What is Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile (GBP) is a free, simple tool that helps businesses appear on Google Search and Google Maps. When someone searches for your business or a related service, they can see your business’s important details like address, hours, phone number, and reviews.

This profile doesn’t rely on having a website, so any business can use it to increase visibility and build trust.

A Little History of Google Business Profile

Originally, Google’s tool for businesses was called Google Places and focused primarily on helping people find locations. Over the years, it evolved into Google My Business, with added features to let businesses showcase their services, collect reviews, and provide essential details directly on Google. Now known as Google Business Profile, this tool is more powerful than ever, giving businesses the chance to engage with customers through updates, posts, and reviews. Each evolution has made it easier for local businesses to connect with customers searching nearby, without relying on a dedicated website.

Why is Google Business Profile Important?

A GBP helps customers find your business quickly and offers proof of quality through reviews. Here’s why it’s so valuable:

• Better Visibility: GBP boosts your presence in local searches, making it more likely that nearby customers will find you.
• Builds Trust: With 88% of UK shoppers reading reviews before choosing a business, positive reviews can be essential in gaining customer trust.
• Boosts SEO: GBP is a key factor in local SEO, meaning it helps your business rank higher in local searches, attracting even more people in your area.

How to Set Up Google Business Profile Correctly

To make the most of your Google Business Profile, be sure to set it up fully:

1. Sign up for Google Business Profile: Start at Google Business Profile.
2. Complete Your Details: Ensure that your business name, address, and hours are correct.
3. Add Photos: Photos make a big difference, as they give customers a peek into your business. Add logos, product photos, and team pictures.
4. Pick the Right Categories: Choose the category that best fits your business to help customers understand what you do.
5. Encourage Reviews: Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews. With 90% of UK consumers reading reviews, having positive feedback can influence future customers.
6. Keep It Updated: If anything changes, update your profile. Google likes businesses that stay current, and so do potential customers.

Useful Tips for Managing Your Google Business Profile

1. Verification is Key: Verifying your GBP is a crucial step to ensure your business appears accurately on Google Search and Maps. Recently, Google has introduced more stringent verification methods, including video verification, to enhance the authenticity of business listings.
   How to Verify your GBP with video >>
2. Post Updates to Engage Customers: You can share posts, promotions, or events directly on your GBP. This works like a mini social media feed and helps keep customers informed about what’s happening in your business.
3. Respond to Reviews: Replying to reviews, whether they’re positive or negative, shows customers that you care about their feedback. It also helps resolve issues and builds trust with future customers who see you value feedback.
4. Track Insights and Analytics: GBP offers insights, showing you how customers find and interact with your business (such as website clicks, calls, and directions). These insights are helpful for understanding your audience and adjusting your marketing approach.
5. Use the Q&A Section: GBP has a Q&A section where people can ask questions. Be sure to monitor this area and answer questions to provide helpful information.
6. Add Accessibility Information: If your business has accessibility features like wheelchair access or designated parking, include these details to ensure all customers feel welcome.
7. Encourage Customer Photos: Customer photos add authenticity to your profile, giving future visitors a real sense of what to expect. Encourage happy customers to upload pictures of their experience.
8. Use Attributes: Attributes let you highlight specific features, like “women-led” or “pet-friendly,” which can attract customers looking for these qualities and make your profile more personalised.

How to Add Luminite Design as a Manager on Your Google Business Profile

If you’d like Luminite Design to help manage your profile, it’s simple to add us as a Manager while you retain full Ownership rights. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to Your Google Business Profile.
2. Go to ‘Users’.
3. Add a New User: Enter [ask us for the correct email address] and select “Manager” as the role.
4. Send the Invitation: Once we’re added, we can support you in keeping your profile updated and engaging.

Why Keeping Ownership is Important

As the business owner, you should always keep ownership of your Google Business Profile. This way, you retain control while allowing trusted managers to help with updates. Ownership ensures you can easily add or remove managers as needed, giving you full control over your business’s online presence.

Some Extra Statistics

• 46% of all Google searches have local intent, meaning nearly half of searchers are looking for nearby services.
• 90% of UK shoppers read online reviews before visiting a business, showing how crucial reviews on your GBP can be.

Final Thoughts on Google Business Profile

So, what is Google Business Profile? It’s your business’s public face on Google, letting people find you quickly and see what others say about you. Google Business Profile is easy to set up, works independently of a website, and lets your business be found more easily. By setting up your GBP correctly and gathering reviews, you’re on your way to greater visibility, trust, and customer engagement. Get started today and let’s make your business shine on Google!