How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Better Local Rankings
- Hookle
- Apr 17
- 7 min read
Table of Content
Bonus Tip 💡: Ease Workload with Management Apps
If you're a small business owner, you likely know that standing out locally is crucial. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP).
Whether you have a physical address or operate solely online, we've got you covered
In this article, we’ll walk you through easy-to-follow steps that you can start using today to improve your local rankings. Whether you have a physical address or operate solely online, we've got you covered with real-life examples. Let’s dive in!
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free tool that helps you manage your business's presence on Google Search and Maps. By optimizing your profile, you can ensure your business shows up in relevant search results when potential customers are looking for services like yours.
Google Profile lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps
Your Google Business Profile allows you to manage key information such as your business name, location, hours of operation, website, and photos. Additionally, you can respond to reviews and engage with customers, which enhances your online reputation.
When you search for something like "restaurant near me" on Google and click on one of the listings that shows reviews, hours, and directions - that's a Google Business Profile in action!
If you don’t yet have a Google Business Profile, you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity to increase your visibility. Even if you don’t have a physical location, it’s easy to create a profile for your business and manage it for free. Setting it up takes just a few minutes and can have a significant impact on your online presence.
Don't have GBP yet? No problem, you can create your Google profile here!
Why Is Google Business Profile Important?
Having an optimized GBP means higher visibility on Google. When users search for services near them, Google takes local relevance and proximity into account to display the best results. So, if your business isn't showing up on the map or in local search results, you could be missing out on a significant number of potential customers.
Well-optimized profile helps boost your local rankings and bringing more eyes to your business
On the other hand, a well-optimized profile can help boost your local rankings, bringing more eyes to your business, which can ultimately lead to more foot traffic, calls, or online inquiries.
But simply setting up a GBP isn’t enough. To truly make an impact, you need to keep your profile updated and optimized regularly. This will help your business stand out in search results. Don’t worry - we’ll also share tools later to make managing your profile easier and less time-consuming!
Tips to Optimize Your Google Business Profile
So wanna improve your local rankings? Here are a few concrete steps you can take to optimize your Google Business Profile and stand out in search results.
1. Complete Every Section of Your Profile
What a great example of a pet-friendly cafe, Lulow Charlington Coffee Shop from Chicago, US! They’ve clearly highlighted their values within the dog community on their Google profile, and the stars speak for themselves.
The first step in optimizing is to ensure every section is fully completed
The first step in optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) is ensuring every section is fully completed. Google rewards businesses that fill out all the fields in their profile. This includes your business description, categories, and attributes.
Key Sections:
Business Description: This is your chance to tell customers what makes your business unique. Be clear and concise. For example, if you run a bakery, your description could read: "Delicious, freshly baked breads, cakes, and pastries made daily using locally sourced ingredients. We specialize in custom birthday cakes and gluten-free options."
Categories: Choose the right categories that describe your business. For example, if you run a coffee shop, you’d want to select “Coffee Shop” as your primary category and potentially “Bakery” or “Café” as secondary ones.
Attributes: Don’t forget to fill in attributes like “wheelchair accessible,” “free Wi-Fi,” or “pet-friendly” if applicable. These can make your business more appealing to people looking for specific features.
2. Add High-Quality Photos
Just like Lubellas Patisserie LLC, a bakery from Dallas, US, has done above, they’ve added beautiful and inviting photos of their premises and products to their Google profile. Love it!
One of the most effective ways to grab attention is through visuals. Research shows that businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for directions and 35% more click-throughs to their websites. Be sure to upload high-quality images of your business, products, and services to make a lasting impression on potential customers.
Key Tips:
Exterior & Interior Photos: Show what your business looks like inside and out. This can help potential customers feel more familiar with your location before they even walk in.
Product or Service Photos: If you sell products, upload clear images of them. If you're a service-based business, consider showing before and after photos, or photos of your team in action.
Team Photos: Personalize your profile by adding pictures of the people who make your business special.
3. Encourage Reviews
A great example of handling a negative review comes from Speed Queen Laundry, a 4.7-star rated laundry service in Dallas, US. While negative reviews are inevitable, how you respond can actually turn them to your advantage! So, always encourage and answer reviews, even if you sometimes get less-than-perfect ones.
Reviews play a major role in Google’s ranking algorithm and help build trust with potential customers
Customer reviews play a major role in Google’s ranking algorithm and help build trust with potential customers. Encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews on your Google Business Profile (GBP) to boost your credibility and rankings.
Here's how:
Ask at the Right Moment: After completing a service or sale, politely ask your customers to leave a review.
Make It Easy: Provide a direct link to your review page. You can find this link in your GBP dashboard. Use it in your newsletter or in a social media update.
Respond to Reviews: Whether positive or negative, responding to reviews shows that you care about customer feedback and are engaged with your audience.
4. Keep Your Business Hours Accurate
Make sure your business hours are up-to-date, especially around holidays or special events, just like H2O Car Valeting - Bullring in Birmingham, UK, has done above.
Google often highlights business hours in search results, so it's crucial they reflect your actual hours. If your hours change seasonally or you have special events, be sure to update them to prevent customer confusion. For instance, if you're closed on holidays, make sure to note it on your profile.
5. Use Google Posts to Share Updates
Just like Hookle did above, they’ve published a Google update not only to their Google profile but also to all their social profiles simultaneously. This saves a tremendous amount of time for any business by managing everything in one go.
Google let you share business updates, promotions, and news directly on your listing for free
Google let you share business updates, promotions, and news directly on your Google Business Profile - and it’s completely free! This is an excellent way to engage with customers and ensure your profile shows up with fresh content in search results.
Key Tips:
Post Regularly: Share updates about promotions, upcoming events, or seasonal products. For example, if you're having a sale or launching a new product, create a post to inform your audience.
Add a Call-to-Action (CTA): Always include a CTA like "Learn More" or "Buy Now" in your posts to drive engagement and conversions.
Use Management Apps: Tools like Hookle (app above in the picture) can help you publish posts across all platforms at the same time, streamlining your process and saving you time.
6. Optimize for Keywords
Rescue Plumbing from Chicago is a great example of effective keyword use on their profile - starting with their name and the indication that they are open 24/7. Not only do they highlight keywords like "plumbing services" and "emergency plumber," but their profile description also conveys trustworthiness and reliability in a very humanized way. And don’t miss the service listings they offer!
Google Business Profile works better when optimized for the right keywords
Just like any online platform, Google Business Profile works better when optimized for the right keywords. Think about what potential customers are searching for when looking for businesses like yours. Include those keywords in your description, business services, and posts.
For example, if you run a plumbing business in Chicago, use keywords like “Chicago plumbing services” or “emergency plumber in Chicago” throughout your profile. Also, be sure to list your services - Google allows you to choose from a wide list of predefined services for your industry.
7. Link Your Socials With Google Profile
Linking your social media accounts to your Google Business Profile can significantly boost your online visibility and SEO. Simply add links to your social profiles (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) in your GBP. Plus, Google automatically displays your social media updates (yes for free!) on your Google listing when customers search for your business. You don’t want to miss out on this valuable opportunity!
Google automatically displays your social media updates on your Google listing
This not only makes it easier for customers to find you across platforms but also signals to Google that your business is active online. By sharing similar content on both your social media and Google profile, you can maintain consistency and increase engagement. This simple step can help improve your local rankings and build trust with potential customers.
Ease Workload with Management Apps
Maintaining an optimized Google Business Profile may seem like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a simple social media management app like Hookle, you can streamline the process of managing your Google Business Profile along with other social platforms.
With Hookle, you can schedule posts, track customer interactions, and keep all your business profiles up-to-date, saving you time while ensuring consistency. You can also manage and post updates to all your social platforms and Google profiles in one go - no more jumping between apps or tabs. How cool is that?
Don’t just take our word for it - try it yourself! Download Hookle free today and take the hassle out of managing your Google Business Profile and social media presence in one place!
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