41: How to use your Google Business Profile

Summary

In this podcast, Meredith's husband offers practical SEO advice focused on optimizing Google Business Profiles (formerly Google My Business). He shares detailed steps for improving your profile, emphasizing its importance for local businesses. By creating a complete, well-maintained Google Business Profile, website owners can provide potential clients with essential information, build trust, and improve their online visibility before users even visit their website.

Blog Post: How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile for SEO Success

Having a well-optimized Google Business Profile is essential for local businesses. In a recent podcast episode, Meredith's husband shared a detailed guide on how to maximize the effectiveness of this powerful tool. Formerly known as Google My Business, the platform offers local business owners a chance to manage the way their business is displayed in Google search results, helping you build trust with potential clients before they even visit your website.

Why Your Google Business Profile Matters

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) serves as the first point of contact for many potential clients searching for your business. When users search for a business name, especially locally, Google often displays a panel on the right-hand side of the search results, known as the "knowledge panel." This panel shows your business information, such as photos, services, contact details, and reviews.

An optimized profile allows you to control what people see when they search for your business, providing them with the confidence that you're reputable and professional. According to Meredith’s husband, your goal should be to start educating your clients about your services from the moment they find you on Google. This is your chance to make a great first impression and answer questions before users even navigate to your website.

Key Elements of an Optimized Google Business Profile

Meredith’s husband broke down 12 essential steps to ensure your Google Business Profile is fully optimized. Here’s a quick rundown of the most important points:

• Business Name: Make sure your full business name is listed accurately. Avoid abbreviations.

• Cover Photo: Choose a compelling photo that represents your product or service—this is often the first thing people will see.

• Service Area: If you serve a local area, specify your service area using cities or zip codes.

• Logo: Ensure your logo is high-quality and visible even at a small size, as it will be displayed prominently in your profile.

• Business Info: Fill out all available fields, including business hours, website, and ways to contact you.

• Products and Services: Add your products or services with photos and prices to give users an idea of what you offer.

• Categories: Categorize your services to make it easier for potential clients to understand what you do.

• Business Description: Use the “from the business” section creatively—consider including a testimonial or eye-catching introduction rather than a generic description.

• Updates: Periodically post updates or announcements to show Google and users that you’re active.

• Reviews: Aim to get at least three reviews over time and avoid getting them all at once, which could look suspicious.

• Social Media Links: While you can’t directly add social media links, having them on your website can help Google populate your profile with this information.

• Photos: Add as many photos as possible, as users are naturally drawn to visual content.

Consistency and Engagement

While it may be tempting to set up your profile and forget about it, consistency is key. Regularly updating your profile with new photos, reviews, or updates can signal to Google that your business is active. This engagement can help improve your SEO rankings over time. Also, by ensuring that your contact details are up-to-date, you provide potential clients with an easy way to reach you, giving them confidence in your business.

Resources

• Meredith’s husband mentions the importance of regularly interacting with your Google Business Profile and checking metrics like post engagement to assess what works well.

By following these steps, you can turn your Google Business Profile into a powerful tool for growing your business. Not only will you improve your local search visibility, but you’ll also provide potential clients with the confidence to reach out, all while creating a great first impression.