one before proceeding.
When you sign in to Google My Business, you must select the tab associated with your listing.
Step 2 –Find the Business or create a listing for your business
If you haven’t previously set up a Google Business Profile listing, you can search for your business or click to add a new listing.
If someone has already claimed your business on Google Business Profile, it will probably appear. If it takes you a little longer to claim it, click ‘Add your business to get started.
Step 3 – Set up your Name
After you click on Add your business to Google, you can enter the name of your business:
After you have added the business name, click Next.
Step 4 – Choose a Category
Next, select the best category for your business on GMB Profile.
In the “Business” category, enter what your company does, and you’ll get some suggested search phrases to select.
Step 5 – Set up Address for Your Business
Now you need to associate your listing with a location.
You will need to decide between the following choices:
- 1st Option (YES) Brick & Mortar Business Listing
- 2nd Option (NO) Service Area Business Listing
1st Option (YES) Brick & Mortar Business Listing
Selecting the option YES means that this company has a retail location, including the name of that location, street address, post town, and postcode. Then click next for further steps.
2nd Option (NO) Service Area Business Listing
Selecting No means that you serve customers in a physical area but don’t have permanent premises; you can add that under the service option of the listing page.
You can search for your area in the list or use the suggested options.
Step 6 – Add Contact Information
You need to provide your customers with convenient ways to contact you, like phone numbers and website details.
Adding your website to Google Business Profile gives customers one more way to find you when they need your services. Listing your phone number means you are immediately available for customer service questions.
Step 7- Now Finish and Verify the Listing
Once you’ve entered all the relevant information in the GMB Profile, your listing is ready to be submitted.
Here’s an important step to take, you must verify your listing.
To ensure that your Google Business Profile listing is visible in search results, you must verify it. Verification might take a couple of days; you can optimize your listing in the meantime.
Google will send you a postcard with a verification code to verify your listing.
Verifying a business on Google Business Profile in 5 Ways
To add a new business listing or manage an existing business listing on Google, you must verify your business from the given choices.
- Verify by email
- Verify by phone
- Instant verification
- Verify by Postcard
- Bulk verification
Verify by email
Businesses can verify their listing by providing an email address. If this applies to you, type the correct email address into the “Email” box and click on the “Verify this Business” button. You will be receiving a verification link via email; follow the instructions and will verify your listing.
Verify by phone
Some businesses can verify their listing on Google by phone. If you choose to verify your business listing in this way, select ‘Verify by phone by entering the correct phone number. You will receive a text message with a verification code.
Instant Verification
Businesses that have already verified with Google’s Search Console can sign in to verify their listing. It is a straightforward process, as long as the business owner uses the same account to sign in to Google My Business as the one used for Search Console verification. Later, click the Verify button.
Verify by Postcard
You can verify your business address by postcard. Once your postcard arrives, sign in to your Google My Business account and click “Verify”. Enter the code you received through a postcard.
If you are waiting for a postcard to arrive, Google recommends that you do not change the below information like
- Editing Address
- Editing your business name
- Changing business category
- Requesting a new code
Failing to follow these instructions could slow the verification process, and customer support staff may have to intervene.
Bulk Verification
Bulk verification may be available for businesses with over 10 locations. But, the business must not operate as a service business or an agency managing multiple businesses.
To bulk verify your Google My Business listings, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Google My Business account and choose a business location.
- Click the “Get verified” link next to one of your locations to verify your location.
- Click on “Chain”
- Enter all the required information in the form, including your business name, mailing address and contact details.
- Submit the form. It can take up to a week for Google to process the form.
Optimize GMB Profile listing by following these six tips
By now, you have completed Setting up your GMB listing, Adding your business details and Verifying your listing.
Now that you have entered your information, it’s time to optimize your listing.
Navigate to your Google My Business dashboard, click on your listing, and select “Info.” Select the type of data you wish to update or complete.
View some tips given below to help you create an effective Google My Business Profile:
Be sure to keep your listing information up-to-date
Keeping your business’s Google My Business listing up to date is a great way to optimize the profile.
At a minimum, you need to check if the following are always correct:
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Website
- Description
- Category
- Attributes
You should display contact information so customers can reach you. Google My Business is an extension of this idea, making it easier than ever to find and contact you.
A precise address can help customers find your business quickly and easily. If they have trouble finding you, they might try another company instead. Make sure your phone number, working hours, and product categories are up to date on your website, so potential customers can easily find out more about you.
To keep your listing current, be sure to update your information regularly. It might come in handy if you want to add information about a new product or recently started services that you want to share with your customers.
Listings with photos attract more customers
You can showcase your products and services by uploading appealing images, videos, and virtual tours to your GMB listing.
These images are intended to entice customers to view your business website or contact you to learn more.
When uploading photos, prefer to use PNG or JPG formats and keep the file size between 10KB and 5MB.
Here are the recommended dimensions for your Google Business images:
- Profile image – 250 x 250 pixels
- Cover photo – 1080 x 608 pixels
- Shared images – 497 x 373 pixels
Provide Information About Your Products/Services
Promoting your business by demonstrating your products or services is one way to help build your reputation.
Customize your Google My Business page to highlight your business’s specialties, including any services you offer and the products you sell. For example, interior designers can add links to their services and pin their location.
You could write more detailed descriptions of the interior services. Price lists would help make the selection process clearer for the customers.
Should provide a Plan and service charges to attract more customers to make appointments. Also, eliminate the need for customers to wait by using the “Book” option for scheduling an appointment.
Before Questions are Asked Answer Them
Google My Business profiles include a built-in FAQ tool for your customers’ convenience.
It is an excellent idea to establish an online Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section to answer potential customers’ questions about your products. For example, if a customer wants to know the size or age group for which a product is most suitable, can easily access this information through the FAQs.
For example, A customer seeking hair products might want to ensure that the product being considered is herbal or is it suitable for all hair types.
To clear such doubts, you can address some of the most common questions in an FAQs section. You can also use the messaging option to communicate directly with your customers.
Publish your posts to Google
Want to get more clicks and potential sales? Using Google Posts can help you connect to your potential customers.
Such posts will help you improve your local SEO strategy. You can include CTA buttons in your content to encourage users to take specific actions.
The following are three ways that posts can help increase your local SEO:
- Click on CTA (call to action) buttons to help improve your page rankings.
- Drive more traffic to other content on your site, like blog posts.
- Fill the survey form to collect customer information.
Collect Customer Reviews
Responding well to customer feedback is crucial to creating a positive brand image. Google My Business allows your customers to add reviews to your company’s page, making those reviews visible to others.
Reviews are a great way to attract new customers, but why do you need them?
Google My Business reviews are an opportunity to engage more customers by giving out more information about the company’s products and services. Responding to negative reviews should be done thoughtfully and carefully, without adding fuel to the fire. It shows that you are engaged with your audience and responsive to their concerns.
Conclusion
Having an active Google My Business profile is just as crucial as other practices to creating an online presence and generating leads.
It helps the customers view your products and services more professionally and helps them be listed on another Google property at no cost. Such as Google’s Business View and Google’s Local Business Center gives your business a more professional outlook. Searching for reliable professionals online that can help you with more information, then contact Ahbiv Digital Agency
