30-Second Summary:
Your brand’s visibility online should help drive organic traffic in your direction, so understanding and utilising tools like Google Business Profile (GBP) has become crucial for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a local bakery, an expanding tech start-up, or a well-established ecommerce brand, your digital footprint will influence how potential customers find and perceive you. But why is Google Business Profile so important, and how can it transform your business’s digital identity?
To help answer this, below we’ll look at Google Business Profile and its potential benefits, helping you make sense of the essential parts so you can effectively manage your profile once created. From enhancing your visibility in local searches to building a credible and appealing online presence, Google Business Profile is more than just a digital directory listing – it’s a powerful tool in your marketing approach that shouldn’t be ignored.
As a leading digital marketing agency, we’ve seen how important this is for our clients to ensure they are as organically visible as possible, alongside their ongoing SEO and PPC efforts. So, hopefully, by the end of this blog, you’ll have a better understanding of why Google Business Profile is important and should be maintained.
Essentially, Google Business Profile is a free tool provided by the search engine giant that allows businesses to manage how they appear on Google Search and Maps. This includes your business name, location, hours, and even customer reviews. It’s your digital shop window, where potential customers get their first impression and decide whether to engage with your business.
At its core, Google Business Profile is a platform that lets you control and customise your business listing on Google. When someone searches for your business, or businesses like yours, your profile listing appears and provides them with a snapshot of what you offer, where you’re located, and how they can interact with you whether through social media channels or direct by email or phone. This can be the difference between a new customer walking through your door or passing you by, both in person and virtually.
Google Business Profile has features designed to enhance your online visibility and customer interaction. Some key features include:
Google Business Profile hasn’t always been as comprehensive as it is today. It evolved from being a simple business listing to a sophisticated tool that offers insights and customer interaction. Keeping your Google Business Profile updated and optimised is more critical now than ever.
First impressions are often made online, so having a well-managed Google Business Profile can be a deciding factor in attracting new customers. Let’s break down why it is a vital tool for any business looking to thrive in the digital marketplace.
When potential customers search for products or services you offer, a complete and optimised Business Profile can ensure you appear prominently in local search results and on Google Maps. 86% of people look up a business’s location using Google Maps, so this enhanced visibility is especially crucial for attracting local customers and can be the difference between being noticed or overlooked.
Customer trust couldn’t be more important, so Google Business Profile plays a pivotal role in building this. A well-maintained profile with up-to-date information, positive customer reviews, and high-quality images presents your business as reliable and reputable. In fact, businesses with Google Business Profiles are 94% more likely to be viewed as reputable. Customers are more likely to choose a business with a robust online presence that includes real customer interactions and transparent business information.
Google Business Profile is a powerful tool for local SEO too. By providing accurate and detailed business information, including location and services, you increase your chances of appearing in local search queries. This is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses looking to compete with larger corporations. With the right keywords and regular updates, your profile can significantly improve your local search rankings. 72% of consumers who perform a local search go on to visit a store that is within 5 miles of their location, so if you’re local and have an updated profile, there’s a good chance you’ll benefit.
So, it’s clear that keeping your Google Business Profile updated and optimised is crucial for maintaining an effective online presence. Here’s how to update your profile and some best practices for optimisation:
Keeping your profile up-to-date is not a one-time task but an ongoing process. This regular maintenance ensures that your business information is accurate, reflecting any changes in services, hours, or contact details. This not only helps in maintaining your search rankings but also assures customers that they are receiving the most current information about your business.
Staying informed about the latest changes and updates to GBP is crucial for maintaining an effective online presence. As Google continues to evolve and improve its services, understanding and adapting to these updates can give your business a competitive edge.
Google regularly rolls out updates to enhance the user experience and provide more robust tools for businesses. Recent updates include:
We can all agree that for modern businesses, Google Business Profile is vital for enhancing online visibility, building credibility, and engaging with customers. Actively managing and optimising your GBP is crucial, involving regular updates, customer engagement, and staying on top of new features.
Embrace GBP as a key component of your digital strategy to ensure your business thrives, and remember, your first impression can be your most impactful, so make it count. For help optimising your business profile and to ensure this is aligned with your overall marketing strategy, contact the team at Absolute today.
For more insights, please visit our blog, and read all about key factors that influence conversion rates, and why businesses should focus on building a strong online presence.
