Even though you use a variety of social media platforms, Google remains the preferred resource for making vital purchases. The first thing customers do when looking for your products and services online is to search for them on Google.
According to Go Gulf, 46% of all searches have local intent, and business location is the most sought-after piece of information for local searchers. But how can you appear in their search results across multiple devices with relevant information?
A Google Business Profile listing is the fastest and easiest way to appear in the search feed.
Google Business Profiles integrate search engine results into marketing campaigns for local businesses. This isn’t just a regular business listing, but rather a powerful tool that gives you the advantage of appearing in Google searches.
What is a Google Business Profile?
The free Google Business Profile tool allows business owners and marketers to manage how their business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. You can also find essential business information, such as your name, address, contact information, website, and hours of operation, on this page.
To get your Google Business Profile listing, you need to create a Google Business Profile or claim an existing auto-generated profile. In any local SEO strategy, this step is crucial as it makes it easier for customers to discover and review your business. So it’s important to provide accurate, complete, and optimised information.
How do Google Business Profile Listings Work?
In order to create a Google Business Profile (GBP) listing, either claim your existing page or create a new one and verify it. We also can help you create a website to add to your GBP that will drive more customers to your business. You should also optimise your GBP listing by adding keywords, calls-to-action (CTAs), frequently asked questions, and relevant photos/ videos.
Once it’s up and running, your Google My Business page will appear when someone searches for your products or services within your locality. The information from your page will be shown in the following three different places:
- Google’s sidebar
- Local results
- Google Maps
Therefore, potential customers will be able to see your location, contacts, and other details on your page itself.
How do Brands use Google Business Profile?
Millions of businesses around the world use Google Business Profile to differentiate themselves from the competition and gain more leads. The platform is used by brands to interact with customers and learn more about them.
They can identify the type of audience that is most interested in their product, where they are from, and what appeals to them. Brands can also use Google Business Profile to assess their entire business performance.
For example, one of our clients being Pick n Pay Family Plumstead have a great GBP. They’ve verified their Business Profile on Google, they have great user reviews, they’ve enhanced their profile with photos and selected the right business category to be in.
4 Reasons to use Google Business Profile for Local Marketing
Are you still debating whether it’s worthwhile? Here are four compelling reasons to get started with Google Business Profile right away.
1. Increase your visibility on the Web
Whether you run an online or a brick-and-mortar store, putting your business on Google can help you reach more people and improve online and offline sales, enquiries, and awareness of your brand. If you aren’t featured in Google’s business directory, chances are your competitors are. When you complete your GBP with your address, contact information, and business hours, many searches will not need to click because they will have all the information they need at a glance. The easier you make the customer’s journey, the more likely they will be to convert.
2. Boost local SEO
Google Business Profiles are a great SEO tool. Google prioritises local company listings on search results pages for relevant queries, even above well-optimised pages from well-known businesses. This is an incredible opportunity for a small business or start-up to get exposure and connect with your local audience.
According to Google, 80% of consumers use search engines to get information about local businesses, and 50% of consumers who look up a business on their phone visit the location within a day.
3. Get insights into your audience
Google My Business, like all of the top marketing tools, provides access to vital customer analytics. This may inform you how people find your listing through search, how they interact with it, what types of postings are most successful, and where you need to improve.
When you delve deeper into analytics, you may obtain a full breakdown of your audience demographics, including heat maps based on direction searches that show you where your customers are located. All of this information can help you fine-tune your campaigns.
4. Free and easy to use
Google Business Profile is a free service that could give you greater visibility than other fee-based business directories. Google has also made it simple to use, levelling the playing field for businesses of all sizes that understand how to optimise their accounts for the best chance of success.
Local marketing is about targeting people in a small geographical location, and Google Business Profile features help you do just that. At Yellow Door, we ask the right questions, look at the big picture and devise a game plan to elevate your brand. If you’d like to take your Google Business Profile to the next level, get in touch with us.