Did you know that 90% of modern consumers refer to customer reviews and recommendations when making their final purchasing decision? That’s why every business owner needs a Google Business Profile to reach its target audience.
Maintaining a business profile helps increase your visibility on Google, gain credible reviews and manage your business information.
Read below to see why Google Business Profile is important for window and door business owners and how you can create one.
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business, is a free and easy-to-use tool for businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Google Search and Google Maps.
By verifying and editing your business information, you can help customers find you and inform them about your business.
Here are the main features provided by Google Business Profile:
- Business information display: Shows your business’s name, address, and operation hours.
- Customer reviews: Allows customers to leave reviews and businesses to respond.
- Business messaging: Enables direct messaging between customers and businesses.
- Insights: Provides analytics on customer interactions and profile views.
- Posts: Share updates, offers, and events directly on your profile.
- Photos and videos: Upload images and videos related to your business.
- Services and products: List and describe what your business offers.
- Q&A section: Allows public questions and answers on your business profile.
- Appointment booking: Integrates with booking services for appointments or reservations.
- Google Maps integration: Your business appears on Google Maps for local searches
To be eligible for a Google Business Profile, the criteria is:
- In-person interactions: The business must have in-person interactions with customers, either at a business location or through direct customer visits.
- Physical location: A physical location is preferable but not mandatory. Service-area businesses without a public shop front can still qualify.
- Business authenticity: The business must be legitimate and verifiable.
- Ineligible businesses: Purely online businesses, rental properties, and certain other categories are not eligible for GBP.
Even if you don’t have a shop front, you can still have an account if you have contact with customers. For example, if you’re a tradesman and you may only see customers at their homes, you’re still eligible to create Google Business Profile.
Why is Google Business Profile important for trade business?
Without it, your location will not appear in Google Maps listings, especially for the main local queries when people search on Google from their mobile phones. The algorithm will not find you in the “local pack” and you’ll lose potential customers.
So, here’s why you should create your Google Business Profile for your trade business:
- You have full control of what people see when they search for your business
- Increase SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) performance and organic searches
- Updates reflect Search and Maps automatically, such as business hours or photos
- Share photos to boost your offer and increase conversions
- Post news or offers that people search - improving SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages)
- Get analytics on how customers searched for your business, and where those customers are coming from.
To sum up, if you invest resources to manage online reviews, photos, and post updates regularly, your Google Business Profile can turn into a new acquisition channel for your business. This will influence both Google Search and Google Maps.
FAQs
Is Google Business Profile free?
Google Business Profile is 100% free to create and manage. You can also get a lot out of it without paying a penny.
What are the benefits of Google Business Profile?
There are three main benefits of maintaining a Google Business Profile. Let’s review them in detail.
- Increase visibility on Google
When you search for a business in Google, you will notice the map and accompanying list of businesses that appear at the top of the search results. This is called the "local pack" or “map pack.” The local pack appears for location-specific queries like “window and door trade business near me.”
It includes Google Maps results and business information. Businesses with well-optimised Google Business Profiles are much more likely to appear in these results. Mobile searches that include phrases like “where to buy” and “near me” have increased over 200% in recent years.
- Gain credibility with reviews
98% of users read online reviews for local businesses. The star rating next to business names on Google Maps (which ranges from 1-5) is a cumulation of reviews. Reviews provide valuable feedback about your business. You can reply to reviews, which can help build trust with your customers. Customers don’t expect 100% perfect reviews.
According to Google, a mix of positive and negative reviews is more trustworthy. Responding to reviews, both good and bad, is a great way to build trust and credibility with your current and future customers.
- Share business information with customers
You can display your business hours, contact information, services, and more through your Google Business Profile. Additionally, you can update your customers about temporary changes.
For example, you can display holiday hours or mark your business as temporarily closed or fully reopened.
How to create a Google Business Profile for traders?
To get started, you can create Your Google Business Profile for free right now.
Remember your Google Business Profile listing is not a substitute for your trade business website, so you should continue maintaining and promoting your website and social channels
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