People illustrations by Storyset
What is Google Business Profile?
Since its launch in 2014, Google Busines Profile, formerly known as Google My Business, has become an essential tool for local businesses. It is a free tool that allows businesses to manage how they are shown as a Google Search Result and Google Maps.
How Google My Business Benefits Small Businesses
Are you a business owner? If so it is a necessity that you manage your business’s listing on Google My Business. Why? Because when people search for your business is is a primary source of information that your prospects and clients will have of your business’s location, website, hours and more.
Here are some more reasons why you should take time to optimize your Google Business Profile:
- It’s free. You don’t have to spend any money to create and manage a listing on Google My Business. Just create an account, verify your business, and fill out your listing.
- It’s easy. Google My Business is pretty simple to use. Just provide some basic information about your business and you’re good to go.
- It improves SEO performance. Your GBP listings knowledge panel can be shown as a result for certain keywords. Taking up more space on a search result page the in turn makes it more likely that someone will visit your site and turn into a website session or even a prospect that fills out a lead form.
- It gives you control of your online presence. With GBP, you can control how your business is presented online. You can add photos, update your business hours, and more. This way, you can make sure that potential customers have the most accurate information about your business.
- It helps you connect with customers. Google My Business provides a way for customers to easily get in touch with you. They can leave reviews, ask questions, and also book appointments with you directly from your GBP listing.
Overall, Google My Business is a pretty valuable tool for business owners. So if you don’t have a listing yet, now is the time to create one!
Making sure your Google My Business profile is accurate and up-to-date is essential for helping customers find your business, and can also help improve your ranking in search results. You can edit your business’s profile at any time by logging into your account and making the necessary changes.
A business’s Google My Business profile includes key information such as the business name, address, phone number, hours of operation, website, and photos. This information helps customers find your business on Google Search and Maps, and can also help you stand out from your competitors.
If you don’t already have a Google My Business profile, you can create one for your business by following these simple steps:
- Go to google.com/business and click “Start now.”
- Enter your business name and address. If your business has multiple locations, you can add them one at a time. Choose the primary category for your business.
- You can also add additional categories to describe your business. Enter a phone number and website URL.
- Add some photos of your business. Customers can see your photos when they find your business on Google.
- When you’re finished, click “Finish.”
That’s it! Your Google My Business profile is now live and you can start managing your online presence across Google.
How Often to Post on Google My Business
If you’re wondering how often to post on Google My Business, the answer is relatively simple: Often and consistent. That being said, you don’t want to spam your followers with too many posts.
Aim for 1 per week, or even 1-2 per month if you’re just getting started.
Quality is always more important than quantity. Google Posts are seen as a ranking indicator rather than a ranking factor, therefore posting consistently is just as important as quality of post. So there you have it! Get started posting on Google My Business today and watch your business grow. If you are looking for an expert to help you manage your Google Business Profile for your North Texas small business work with North Texas Marketing.