Google Business ProfileS: A Step-By-Step Success Guide

What Is Google My Business? How To Build Your GBP For Success

What Is a Google Business Profile?

A GBP is an account made for businesses that allows them to manage how their business shows up across Google products like Maps and Search. It’s where customers can see your reviews, look into what you offer, and connect with you. 

Through the account you can share your hours, website, and phone number while uploading photos, videos, special announcements, and updates. You can also respond to customer reviews and even view performance reports and create and track smart campaigns. 

With a GBP, you can take charge of your first impression and highlight essential information to show what makes your business unique. 

Why should businesses use a Google Business Profile?

Through this account, you are twice as likely to be considered reputable which can help you further attract new customers. You can use your GBP as a local marketing tool, using Google Maps and Search to stay up-to-date with your online presence wherever you are so customers can find you. 

You can also engage with your customers and build relationships by responding to reviews, answering questions, enabling direct messaging, and setting up associated alerts. Your GBP account can offer a complete snapshot of your business with the best features and reviews in the SERP. 

The best part about opening an account is that you can track your data and gain insights into your audience and local search performance. You can view that data in your GBP dashboard analytics tab, which includes exact queries customers are using to find your GBP or whether they found you on Google Maps or Google Search.

Additionally, your GBP dashboard gives you a good idea of what actions are taken on your listing and in what order so you can better optimize that in your account. Lastly, you can also see which photos on your account are performing the best, and you can swap out photos that aren’t performing as well. 

How can businesses use UTM tags and SEO to further improve their Google Business Profile?

If you want to take a step further, you can add UTM tags to featured links in your GBP to understand what users do on your website once they get there. This is something your GBP can’t tell you by itself as traffic will show up in Google Analytics as either ‘direct’ or ‘organic’. 

You can add UTM tags to anything you want more data on, such as your primary website, appointments page, menu, place an order page, book an appointment page, whatever the case may be for your business. Through UTM tagging, you can see your business profile links, clicks, and impressions in the Google Search Console, as well as the search phrases people used to see your profile.

Speaking of search phrases, you’ll want to make sure you’re using SEO best practices. That means using the right keywords in your profile so Google’s algorithm can rank it correctly and move it higher up in the SERP. You can add these keywords to your business profile through your GBP dashboard. 

You can also perform other optimizations in your dashboard to help your profile rank higher in local results. Ideally, you want to include these keywords in the “from the business” description, your responses to reviews, your answers to questions, and in the posts you publish. 

Lastly, to stay relevant, make sure you’re always checking up on your profile weekly. This includes keeping your information updated and accurate, encouraging customers to leave reviews and respond to them, regularly uploading photos, and publishing posts to your GBP.

Can you connect your Google Business Profile to your Google Ads account?

If your business is running a search ad and wants to connect it to its GBP, you can do so through location assets. Linking your Google Business Profile to a location asset in an ad can further attract new customers and increase the likelihood of local conversions.

According to Google, to link your GBP to a location asset, click on the assets tab in your Google ads account and add a location asset. You’ll then choose “Our locations” and “Continue,” and then click “Link to a Business Profile Manager account I know” and select “A Business Profile that I manage.”

Once you select your account, click “Continue” to apply your business name or label filters if needed and then save it.

How do you sign up?

To sign up for a GBP account, you’ll want to go to Google’s Business Profile page and click “Get Started.” Once you start creating your account, you’ll be asked to either add your business or claim your already existing business on Google Maps.

Once you create your GBP, you’ll have to complete your profile and verify your business. To do so, go to your GBP page and click “manage now.” That link will take you to a page where you can finish completing your GBP account. Once you verify your business, check your verification status to make sure your GBP setup is complete.

Conclusion

A Google Business Profile (GBP) is an invaluable tool for small businesses looking to build credibility, increase visibility, and engage with customers. By creating and optimizing your GBP, you can ensure your business stands out in local search results, manage your online presence, and make a positive first impression.

If you have any questions about GBP’s or Google Ads and want to schedule a consultation, please email info@digital4startups.com.

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