The Importance of Google Business Profiles for Small and Local Businesses
Google is Today’s Yellow Pages; Google My Business is YOUR Free Half Page Display Ad!
At the extreme risk of dating myself, I’m going to refer to Google (specifically, the Google search engine, which 90% of people in world use) as the Yellow Pages of today. In other words, the phone book. Which, if you’re under 30, might sound like a quaint conceit from the “olden times.” 😉
In any event, with Google being the place virtually everybody goes to today to find not just info about subjects that interest them, but increasingly, as the main tool for local shopping, it’s essentially supplanted to old phone book as the day-to-day way consumers find what they are looking for.
And this point cannot be stressed enough: Even if you, Mr. (orMz.) Business Owner don’t use Google daily, the rest of the world does, including all of your customers!
Odds are, you did look up something up on Google several times today, if not in the last few days. Just like the millions upon millions of people searching each and every day for the products and services they need and want locally. So much so, that according to Google, 47% of all searches have local intent!
Oh, and 1 out of 2 of those go on to buy locally! Can you see why having an optimized Google Business Profile (GBP) is so important, and why not having one is costing you money?
Perhaps needless to say, small and local businesses benefit enormously from having a properly optimized Google Business Profile. NOTE: for those who may be confused or are unfamiliar with the new terminology, GBP is the new name for what was called Google My Business (GMB) for a number of years.
Google Business What?
But wait! Whoa! You may have just crawled out from under a big rock and be wondering: “What the heck is the Google Business Profile?” If so, there’s not need to feel embarrassed, because you’re in good company.
It’s actually not a strange question, because also according to Google, nearly 50% of small and local businesses have not claimed—and therefore are not taking advantage of—this remarkable business building and lead generation tool. Literally millions of businesspeople simply have not heard of the GBP or, if they have, do not understand how critically important it is to their own success—and future.
Ignoring GBP is done at one’s peril. It’s like letting your local competition walk in and take over without so much as putting up a fight!
But for the smart business person, the fact that around half the competition isn’t taking advantage of what’s available for free is not just an incredible oversight, but an equally incredible opportunity. Again, assuming one’s business profile is setup right and being using correctly. More on that below.
The Google Business Profile is Powerful Free Advertising—And Then Some!
One way to think of the Google Business Profile is as a half-page display ad in the Yellow Pages of old, except that this does not cost you so much as one single penny.
And like large display ads of old, this one will make you money from the start—if it’s set up right! Which leads us to this salient point: Of the millions of businesses that have Google Business Profiles—and the same can be said of other “social media” profiles like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.—only a small percentage are taking full advantage of what’s available to them for making connections, spurring consumer action and sealing deals.
In short, the Google Business Profile is a free and highly valuable tool to manage your online presence across Google, including in Google Search and on Google Maps. Shockingly, research and anecdotal evidence alike increasingly demonstrates that the Google Business Profile may be more effective than all of one’s social media profiles put together and even—gasp—more important than the company website!
The Many Remarkable Benefits of the Google Business Profile
Here are some key benefits of having your Google Business Profile setup properly and maintained regularly. Yes, just like all other social media, it is highly recommended that you “feed the beast” with new content regularly. The big difference is, this is the one Google really cares about… which means it’s the one YOU should care about if you want to be taken seriously by the big G, and receive the maximum possible benefits (interest, leads, new and repeat business, etc.) from your profile.
Visibility and Reach
- Increased visibility: Google Business Profile helps reach more customers by making it easier to find the business online.
- Increased online presence: Expands the online presence and reach to customers searching for products and services in the area.
Accuracy and Trust
- Improved accuracy: Ensure accurate and up-to-date information about the business, such as hours, contact information, and photos.
- Enhanced reputation management: Manage online reputation by responding to customer reviews and feedback, building a positive reputation, and maintaining customer satisfaction.
Insights and Analytics
- Insights and analytics: Valuable insights and analytics about the online presence, such as search and view statistics, and customer engagement through Google.
- Better decision making: Use insights to make informed decisions about marketing and advertising efforts.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Mobile Accessibility
- Better SEO: Improves the business’s search engine optimization by ranking higher in Google search results with completed profile and relevant information.
- Increased mobile accessibility: Makes it easier for customers using mobile devices to find the business and access important information.
Wrap Up on the Google Business Profile
In conclusion, a Google Business Profile offers a simple and effective solution for small and local businesses to manage their online presence and reach more customers. By utilizing this tool, businesses can increase their visibility, improve accuracy, enhance reputation management, gain insights and analytics, improve SEO, and increase mobile accessibility. Consider setting up your Google Business Profile today!
REFERENCES
The New Google Business Profile: A Complete Guide for Local SEO
How to Use Google Business Profile to Improve Your Online Presence
How to turn your Google Business Profile into a revenue-generating channel