Google has completely revolutionized the way consumers buy goods and the ways businesses advertise their services. With e-commerce on the growth, the global search engine giant enables millions of online transactions each year.
Whether you are a new business owner looking to establish yourself in the online space, or an established business owner looking to take advantage of online income streams – you must be as visible as possible.
The easier your business is to find, the more online transactions you will benefit from. So, adding a Google My Business Profile is an important task for anyone looking to improve their online sales.
Google My Business Helps searchers discover businesses that are close to them and closely match their requirements. So, not only will it lead to more online success, but you may also see an increase in visits from local customers as well!
What is a Google Business Profile and How Can it Help My Business?
Before we look at how to create a business profile on Google, it is important that you know exactly what this is and why it is worthwhile.
Google My Business is a free online tool that supports you in establishing and managing the online presence of your business. You will be able to control how your business appears in the results of Local Google Searches and Google Maps.
Using your Google Business Profile, you can post updates on events, connect with your customers and display customer reviews for your services and products.
The more information you display on your company profile, services, and opening times – the more confident and interested prospective customers will be.
Below we will take you through all the steps you need to follow to successfully make a business profile on Google and increase your online profits as a result!
How to Create a Business Profile on Google
To begin the process of listing your business on Google, you first need to create your business profile and get it verified. After this, you can work on optimizing the information on your profile to ensure your target customers can find you.
How to make a Business Profile on Google
Thankfully, this step is very quick and easy. Google has created a simple to follow step by step process to guide you through and ensure you are providing the correct information.
Your first step is to log into an existing Google Account, then you need to head to:
How Do I Find My Business Listing on Google My Business?
Before you start a new business listing, you should check to see if there is already an existing listing for your business. This may have been created by a predecessor at your company, or you may have created one quite a while ago without updating it.
1.) Click On Manage
This will take you to a page where you can access your current business listing or set up a new listing for your business.
2.) Claim Your Google Business Account.
If there here is already an existing business account, you can claim it. In this case, you will need to check the contact information on the listing and update out-of-date info.
If you need to set up a new business account, you will have to proceed forward with entering all the relevant information about your business.
3.) Add Your Business Name and Company Category.
Your first step when you write a company profile is to add your business name and the category which best represents your products and services.
4.) Enter Your Business Address and Location
If you have a physical store or offices that potential customers can access, you can include this on your profile information. After doing this you will be able to add a service area to which your business serves or delivers.
5.) Add Your Contact Details to Your Google Business Profile
Next, you need to provide your phone number and website address, as well as any other information your customers may need to get in touch with you.
If you don’t currently have a business website, you will be able to create a basic one using a free template that Google provides.
6.) Confirm Your Details and Complete Setting Up Your Listing
Once you have input all of this information, you can check and then confirm the details. The next step in how to make a business profile on Google is to verify your account.
How To Verify and Create a Business Profile on Google?
Google will then require you to verify that you own the business you have set the profile up for. There are two ways you can do this.
Verify Your Google Business Profile by Postcode
if you choose this process, a postcard will be posted to the address you have entered on your Business Profile. In South Africa, this can take approximately three weeks to arrive. The card will include all the information you need to verify your Local Business Google Listing.
How to Verify Your Google Business Account by Email or Phone
The quickest and easiest way for you to verify your business ownership is to use email or phone. (Although not all businesses are eligible or successful in confirming their business this way.)
if you qualify for this type of business verification, then you will be asked to input your phone number or email address. A verification code will then be sent to allow you to verify your ownership.
What Other Information Can You Add to your Google Business Profile?
Along with your contact information, you can add a description of your business services and images of your store or products.
After this, you can optimize your Google Business Profile on your listing dashboard to make sure you are creating a Google presence that will appeal to your customers.
How to Optimise Your Google Business Listing
Once you have created your Google Business profile, you need to make sure it shows in the search results of your local, potential customers. To make sure that your business is shown to the right Google users, you need to remain consistent and ensure that you are thinking about what you can do to make your business more attractive to customers.
You need to add the most important, relevant, and helpful information to your profile so that Google will reward you with higher listings and show your details to your target demographics.
- You need to ensure that you update your profile with information that is helpful to your customers.
- Add attractive and professional-looking photos of your business and products.
- Make sure to respond to reviews – both good and bad. Thanking customers for their complimentary reviews and making sure not to get in online battles over the negative ones!
Here is Your Checklist, to make sure that your Google Business Profile is Optimized and Relevant.
- A bright, clear, and attractive image of your company. This should be professional standard and have the correct resolution and size, so it looks good at the header of the listing.
- Make sure to make regular posts on your profile and keep all your contact information and opening times up to date. (Make sure these are helpful and contain information your customers need. Don’t post for the sake of posting!)
- Include a direct call to action in your posts, encouraging your potential customers to engage further with your company.
- Schedule a weekly check for your profile, to make sure that you respond to reviews regularly.
- Opt in to direct messaging so you can answer queries and requests from interested customers.
You need to make sure that you are prepared to put in the long-term work with your Google Business profile. creating it once and then forgetting to update it will not be effective in raising your online profile. Only through consistent updates and relevant information will you be able to start reaping the benefits of your Google Business presence.
Why Do You Need to Make Sure Your Local Google Business Profile is Updated?
- Customers may be put off if they see the business profile hasn’t been updated in months.
- You need to make sure that your profile isn’t showing seasonal or out-of-date information.
- An updated profile will give the impression of a professional and efficient organization.
- You can work to mitigate negative reviews quickly.
Google will reward your regular updates by showing your company to more of your local customers and allowing you to appear higher in local search rankings.
Make Sure to Adhere to Google’s Guidelines
Another key part of ensuring that your Google Business profile is working for you is to make sure that you are adhering to Google’s guidelines. If you break the clear rules set by the search engine, your business account may be suspended. So, make sure that you don’t include anything on your profile that could harm your visibility.
Can I Use Google My Business Messages to Engage with Customers on my Business Profile?
Engaging with customers through google my business messages is an effective way to increase customer interaction on your business profile. By using this feature, you can respond to customer inquiries, provide support, and even make personalized recommendations. Take advantage of this tool to improve customer satisfaction and strengthen your business’s online presence.
Can I Use the Same Steps to Create a Business Profile on Google for a Test Blog Post?
Yes, the same steps can be used to create a business profile on Google for a test blog post analysis. This allows you to check if your blog post is grabbing attention, engaging readers, and driving traffic. Utilizing a business profile provides valuable insights into the performance of your test blog post, helping you refine and improve your content strategy.
Does Having a Business Profile on Google Improve Organic SEO?
Having a business profile on Google is essential for the importance of organic seo. By optimizing your profile with accurate and relevant information, you increase your chances of appearing in search results. This boosts your online visibility, drives more organic traffic to your website, and helps potential customers discover your business effortlessly.
Summary – How to Create a Business Profile on Google
Setting up a Google Business Profile is quite a simple and fast process. The harder work comes when you optimize and regularly update your profile. But it is only through completing these two tasks that you will start to see clear and consistent improvements in your online visibility and trade.
