How do I put my business on Google? Recently, the well-known Google My Business (GMB) has been rebranded and is now known as Google Business Profile (GBP). If you’re wondering how to use Google Business Profile, this guide is for you! Let us walk you through its purpose, benefits and setup.
Consider this your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) tutorial! We’ll cover everything you need to know on how to use Google My Business effectively.
The Purpose of Google Business Profile
GBP is a free tool which allows you to control how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. This includes adding your business name, its location, and trading hours, managing and replying to customer reviews, adding some photos, learning where and how people are searching for you, and much more.
It’s the platform that powers Google’s business listings and allows your business to appear in several different results and monitor how its information is displayed.
The Benefits of Google Business Profile
There are various benefits to GBP. Here are our top four:
1. Local SEO
Choosing to optimise your Google Business Profile is one of the best Local SEO strategies you can use to get your business to rank higher on Google.
However, setting up your Google Business Profile is just the first step —you must optimise and update your Business Profile regularly with new information.
Remember, local searches are about more than just discovering new businesses. People may search for directions, contact information, the busyness of locations, reviews, and more.
2. Listings
If you’ve ever wondered how to list your business on Google, GBP is the answer. Without a Google Business Profile, you won’t be listed on Google Maps, and you then risk the knowledge panel being incorrect. To ensure your business is listed correctly, set up a Google Business Profile and alert local visitors of your existence.
3. Reviews
GBP allows you to collect reviews from your customers, displaying the quality of your services to other potential customers. It’s no myth that internet users are increasingly looking for proof that a business delivers quality service, which is why most people turn to online reviews for guidance. A five-star review persuades potential customers to use your business’s services, while a lack of reviews may drive them away.
4. Insights
Through Google Business Profile, you can gain insights into your business that you can’t access via other platforms, which will help you make more strategic decisions.
These insights include:
- The search queries people are using to find your business
- The engagement
- The number of views your photos, posts, and profile receive
- A detailed profile of your audience
- How many phone calls, website clicks and direction queries you got
How to Set Up Google Business Profile
Setting up your business on Google Business Profile won’t take long, and it’s the first step to improving your business’s online visibility in your area of service.
Step 1: Start at Google Business Profile’s Create Page
Visit the ‘create’ page and search for your business name to see whether you have already set up a GBP in the past or not.
If you don’t find a listing for your business, you now need to add one. You can do this by clicking on the pop-up or using the ‘add your business to Google’ link.
Step 2: Fill in Your Business Name
Here’s where you need to fill in the name of your business.
Please note that you should use your business’s full name here, not using unnecessary keywords within the name, since doing this could get your listing suspended.
Step 3: Categorise Your Business
Choose the main category that best describes your business. Here you will see many options, so choose the one that best explains you. Don’t overthink it, though! You will be able to add to it later.
What are labels on Google My Business? Google My Business advanced information labels categorise your business. You can add it later under ‘info’ to further distinguish your company from others.
Step 4: Add a Location
This is where you decide whether or not you to list a physical address that the public can visit and have it appear on Google Maps.
Step 5: Add Your Address
Fill in your entire business address here, adding in new lines as required to make it as easy as possible for customers to read and find your location.
Step 6: Review Listings
At this step, you may be asked to confirm whether one of several existing locations is your business. If none of the options listed is your business, simply choose the appropriate option and proceed.
Step 7: Decide Whether or Not You’ll Serve Users Outside of the Listed Location
Let’s consider a fictional ice cream shop. In this section, our shop will say ‘yes’ to pick-up and delivery options. However, service providers, like a carwash business, only serve customers on the premises and would select ‘no.’
Step 8: Select the Areas That You Serve
Let’s say you selected ‘yes’ in the previous step. At this stage of the process, you’ll be able to choose the areas you serve, adding more than one if necessary.
Step 9: Add Your Contact Information
You can add your business’s phone number, email address and website URL here.
Step 10: Say Yes to Updates and Recommendations
Decide whether or not you want to opt-in to updates and recommendations from Google on your GBP page.
Step 11: Finish and Manage Your Listing
Hooray! You can click ‘finish’ and rest, knowing that your GBP is set up. Only a single step remains.
Step 12: Verify Your Listing
There are two ways to get your listing verified, namely:
- Verify your listing instantly by an automated phone call
- Have a postcard sent to your address. However, note that this can take up to four days
If you want to, you can choose to verify it later, but we recommend that you do it sooner rather than later.
Step 13: Welcome to Your GBP Dashboard
Once you have verified your listing, you can view your GBP dashboard, where you can complete your listing, add opening hours, photos, your business logo, a thorough description, and more.
Watch Your Business Thrive with GBP!
Now that you’re all set up, you can confidently manage your Google Business Profile and watch your business thrive.
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