Google Business Profile (GBP), previously known as Google My Business (GMB), is not just a business listing tool. It gives you the opportunity to make your local business stand out among competitors.
GBP listing makes it easy for relevant people to find your business. It also shows customers all the information about your business so they can make a well-informed decision regarding their purchases.
And the greatest bonus is that the tool is COMPLETELY FREE!
So, if you’re still looking for reasons why you should get listed on GBP, here are the top reasons!
1. Enhances Your Business’s Visibility
With the help of Google Business Profile (GBP), you can improve your business’s rankings among search results of local terms.
When potential customers search for products or services relevant to your business, whether on Google or Maps, Google shows them your business name.
If you claim and optimize your GBP listing, you may also appear on Local Pack – a featured snippet of the top 3 relevant business listings shown when searchers have local intent. This is shown above the organic results, ensuring better visibility to customers.
2. Improves Website SEO
Through GBP, you can improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). This can be done by adding accurate and updated information regarding your business and using relevant, industry and niche-specific keywords.
You can also ensure a consistent name, address, and phone number (NAP) both on your website and in GBP. These details together show Google that your business is reliable, boosting your website SEO.
A GBP listing also boosts your chances of getting backlinks from other websites and directories, which strengthens your SEO.
If you’re not sure how these can be done, you can also seek reliable GMB Management Services. They will optimize your business profile details, keep the listing updated, and implement the best SEO practices to give you an edge over competitors.
3. Builds Trust and Credibility
With a GBP listing, you can appear on the searcher’s list. They can find crucial information, such as your business location, contact details, and opening hours. These details make your business appear authentic and reliable.
When potential customers find so much information about your business, they are more willing to trust you and make a purchase from your business.
4. Increases Appeal with Rating
Nowadays, people mostly rely on online reviews to judge a business. They trust them, similar to personal recommendations.
Google Business Profile lets customers drop reviews and ratings about your business. This helps other potential customers understand what others think of your offerings.
If you mostly have positive reviews and high ratings from past customers, it can build your reputation and make you stand out as an attractive choice in the search list. Thus, more and more potential customers would like to go with your business over others.
On the other hand, whenever there are negative reviews, you can respond to them promptly by stating that you’d like to address their concerns.
So, even if there are negative reviews, potential customers will be impressed by your professionalism, transparency, and willingness to fix issues.
5. Highlights Visual Information
GBP doesn’t just let you share information in the form of text. You can also upload photos and videos regarding your business.
Whether it’s a picture of the business establishment from the outdoors, product images, shots of the store interiors, behind-the-scenes videos, or clicks of the team, these can make potential customers feel more familiar with your business.
Especially if you add high-quality visuals, your listing appears more engaging and attractive. Potential customers are more likely to do business with your stores in that case.
Moreover, your customers can also add images and videos to their reviews. This can stand as additional social proof of your business’s reliability.
6. More Website and Foot Traffic
Having an updated and appealing Google Business Profile can also help you attract both website and in-store traffic.
How?
A regularly updated GBP listing with the right information and SEO tactics is more likely to show up in search engine results. With a significant amount of visual information, people trust your business’s authenticity.
So they’re more likely to check out your website and offerings. If potential customers are really close by, they will even drop by your store for a preliminary consultation or to check out your products.
7. Offers More Customer Insights
The key to growing your business is understanding customers’ behavior. GBP offers you insights into how customers interact with your listing, including the number of individuals viewing your profile, the number of them clicking on the website, and the number of them requesting directions.
In addition, you learn where most of your customers are flowing in from, i.e., Google Search or Maps, and the most commonly used search keywords.
With these details, you can identify specific patterns working in favor of or against your business. Accordingly, you can make well-informed choices to enhance your marketing strategy.
8. Lets You Share Updates and Deals
On your GBP, you can go to your Posts section and share the latest updates, events, deals, and promotions.
Will your business be closed unexpectedly? Are you offering special discounts? Is your most-awaited product of the season out?
You can post it all in this one space and keep existing and potential customers aware of the latest news.
When used strategically, these Google posts can help you grab profile visitors’ attention. You can also add a call-to-action button, such as Call Us, Book Your Appointment, or Know More. These can increase engagement with your business.
9. Streamlines Engagement with Customers
Through Google Business Profile, customers can contact you using the messaging and Q&A feature on the listing. This lets potential customers easily put out their inquiries, resolve concerns, and even make appointments.
These features streamline their experience, so they don’t have to call you during peak hours and stay on hold. Such quick communication solutions are extremely valid for the hospitality and healthcare sectors, where one must not miss any opportunity.
All you need to do is enable the features and offer prompt responses. It reduces uncertainties and boosts the chances of more sales.
10. Highlights Unique Features
GBP also lets you add significant features to your business listing, which helps you stand out from competitors.
For instance, you can add whether your business has parking availability, wheelchair accessibility, washrooms for customers, accepts different cards for purchases, or is LGBTQ-friendly.
If it’s a restaurant, you can add whether you have vegan options, indoor or outdoor seating options, dine-in, takeaways, delivery services, or space for big groups.
If potential customers search for such specific features and you’ve listed them in the features, your listing will show up to them. Thus, you can attract relevant customers more and boost sales opportunities.
Parting Words
GBP has elevated several local businesses’ visibility, trust, engagement, and sales, making it stand out as the most reliable free marketing tool.
It can offer you valuable customer insights while making you stand out to relevant potential customers. So, create your Google Business Profile and make a difference today!
