Google Business has the capacity to revolutionise your online presence, from enhancing your business’s discoverability to building trust and ensuring you are rightfully valued for your offerings.
Many businesses in various trades are realising the expanded capabilities of this tool. As an integral part of Google Maps, creating a Business Profile is now indispensable for ensuring your business is easily discoverable on Google. It has become a critical element in attracting new potential customers to your business.
10 top tips
Here we examine ways to leverage Google’s features to enhance your online business and achieve greater success.
- Use your real-world business name
Ensure your business name matches how it appears on your signage, website, and stationery. Avoid adding keywords or locations as this violates Google’s guidelines and can lead to penalties. - Keep your categories accurate and up to date
Choose the most specific primary category that reflects your core service and use secondary categories only when relevant. Review your categories periodically, as Google may update or add new options. - Set your address and service area correctly
List your physical address only if you operate from a staffed, customer-facing location. If you visit customers, use the service-area setting instead. Define your service regions clearly to help customers and Google understand where you operate. - Maintain accurate opening hours
Keep your standard hours up to date and add special hours for holidays, seasonal changes, or temporary closures. Accurate hours improve trust and reduce customer frustration. - Upload high-quality, authentic photos
Add clear, relevant images of your team, vehicles, workspace, and completed work. Include photos for your key service areas and ensure you have permission for any identifiable people or private properties. - Create and share a direct profile or review link
Generate a shareable link to your Google Business Profile or review form. Use it in email signatures, on your website, or when asking customers for feedback – without offering incentives, which violates policy. - Enable and monitor messaging
Turn on messaging so customers can contact you directly from your profile. Respond promptly, as response times can influence customer perception and engagement. - Post regular updates to increase visibility
Use Google Posts to share updates, offers, and highlights from your work. Fresh posts can help your profile stand out in search and Maps, but remember some post types expire and should be refreshed regularly. - Use the Q&A section proactively
Populate common questions and answers to guide potential customers. Monitor the section regularly, as anyone can ask or answer questions. Correct inaccurate responses quickly. - Actively manage your reviews
Encourage genuine, honest customer reviews and reply to all feedback – positive or negative. Avoid any review manipulation tactics, as violations can result in penalties.
5 Ways Your Business Benefits from Google Business
Google Business, a free tool designed for small businesses, facilitates the creation and management of Google listings. These listings become visible when customers search for businesses on Google platforms such as Search and Maps. Beyond aiding customers in finding you, it serves as an effective means to share fundamental information about your business, attracting, engaging, and converting new customers.
Even if word of mouth drives most of your new leads, establishing a presence on Google Business is crucial. After all, potential leads likely researched your business on Google before making contact.
- Streamline customer contact
Eliminate the frustration for customers trying to locate your business by providing easy access through Google Business. Include your website and phone number in your listing for straightforward communication. Should your contact details change, editing your listing is a hassle-free process-simply log in to your Google Business account and make updates at any time. - Enhance local visibility
During emergencies, individuals often turn to Google Maps to find local tradespeople swiftly. For example, if someone urgently needs a plumber to address a burst pipe, having your business listed on Google Business can be advantageous. When potential customers search terms like ‘plumber’ or ‘plumber near me,’ Google will feature your business profile on Maps if your location aligns with the customer’s immediate area, increasing the likelihood of appearing among the first results. - Generate new leads
If you’re experiencing a shortage of enquiries, Google Business is another channel to help fill your job pipeline. Add a link to your website enquiries form. - Give prospective customers a reason to hire you
Use the platform to tell new visitors what your business is all about and add a list of your services. This won’t affect your Google ranking, but it will help with customer experience. - Charge what you’re worth
Lastly, having a Google Business listing gives your trade business a certain level of credibility. You can use its many features to prove you provide a quality service – and are well worth the rate you charge.