As is true of many local businesses, your Google Business Profile is the first impression potential customers have of you. Before they ever visit your website, they’re likely already checking your hours, reading through your reviews, or getting directions to your physical establishment through Google Maps. In other words, your Google Business Profile is, arguably, just as important as your website, if not even more so.
Getting listed on Google is just the beginning, though. Proactively managing your profile is its own beast, entirely. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about Google Business Profile management.
Why Is Google Business Profile Management Important?
At its core, Google Business Profile management ensures the information listed about your company is accurate, complete, and appealing to potential customers. A well-maintained profile can boost your local search rankings, improve your online reputation, and make it easier for customers to contact you. In contrast, an incomplete or outdated profile may cause people to choose your competitors instead.
What Happens if You Ignore Your Google Business Profile Listings?
If you don’t actively manage your Google Business Profile, you’ll run into issues due to things like old phone numbers and incorrect hours being posted, as well as unanswered reviews being left up. These seemingly minor oversights harm your credibility. Customers may get frustrated if they can’t reach you, which makes an outdated listing just as damaging as poor customer service.
As such, any time you change your hours or phone number(s), you must make sure you update your Google Business Profile alongside them. You also need to make it a habit to check your profile for reviews so you can promptly respond to them. Make sure to reply to both positive and negative feedback, too, to ensure that your customers see your commitment to guaranteeing everyone’s satisfaction.
How Do You Optimize a Google Business Profile?
Above all else, understanding how to optimize Google Business Profile management is something that requires diligence. Start with the basics by updating the following details about your company:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Business hours
From there, add high-quality photos and respond to customer reviews, and remember to post updates about promotions or events as well. Consistently refreshing your content shows Google and your customers that your business is both active and trustworthy.
Why Work with a Professional Digital Marketing Agency?
While anyone can set up a profile, consistent Google Business Profile management takes time and skill. A professional team will know how to tweak Google Business Profiles and effectively use them as part of a cohesive local SEO strategy. The right partner will make sure your listings are consistently monitored, allowing you to appear in more local searches and attract members of your ideal audience.
Don’t Leave Your First Impression to Chance
Your Google Business Profile can be the deciding factor for new customers, which means keeping it updated and optimized is the key to making your business easy to find and trusted in your community.
Hero Marketing Agency is just the team to help you get noticed with an optimized Google Business Profile. Schedule your 20-minute discovery call with us today.