Want to be easier to find on Google? Create a Google Business Profile! In this article we'll explain why, and how to create a profile.
In this article:
What is a Google Business profile?
The name says it all. With Google Business Profile, you can create your own business profile within Google. In this profile, you can display information such as:
- Adress
- Opening hours
- Contact information
- Images
- Products and/or services
It also offers interaction with your customers. They can leave a review, to which you can respond.
Why create a Google Business Profile?
A Google Business Profile has several advantages.
Imagine this: you walk into your home and notice a very unpleasant smell. You urgently need a sewer specialist who can remedy this unpleasant smell. Chances are you will quickly grab your phone to open Google and search for "Emergency Plumber" in your region.
Now put yourself in the shoes of a plumber who can remedy this smell. Your goal is to get this person to use your service. That means that your service needs to appear as high as possible in the search results. Preferably at the top.
With a Google Business Profile that is kept up to date, you increase the likelihood that your business will be found more easily.
Benefits of a Google Business Profile
Using a Google Business Profile is good for your online presence. It helps you stand out to potential customers in your area who are searching for a product or service that you offer.
It also provides insight into how visitors interact with your profile. This gives you insight into:
- How often people click on your profile
- How often people use the listed phonenumber
- How often the chat function is clicked on
- How often people click through to your website
Another added benefit is the listing on Google Maps. Visitors can navigate to your business with a single click.
Create a Google Business Profile
How to create a Google Business Profile. We will guide you through the process.
1. Create a profile
A personal profile is needed for creating a Google Business Profile. If you don't have a personal profile, you can create one here .
If you have a personal profile, you can start here.
2. Enter company name
In the following field, you can enter your company name. It is possible that the name already exists. If so, don't panic! It needs to be verified. We will come back to this in step 5.
3. Company details
Here you will be asked to provide some information about your business. Fill in this information as completely as possible. Also, select the correct business category. This is very important, as it helps Google to display your business in the right search results.
4. Business location
Enter 'Yes' if you can receive visitors and provide the address.
Enter 'No' if you don't have a visiting address and specify the region in which you operate.
5. Verify your business
Once all the information has been entered, Google wants to verify that you are the owner of the business. This verification can be done in two different ways.
- Postal address: a code will be sent by postal mail. This will take a few days.
- Phone or email: sometimes verification by phone or email is sufficient. This depends on the type of business.
6. Get started!
Once you have been fully verified, you can use all the Google Business Profile features. Start adding information such as opening hours, images, company description and a description of your products and/or services to get the most out of your Google Business Profile.
Tips for optimizing your Google Business Profile
To reap the full benefits of your new Google Business Profile, it is important to keep your profile up tot date. We are happy to share the following tips.
Stay up to date
Ensure that your business details remain up to date. This includes your address, opening hours (including public holidays) and contact details.
Logo
Add a logo to your company profile. A logo creates recognisability (and recognisability creates trust)
Images
Add photo's and/or images of your business. These could include your premises, services, products or team. You can also add a cover photo to your profile. Use the following dimensions:
- Cover photo: 1080 x 608 pixels
- Profile photo: 250 x 250 pixels
- Post: 800 x 600 pixels
Video
You can also add a business video of up to 30 seconds.
Respond to reviews
Google trusts positive reviews and sees them as a sign of reliability. Your business profile allows you to receive and respond to reviews. This also enables you to address a bad review immediately (and perhaps turn it around) or acknowledge good reviews from your customers. In addition to Google reviews, you can also display reviews from Facebook and Trustpilot.
Posts
You can add posts to your profile. This allows you to easily share content and inform your customers about news, special offers or upcoming events. These posts remain visible for a week.
Schedule an appointment
If you work by appointment, you can offer visitors the option to schedule an appointment directly. You can also easily accept these appointments online.
Q & A
Visitors can ask questions directly, which you can answer. Both the question and answer are public and visible to everyone. If you handle this well and promptly, it will be invaluable for your credibility.
Store visits
If you use Google Ads, the store visits feature makes it easy to monitor whether these ads are working and bringing your potential customers to your store. This option allows you to measure how effective online advertising is for your offline sales. Google does this by using the location of logged-in users (with 90% accuracy) to determine if someone has visited your store.
Common mistakes (and how to improve)
Google Business Profile is a useful tool, that much is clear. However, mistakes are still regularly made that negate its benefits. Below, we discuss some of the most common mistakes and provide tips on how to avoid them.
Outdated business details
Changes to your contact details, opening hours or address? Don't forget to update them!
Check whether your details are still up-to-date, and add additional information such as opening hours during holidays, additional services and links to your website. A fully completed profile is always appreciated.
No response to negative reviews
Receiving a negative review is always unpleasant. It is even more unpleasant for the customer if you do not respond to it. Not responding to a negative review makes your customer feel like you don't care. It adds to frustration. What's even worse, is that there are always potential customers reading along. Not responding to negative reviews, even if they are unjustified, paints a negative picture and will also deter them.
Always respond to a negative review. Do so in a constructive and positive manner. This makes the customer feel heard, and shows your potential customers that you are committed and willing to resolve issues. Two birds with one stone!
Don't ask for reviews
One of the most underestimated actions that businesses fail to take is actively asking for reviews.
There is nothing wrong with asking for a review after a customer has been well served and has had a positive experience with your business. Try to make giving a review as easy as possible. For example, you can include a link in an email to your Google reviews. The more positive reviews you collect, the more reliable your image will be.
Using old images
A profile without photos, or with old photos, does not come across as trustworthy. Just think of Tinder for example... Get the picture? Customers want to see in advance what they can expect. In addition, fresh photos ensure a trustworthy appearance and create an image of commitment.
Try to regularly add new, high-quality photos of your work, products/services, location and team. Make sure you use photos that give a relevant and good impression of your company.
