Why Google Business Profile is Essential: The Short
Ever search for a product or service on Google Search or Maps and get greeted by convenient business listings that sell or solve what you’re searching for? We have Google Business Profile to thank for that. Google Business Profile is a free tool from Google that allows you to create a listing that can be found by potential customers in Google Search & Google Maps. That’s the simple answer and if you’re good with that, you can stop reading and go redirect your time to frolicking in a field somewhere or doing some push ups.
But, if you’re really interested in why Google Business Profile is absolutely essential for business owners, then you’ll want to read on!
Why Google Business Profile is Essential: The Long
Google currently owns just a hair under 92% of the search engine market share, making them the premiere search referrer in the world. If you’re a business, think of Google as a gigantic business directory. Only this particular directory has way more eyeballs on it than your local directory. Now, being the smart business owner you are, you’d want to get your business listed in this directory so you can reach all these potential customers. That is where the Google Business Profile comes in.
Google Business Profiles help dramatically when it comes to increasing the number of people finding your products or services on Google. It shows potential customers where and how to visit your business and improves your visibility in the search results, which often can give you the edge over your crosstown rival. GBP’s also allow customers to write reviews, which is huge when it comes to developing trust with potential customers. Customers can also directly message your business to ask more specific questions or ones that might not be answered on your website or social media.
GBP has so many features for small businesses, it’s almost impossible to list all of them. The ability to quickly update customers of changes to your business’ open hours, the ability to upload photos and videos of your business or products, posts that get listed on Google so your customers can keep up with you…, the list goes on and on.
Your GBP will also include some easily digestible stats on how people are finding you and interacting with your profile. Here are some examples from one of our clients!
SEO Benefits of Google Business Profile
In addition to improving your local SEO and providing valuable information to your customers, a complete Google Business Profile can help you capture zero click searches. Zero click searches, as the name suggests, are when a user performs a search but does not click on a result. These make up 50% of all searches currently. A complete Google Business Profile can provide your users with all the information they need to answer their questions without clicking through to a website.
Wrapping Up
In a nutshell, the Google Business Profile is essential to businesses as it allows you to present your business in a positive light to the millions of people who use Google everyday. In addition, a complete Google Business Profile helps improve your local SEO, and keeps your customers up-to-date with information about your business.
