The Power Behind Setting Up A Google Business Profile
Google Business Profiles (GBPs) are a free and powerful tool that businesses of all sizes can use to get found online. They appear on Google Search and Maps, and can include information like your business name, address, phone number, hours of operation, photos, and reviews.
GBPs have a number of benefits, including:
Increased visibility: When people search for businesses like yours on Google, your GBP can appear in the search results and on Maps. This can help you attract more customers.
Better customer service: Your GBP can be used to answer customer questions, provide directions, and even take bookings. This can help you improve the customer experience.
Enhanced credibility: A complete and accurate GBP can help you build trust with potential customers.
Local SEO boost: Your GBP can help improve your local search engine optimization (SEO), which can help you rank higher in local search results.
Let's meet Carl!
Carl is the owner of a small coffee shop in a busy downtown area. He's been in business for a few years now, and he's starting to think about ways to grow his business. He's heard about Google Business Profile (GBP), and he's wondering if it's something that would be helpful for his business.
Carl does a little research on GBP, and he learns that it's a free tool that can help businesses get found online. He also learns that GBP can be used to post updates about his business, run promotions, and answer customer questions.
Carl decides to create a GBP for his coffee shop. He fills out all of the required information, and he adds photos of his coffee shop, staff, and food and drinks. He also posts a few updates about his business, including a new menu item and a upcoming event.
A few weeks later, Carl starts to see some results from his GBP. He gets a few new customers who found his business through GBP, and he also gets some positive reviews. Carl is happy with the results, and he decides to continue using GBP to grow his coffee shop business.
Here are some specific things that Carl can do with his GBP:
Carl can use his GBP to post updates about his coffee shop, such as new menu items, upcoming events, or changes to his hours of operation. This is a great way to stay connected with his customers and keep them up-to-date on what's happening.
How To Claim a Google Business Profile
So now that you can see the true potential there is to 10x your business through Google's free tools, how do you go about claiming a Business Profile?
Here are the steps on how to claim a Google Business Profile:
Go to Google Business Profile: Enter your business name and address.
Click Next.
If you have a physical address for your business, select the I have a physical location option. If you don't have a physical address, select the I deliver goods and services to my customers option.
Follow the instructions to verify your business.
Since The Google My Business app was discontinued in January 2023, you can now manage your Google Business Profile (GBP) through the Google Maps app or on Google Search. Watch the video below on setting up your business profile. FYI, there may be some content out of date as Google is always changing.
Here are some additional tips for claiming a Google Business Profile:
Make sure you're claiming the correct business. There may be other businesses with the same name, so it's important to make sure you're claiming the one that's yours.
Be patient. It may take a few days for your business to be verified.
Keep your profile up-to-date. Make sure to add your business hours, phone number, website, and other important information.
Respond to reviews. When customers leave reviews, be sure to respond promptly and professionally. This shows that you care about your customers and their feedback.
Use the Google Business Profile tools. Google offers a variety of tools that you can use to manage your Google Business Profile, such as the ability to create posts, send messages, and track your performance.
By following these tips, you can claim your Google Business Profile and start using it to promote your business.
If you like this content and want some extra help setting up your profiles, all you have to do is join my exclusive "The Laptop Lounge" Community and we can set something up.
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As the owner of Digital Insightz, I love to help people who are starting a business, either as a freelancer or owns a small business , and showing them how to get their products or services online. As a "Digital Consultant" I enjoy teaching how to start a business digitally and am currently working with clients maintaining their digital presence. Contact me if you have any questions!
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