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The Modern-Day Phonebook: Your Google Business Profile

As a business in the Internet age, it is necessary to have some sort of online presence. Without it, you’re missing out on a large swath of your potential audience. Not to mention, customers seeing your business online adds to a sense of legitimacy for your business. However, while a website is the first step towards building your online profile, it’s only part of the equation. Another crucial aspect of advertising yourself online is ensuring you can be found on the most popular search engine of them all: Google! Getting your business seen on Google starts by establishing your Google Business Profile. If you’ve never considered this, it’s time to start!

What is a Google Business Profile?

Before being reborn as Google Business Profiles, the universal name for these profiles was GMBs (named after the Google My Business platform). However, when Google My Business didn’t take off as Google predicted, they took the best features from the platform and renamed/rebranded them, leaving us with the Google Business Profiles we know and love today!

The idea of a Google Business Profile is mostly self-explanatory. As it sounds, it’s a profile on your business recognized and listed by Google. If you’re familiar with the “days of old,” where the only way you could find more information on a business was in a phone book, Google Business Profiles can be considered the modern-day equivalent. A profile will include business pictures, a short description of your business, hours of operation, service area, contact info, reviews, etc. Additionally, these business profiles can be edited by anyone. This means if someone spots what they think is an inaccuracy in your profile, they can submit “suggested edits,” which the profile owner can approve or deny.

Do You Own Your Profile?

Speaking of profile ownership, this is a crucial first step in establishing a presence on Google: claiming your Google Business Profile. If your business is new enough, you likely won’t have to claim anything and can start building a profile yourself. However, if you’re “just getting around” to having a Google Business Profile, there’s a high chance you already have a profile created. This is often due to online users wishing to find or rate your business online but not finding a profile. However, if the user were to submit a review for a business that did not yet have a profile, Google would create one, hence why you might already have a Google Business Profile hanging out!

If your business already has a profile, you must claim it ASAP. Plenty of less-reputable companies or opportunists scour Google for unclaimed or non-existent business profiles, grabbing or creating them for themselves. Then, when the actual business owner comes along to claim that profile, they are at the mercy of the current holder. While there are ways you can appeal those claims with Google, the process can be complicated and frustrating. It’s best to claim or create your profile before someone else can.

Why Do You Need a Google Business Profile?

As mentioned, a Google Business Profile is key to seeing your business on Google’s SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). If you’ve been on the internet for any time, you understand the value of being seen on Google. Your Google Business Profile should always be able to provide your potential customers with the most up-to-date information on your business. Additionally, a well-optimized profile can promote your business and boost its SEO value, helping it rank higher in SERPs. And that’s not all:

• Enhanced Visibility – A Google Business Profile significantly improves your business’s visibility online. When customers search for services or products you offer, your profile increases the chances of your business appearing on Google Search and Maps.
• Local SEO – By maintaining accurate and detailed information, you enhance local search engine optimization (SEO), which helps your business rank higher in local searches.
• Customer Interaction – It offers a platform for customers to leave reviews and for you as a business to respond. Positive feedback can be a powerful tool in building trust with potential new customers and establishing your brand as an industry leader.
• Insightful Analytics – Google provides analytics for Business Profiles, giving valuable insights into how customers search for your business and from where. While the insights through this platform aren’t the most in-depth, they are great for businesses just getting started online.
• Free Advertising – A Google Business Profile is a form of free advertising, giving you a presence on one of the most widely used search engines without the cost of traditional ad space.
• Efficient Information Sharing – Quick updates about changes in hours, upcoming events, or promotions can be posted to your profile and are immediately available, making it easier for customers to stay informed.
• Interactive Features – Depending on your business and how you optimize your profile, customers can book appointments or services directly through it. This feature streamlines the conversion process, making it convenient for both the customer and the business.

Start Building Your Google Business Profile!

If you are unsure whether you have a Google Business Profile, there’s never been a better time to check! Type your business into a Google Search, and see if your profile pops up to the right of the search results. If it does, click where it says “Own this business?” and you can begin verifying and claiming ownership. However, if you haven’t yet seen your business profile, you can start creating it yourself by following this handy guide. Additionally, if you have further questions about your Google Business Profile and other online marketing efforts, you can call the internet experts at 309 Marketing Group! Contact us today at
309-213-9398.