A Google Business Profile (GBP) is often the first piece of information people will find about your organization. It appears on the side of the webpage when people search for your business — or for anything the algorithm considers directly relevant. The GBP can then lead customers to your website, phone number, address, and more.
Digital channels, such as Google or social media platforms, have become the best way to reach consumers. Though search engine optimization (SEO) and other marketing campaigns can boost your online presence, nothing can replace a high-quality GBP.
Like a social media page or business card, your Google Business Profile should cover various critical details about your organization. Though you don't want to overload your GBP, it should at least include your preferred contact information and the things that customers will want to know before visiting your business.
High-quality Google Business Profiles include the following information:
Creating a business profile on Google is free and usually painless. First, sign in to your Google account and visit their "Create a Profile" page. From here, use the search tool to find your business, or, if you can't find it, select "Add your business to Google."
In some cases, you may discover that someone else has already verified or claimed your business. This may have been someone else in your organization who verified it for listing or a previous owner. If that's the case, you can request ownership of your GBP here. This process may take at least a week to complete, as Google will attempt to contact the original user who claimed your profile.
Once you've successfully claimed your business profile, you can specify whether your business has a physical location and enter other pertinent information, such as your phone number and website. Once you're finished, Google will verify your identity and publish your new business profile.
Maintain a professional GBP by regularly updating it when you change your hours, address, and contact information. To do this, log in to your Google account and select "Your Business Profile" under your profile photo. You can also search your organization's name or "my business" for faster results.
Beyond new hours, many organizations use their GBPs to share events, limited-time offers, social-media-style posts, and other updates. This will make your business feel more active to Google users.
Google's latest updates let you connect social media posts and other valuable links directly to your GBP. Beyond that, the search engine tool is now easier to use directly from the website, letting you make faster updates for marketing and quick changes.
If your profile has outdated information, visitors may think you've gone out of business or moved. In 2024 and beyond, the most vital part of maintaining your Google Business Profile is keeping it fresh. TrustSignals Marketing can help you manage your online presence and digital marketing plan.