Maximise your online marketing presence for free
As a small business owner, you know that having a strong online presence is vital for success. And what better way to achieve this than by using Google Business Profile? It's a free tool offered by Google which allows you to manage your business's online presence across search engines and Google-owned properties. Plus, it's easy to use and takes just minutes to maintain on a regular basis.
So, what is Google Business Profile?
It's a free online directory where you can register your business and set up your profile with key business information, including how to find and contact you, your opening hours, customer reviews, and add images of your business. With over a dozen different features, it's often the first impression that customers have of your business, making it crucial to have an optimized profile for increased visibility.
Here are 10 essential reasons why your small business should be using Google Business Profile:
1. Improves local SEO
Google Business Profile is essential for local SEO. When people search for specific products or services on Google, the search engine will display the local businesses that offer those products or services. By having an optimized Google Business Profile, the chances of your business being displayed in the search engine results are higher, thereby increasing your visibility and attracting more customers. Just by having a listing and showing up in local searches, businesses on Google Business Profile are 70% more likely to attract potential customers for in-store location visits. Plus, your Google Business Profile listing can pull in up to 35% more clicks to your website.
2. Provides accurate business information
Having up-to-date business information online is crucial. With Google Business Profile, you can add your business's accurate information, including hours of operation, ensuring that your customers can find you when they need to. This can prevent customer disappointment if your business is closed during the holiday season. It also makes it even easier to contact you thanks to clickable phone numbers and email addresses so prospective customers can contact you with a click of a button from their mobile phone.
3. Increases credibility
A Google Business Profile adds credibility to your business. By having a complete and optimized profile, customers are more likely to trust your business and choose you over others.
4. Displays business reviews
Reviews play a significant role in gaining the trust of potential customers. Google Business Profile showcases customer reviews, and it’s easy to respond to them. Responding to reviews helps you engage with your customers, thus building and maintaining good customer relations. Plus, according to Moz research on local search ranking factors, online reviews make up 10% of how search engines determine their rankings so start collecting your reviews on Google.
5. Provides insights
Google Business Profile provides business insights, which can be useful in measuring your business's success. It gives you data on how customers are finding your business, what customers are searching for, and how many customers are engaging with your business.
6. Helps in customer engagement
Engaging with customers is essential for your business's success. Google Business Profile provides various engagement features, including messaging and the ability to post updates and posts that can be seen by users who search for your business.
When you’ve gone to the trouble of writing a blog, you want to ensure you do everything possible to promote it. The post feature allows you to link to blogs on your website, upload an image, and write up to 300 words of text.
You can also show off your brand with a photo upload feature.
7. Boosts website traffic
A Google Business Profile also helps in driving traffic to your website. It provides a link to your website, showcasing your business and making it easy for potential customers to find you.
8. Provides a free marketing opportunity
Google Business Profile is a free marketing tool. By taking advantage of this free tool, you can promote your business and attract more customers, without engaging in paid advertising. Not many businesses are aware that you can also use the free events facility to promote any events, seminars or workshops your business is running.
9. Shapes your business's online reputation
Your online reputation is crucial. Google Business Profile allows you to manage and shape your business's online reputation by addressing customer concerns and posting business updates.
10. Offers Google Maps integration
Google Business Profile integrates with Google Maps. This integration makes it easy for customers to find your business's exact location through the Google Maps app or maps.google.com. By simply creating a Google Business Profile listing and completing the verification steps, your business location will start to pop up for local searches in Maps as well.
Google your way to the top
Google Business Profile is an essential tool for small businesses. By using this free tool, you can improve your local SEO, boost your business's credibility, display business reviews, and drive website traffic. So, if you are a small business owner, make sure to create your Google Business Profile today!
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