In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. Among the plethora of tools and platforms available, Google Business stands out as a powerful tool for enhancing your online visibility, managing your brand image, and engaging with potential customers. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of Google Business, exploring its steps and optimization.
What is Google Business Profile?
Formerly known as Google My Business? It is a complimentary business listing offered by Google that enables you to furnish essential details and images about your business, encompassing its location, services, and products.
Establishing this profile is an excellent method to enhance your visibility across various Google services. The information contained within your Google Business Profile can potentially be displayed in Google Search results, Google Maps, and even Google Shopping.
However, it’s important to note that Google Business Profile is exclusively available to businesses that have direct interaction with customers. This includes businesses with a physical establishment, such as restaurants or retail stores, as well as businesses that provide services by meeting clients in different locations, such as consultants or plumbers.
For online-only businesses, alternative Google tools like Google Ads and Google Analytics are more suitable for their needs.
How to set up a Google Business Profile
Step 1: Sign into Google Business Profile Manager
To begin, either log in to your Google account or create a new one if you’re not already signed in. This automatically grants you access to the Google Business Profile Manager, where you can manage your profile.
Step 2: Add your business details
Enter your business name. If it doesn’t appear in the provided drop-down menu, click on “Add your business to Google.” Next, select the appropriate category that best represents your business and proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Provide your business location
Indicate whether your business has a physical location that customers can visit. If it does, select “Yes” and enter your business address. You may also be asked to pinpoint your location on a map. For businesses without a physical storefront but providing in-person services or deliveries, you can specify your service areas. Once done, click “Next.”
Step 4: Fill in your contact details
Enter your business phone number and website address, enabling customers to easily reach you. If you prefer not to share a phone number, it is optional. Once you’ve provided the necessary contact information, click “Next.”
Step 5: Verify your business
Enter your actual physical address for verification purposes. Note that this address will not be publicly displayed on your Google Business Profile. Choose the appropriate verification option based on your business type.
Physical businesses typically receive a verification postcard by mail, while service-area businesses can verify via email. Upon receiving a five-digit verification code, enter it on the subsequent screen or visit https://business.google.com/ to complete the verification process.
Step 6: Customize your profile
Tailor your business profile by adding your operating hours, messaging preferences, a compelling business description, and high-quality photos. This step allows you to optimize your profile’s content to attract potential customers. Once you’re satisfied with the customization, click “Continue” to proceed.
Congratulations! You are now in the Business Profile Manager dashboard, where you can manage various aspects of your profile, view insights, handle reviews and messages, and create Google ads to further promote your business.
How to optimize your Google My Business Profile
Review NAP Consistency
NAP is the most important information in your Google My Business profile. It stands for name, address, and phone number. It helps potential customers identify and find your business. It’s crucial to keep this information consistent anywhere your business appears online to avoid confusion.
Start by making sure everything is correct in your business account.
Navigate to the “Info” tab and check that your business name, address, and phone number are accurate.
While you can manually manage your business information in local directories, it’s inefficient.
To save time and resources on admin, use tools such as Semrush to manage your NAP.
Write a Business Description
Business descriptions give you space to provide information about products and services, as well as the history of your business. Google recommends that you use your Business Description to provide helpful information about your products and services, as well as the missions and history of your business. Focus on providing a relevant description rather than trying to cram in as many keywords as possible.
Here are some additional tips from Google on what not to include in your business description:
- Inaccurate or confusing information
- Profane language
- Specials or promotions
- Misspellings, gibberish, or gimmicky character use
Add Images to Your Listing
Now that you have a Business Description, it’s time to add some images to help you stand out.
First, set a profile photo (usually your logo) and a cover photo that best represents your business. You can also upload additional business photos to your Google My Business listing.
Some examples of business photos to add include: exterior photos, interior photos, product photos, photos of your team at work, and common areas.
Here are GBP’s photo size guidelines:
- File size: Between 10 KB and 5 MB
- Profile photo: 250 x 250 px
- Cover photo: 1080 x 608 px
- Google posts: 1200 x 900 px
- Business photos: 720 x 720 px
- Format: JPG or PNG
Create Google Posts
Share offers, events, products, and services directly to Google Search and Maps via Google Posts. You can find them toward the bottom of the Business Profile in the “From the Owner” section.
- Step 1: Sign into your GBP manager account and go into the “Posts” tab
- Step 2: Click on the button found at the bottom right corner of your screen to create a new post
- Step 3: Choose what type of post you want to create from the list given at the top of the page
- Step 4: Write your post and add photos in the spaces provided.
- Step 5: If you want, you can add a button to make it easier for customers to get to your website, place an order, or take other actions
- Step 6: Click the “Preview” button at the bottom right corner of your window to see what your post will look like when it’s live
- Step 7: When everything looks good, hit the “Publish” button at the bottom right corner of the window
Respond to Reviews
Keeping tabs on your reviews is crucial, as they are one of the first things people will see if they Google your business name. So Google reviews play a big role in your business’s reputation and how people perceive it. If you prefer to check your reviews manually, you can do so when logged into your GBP account.
Add Questions & Answers
Provide important information upfront by posting the answers to common customer questions directly to your profile. You can also let customers ask questions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google Business Suite provides businesses with a powerful set of tools to enhance their online visibility, engage with customers, and manage their brand image effectively. By following the step-by-step guide to setting up a Google Business Profile, you can ensure that your business is accurately represented and easily discoverable on Google Search, Maps, and other Google services.
