Google Business Profile (GBP) helps local businesses improve their online visibility. By optimizing your GBP, you can boost your local search rankings and attract more customers. Here are the key steps to make your Google Business Profile better.
Key Takeaways
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile
- Provide accurate and complete business information
- Optimize your business description
- Choose the right business categories
- Add high-quality photos and videos
Table of Contents
1. Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile
First, claim and verify your listing. This shows you own the business and lets you control the information shown.
To claim your profile:
- Go to Google Business Profile Manager
- Search for your business name
- If it’s not listed, click “Add your business to Google”
- Fill in your business details
- Choose a verification option (usually by mail or phone)
Once verified, you can start improving your profile. Explore our local SEO services to boost your business visibility and get expert help with this process.
2. Provide Accurate and Complete Business Information
Accurate information helps customers find and trust your business. Fill out all sections of your GBP profile, including:
- Business name (exactly as it appears in the real world)
- Address
- Phone number
- Website URL
- Business hours
- Products or services offered
Make sure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details match across all online directories and your website. This helps Google understand and trust your business information.
Add special hours for holidays or events, and include attributes that highlight unique features of your business, like “wheelchair accessible” or “free Wi-Fi.” These details can help your business stand out.
3. Optimize Your Business Description
Your business description tells potential customers what makes you special. Write a clear, engaging description that includes:
- Your main products or services
- What sets you apart from competitors
- Your business’s history or mission
- Relevant keywords (but don’t overdo it)
Keep it under 750 characters and focus on providing useful information to your customers. Discover more about our SEO strategies to make your description stand out.
Think about your target audience and what they’re looking for. Use language that speaks to them and addresses their needs. Include a call-to-action that encourages them to take the next step, like visiting your website or contacting you for more information.
Accurate Information
Keep business details up-to-date and consistent
Visual Content
Add high-quality photos and videos of your business
Customer Interaction
Respond promptly to reviews and questions
Performance Analysis
Regularly review insights and adjust strategy
4. Choose the Right Business Categories
Picking the correct categories for your business is important for appearing in relevant searches. Google lets you choose one main category and several secondary categories.
Tips for choosing categories:
- Be as specific as possible with your main category
- Add relevant secondary categories to cover all your services
- Don’t add categories just to include keywords
The right categories help Google understand what your business does and show you in appropriate search results. Check your categories regularly to make sure they still accurately represent your business, especially if you’ve added new services or products.
5. Add High-Quality Photos and Videos
Pictures and videos can make your profile more interesting. Add a variety of good-quality images and videos that show off your business, including:
- Your storefront or office
- Interior shots
- Team members at work
- Products or services in action
Update your visuals often to keep your profile fresh. Master on-page SEO with our comprehensive guide, which includes tips on optimizing images for search engines.
Make sure your photos and videos are well-lit, clear, and truly show what your business is like. Add captions to describe what’s in each image. This helps with accessibility and gives more information to viewers. You can also ask customers to share their own photos of your business, which adds authenticity to your profile.
6. Collect and Respond to Customer Reviews
Reviews are really important for local SEO and helping customers decide. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews on your GBP profile. Here’s how to handle reviews well:
- Respond to all reviews, good and bad
- Thank customers for positive feedback
- Address concerns professionally in negative reviews
- Use keywords naturally in your responses
Getting lots of good reviews can help your local search rankings and attract more customers. Think about setting up a plan to regularly gather feedback and keep a good online reputation.
7. Utilize Google Posts for Updates and Promotions
Google Posts let you share timely updates directly on your Business Profile. Use this feature to:
- Announce new products or services
- Share special offers or events
- Provide useful tips related to your business
- Highlight customer success stories
Posts show up clearly in your profile and can help engage potential customers. Explore top local SEO strategies for small businesses to make the most of features like Google Posts.
To make your Google Posts work better, use eye-catching images, clear and short text, and strong calls-to-action. Try different types of posts to see what your audience likes best. Remember that posts go away after seven days, so post regularly to keep your profile active and interesting.
8. Enable and Optimize the Q&A Feature
The Q&A section of your GBP lets customers ask questions about your business. To use this feature well:
- Check the section often for new questions
- Answer quickly and accurately
- Add your own FAQs to answer common questions before they’re asked
- Use keywords naturally in your answers
By managing your Q&A section actively, you give valuable information to potential customers and improve your local SEO. Make a list of common questions and their answers to keep your responses consistent. This can also help you spot topics that might be worth talking about more on your website or in Google Posts.
9. Feature Products and Services
Show what you offer directly on your GBP profile. Add your products or services with descriptions, prices (if applicable), and photos. This helps customers understand what you offer quickly and can make you more visible in product searches.
Tips for featuring products and services:
- Use clear, high-quality images
- Write short, keyword-rich descriptions
- Keep pricing information up to date
- Organize items into categories for easy browsing
Explore our full range of SEO services to learn how to optimize your product listings for maximum impact.
Update your product and service listings regularly to show any changes in what you offer. This could include seasonal items, new services, or special deals. By keeping this information current, you give a more accurate picture of your business to potential customers.
10. Monitor and Analyze GBP Performance
Regularly check your GBP insights to understand how customers are interacting with your profile. Key things to track include:
- Views: How often your profile appears in searches
- Searches: The queries that led people to your profile
- Actions: What people do after viewing your profile (calls, website visits, etc.)
- Photo views: How often your photos are viewed
Use these insights to improve your strategy and make your profile perform better over time. Pay attention to trends in customer behavior and adjust your GBP content accordingly. For example, if you notice a lot of views but few actions, you might need to improve your call-to-action or provide more compelling information to encourage engagement.
Conclusion
Optimizing your Google Business Profile is an ongoing job that needs attention and regular updates. By following these steps, you can improve your local search visibility, engage more customers, and grow your business.
Remember, consistency and accuracy are key. Keep your information up to date, respond to customer interactions promptly, and continue to improve your profile based on performance insights.
If you need help managing your GBP or want to improve your local SEO, get expert help with your local SEO strategy. Our team at Kingston Digital can help you make the most of your online presence and attract more local customers.
