Last updated on May 29, 2025
INTRODUCTION
Google business profile (GBP) is a tool designed by the Google for managing business visibility on search engine and Google Map. This is a free tool. Google business profile includes Name of the business, Address of the business, business contact number, contact hours, photos, videos, reviews and comments.
Google business profile in an important step in order to boosts local search engine optimization. It builds trust for the same as reviews and recent photos and videos enhances visibility of the business. Creating Google business profile enhances visibility to both nearby and far away customers.
SEETING UP YOUR BUSINESS PROFILE
The steps to create a Google business profile are as follows.
Step 1: Go and Search Google business profile. And click on Get started button.
Step 2: The next step is to do Sign in with the Google account.
Step 3: The next step is to add on all details of the business like add followings:
- Business name- Business name should be same across all the platforms. Name of the business should also represents industry keyword. So that connection can be establish with the query search of the user immediately. Hence, choosing a right business name is an essential requirement for making visibility common for the brand.
- Category- Google business profile provides multiple categories for the business. Again, choose the category wisely. So that category of the business go with an alignment of the business ideas and vision.
- Location- Insert the address or the location that is registered.
- Contact info- Business phono number should be added. Availability and quick response to the user is prerequisite for this. So that Google gets the signal that you do care about the customers.
- Verify your profile (via mail, phone, or email)
- Choose the most relevant business category
OPTIMIZE YOUR GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE
Add accurate business hours, address, and contact info
Ensure that information related to the phone number, email, and opening hours of business are accurate in order to improve customer trust and satisfaction
Upload High-Quality Photos
Profiles with photos receive 42% more requests for directions and 35% more click-throughs to websites than those without having photo. Therefore, upload images that shows your store, products, or services with quality efficiency.
Write a Compelling Business Description
A business description that differentiate you with your competitors in 750 characters or less. You can highlight your products or services, values in this description.
LEVERAGING CUSTOMER REVIEWS
REVIEWS IMPACT LOCAL SEO RANKING
Google considers reviews as a ranking factor. More positive reviews mean higher visibility in local search results. Hence, more leads in results.
Encouraging Satisfied Customers to Leave Reviews
Google reverifies the source of reviews. Hence, always try to make reviews from the original source. Otherwise, it will affect your ranking.
Responding to Reviews – Positive or Negative
Making a response of every positive and negative reviews shows your eagerness and participation in resolving customer queries.
POST RECENT ACTIVITIES
Providing eye- catching videos and photos and updating them on regular basis is a must step to show Google that your business is actively participating in day to day business activities. Always be concise and provide value driven- content to the Google business profile. Keep text short and to the point. So that engagement with the customers can be established. Additionally, always post clear optimized images. and include strong call to action(CTAs) like Call Now, Learn More.
Here is a list pf the type of the post that can be posted.
- Types of posts:
- Offers
- Events
- Announcements
- New products/services
- Include strong CTAs (e.g., Call Now, Learn More)
INSIGHTS AND ANALYTICS
Google business profile provides insights on how customers find you. On which keyword GBP or search query, google is showing your profile and at which number. In addition, Google business profile also gives information about the actions taken by the users like calls, visits, direction request. One can track which action is most common and use this information in optimizing marketing strategy.
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
The most common and frequent mistake is inconsistency in the Name, Address and Phono number(NAP) of the business. This gives a signal to the Google that two different businesses are running.
Another common mistake is to not update the profile frequently. Every business must update the profile like for say within a week or on monthly basis.
Posting images without optimizing is an another mistake that people do frequently.
Choosing the wrong category for the business. In other words, some business chooses different category for the business that is not in the alignment with the working of the business.
ADVANCE FEATURES
Now-a-days Google business profile is providing some additional and advance features. So that both the customer and the business gets a more clear and trustworthy environment. As now businesses can add their product and services in GBP with photos and detailing, enable chats to communicate with users directly and also use the appointment features as well.
CASE STUDIES
Case study 1: Local restaurent boosts foot traffic by 45%
Business: Brew Bliss Restaurent
Location: Jaipur, India
Challenge: Low weekday foot traffic and almost no online presence.
Strategy:
- Created a complete Google Business Profile with high-quality images.
- Added popular menu items and updated business hours.
- Encouraged happy customers to give reviews.
- Posted weekly updates and offers (Like “Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Wednesdays”).
Result:
- 45% increase in walk-in traffic within 3 months.
- Gained over 80 reviews with a 4.8-star average rating.
- Appeared in the top 3 local listings for keywords like “Restaurent shop near me”.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion i can say that Google business profile can also be use as a method for lead generation. And GBP is an useful and effective way to cater local market in a less time. For this, you need to keep your profile accurate and active. One need to post on a regular basis and engage with the audience for trust and visibility. Also, use GMB insights to improve and enhance visibility. Using Google business profile to build online presence is a wise step that should be taken by every business that have an objective to grow.
