Why Every Business Needs a Google Business Profile & How it Can Land You on Page One of Google
Why A Google Business Profile is Critical For All Businesses
With millions of people turning to search engines like Google to find products and services, it’s important to ensure that your business can be easily found online. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by creating a Google Business Profile. Having a Google Business Profile (formerly called Google My Business) is an absolute must for all businesses, especially small, budget-conscious local businesses and businesses that don’t have a website. The exposure and engagement that Google Business Profile (GBP) generates significantly outweigh the time and effort to set it up and what’s more, it’s free.
In this blog post, we will explore why having a Google Business Profile is critical for all businesses and how it can help you get listed on page one of Google’s map pack.
What is a Google Business Profile?
Before we delve into the benefits, let’s understand what a Google Business Profile is. Simply put, it is a free listing that gets your business listed on Google Maps and helps you show up in Google search results even if you don’t have a website. It provides key information about your business, such as your address, contact details, opening hours, reviews, and even photos. Having a Google Business Profile ensures that your business is visible to potential customers who are actively searching for your products or services.
Page One Of Google For Free – The Map Pack
Google Business Profile is the only FREE marketing tool can use to get your business listed on page one of Google. Yep, that’s right, page one of Google, prime real estate, for free with a Google Business Profile!
How? I hear you say. When people search for a business and include “near me” or a location in the search enquiry eg. Website copywriter near me, copywriter Adelaide or Adelaide Copywriter, Google includes what’s called the “Map Pack” or the “Local Pack” in the search results.
The map pack is a prominent feature in local search engine results pages (SERPs) and it appears at the top of the page, just below the paid ads and BEFORE the organic search results, so it occupies one of the most sought-after Google page positions.
The Map Pack displays 3 local businesses or locations that Google considers highly relevant to the user’s search query and location. Providing you optimise your Google Business Profile (more about this in a later blog), you have the opportunity to appear in this highly coveted space, potentially catapulting your business to page one of Google so you’ll get more leads/traffic to your website, more phone calls, and potentially more physical visits to the business location.
Google’s Tick of Approval For Your Business
A key requirement for your Google Business Profile listing to go live is to authenticate your business. Allowing Google to authenticate your business not only tells Google that your business is legitimate and real but will also help your website ranking. A listing on Google Business Profile with a link to your website helps to build credibility and trust for your website (which is a key Google ranking factor) and also allows visitors to click through to your website to find out more.
Better Online Visibility
A Google Business Profile ensures that your business stands out in local searches and is shown on Google Maps for all to see. When you optimise your GBP with relevant keywords, accurate business information, and high-quality images, it signals to Google that your business is relevant and trustworthy. This, in turn, improves your chances of ranking higher in local search results, driving more traffic, leads, and ultimately, sales without you having to pay hundreds of dollars for Google Ads.
Quick & Easy Customer Engagement
A Google Business Profile includes a direct call/messaging facility so people can easily get in touch with you, ask questions and leave a review. It even allows you to promote special events, showcase your products or services and provide pricing directly on the platform which is awesome for any business especially small businesses that don’t have a website.
Trust, Reviews & Social Proof
In today’s digital age, consumers value transparency and credibility. When your business has a Google Business Profile, it adds an extra layer of trustworthiness. Potential customers can see your business address, phone number, and read authentic reviews from past clients. This transparency helps establish credibility, whilst reviews act as social proof and reassurance for new clients. These factors help to build your reputation and encourage users to choose your business over competitors.
Branding & Visual Appeal
Images and videos affect people’s perceptions. A Google Business Profile lets you upload quality visuals (videos and photos) to display products, services, your shop/offices and your brand’s vibe. These visuals can help turn potential clients into actual clients and can serve to differentiate your business which helps you to stand out from the crowd.
Mobile Friendly For People On The Go
70% of online searches are conducted using a mobile mobile. A Google Business Profile ensures easy access to your business information for smartphone and tablet users. Having a Google Business Profile makes it easy for Google Map users to get directions to and find your business. This enhances user experience and encourages engagement.
Setting Up Your Google Business Profile
To claim your business or set up a new Google Business Profile simply click the link https://www.google.com/intl/en_au/business/ and follow the prompts.
Conclusion
To summarise, setting up a Google Business Profile is a powerful, and free way of increasing your online visibility, improving customer engagement and driving leads and traffic to your business and website. It will help you reach a wider audience, connect with new clients and establish a robust online presence that will set you apart from your competition. If you would like help or advice on setting up or optimising your Google Business Profile please call or message me for a free 15-minute consultation.