- May 25, 2023
- by S M Shakil Ahmed
- Google Business Profile
- 0 Comments
When working with local businesses, Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is one of the most useful tools for marketers. An important objective for firms of this type should be to appear in Google’s Local Pack and Local Finder, and this is not possible without GBP.
Statistics reveal that within 24 hours of conducting a mobile search for a local product or service, 88% of consumers will make contact with a local business by phone call or in-store visit. Moreover, almost all consumers (97%) agree that the internet is the best place to learn about a company’s local offerings. These staggering numbers show just how crucial it is for brick-and-mortar establishments to have a robust online presence.
Having a Google Business Profile set up for your company or the local companies you work with is a crucial first step in achieving SEO success. This article will teach you in detail how to create a Google Business Profile and why doing it correctly is of the utmost importance.
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Sign up for a Google My Business profile
You’ll need a Google Account before you can make a Google local listing. A Google Account can be set up in a jiffy, and it’s accessible to everyone who wants one.
For your Google Account, you have the option of using an already existing email address or creating a brand new one. To get started, go to accounts.google.com and click the button labeled “Create an account.”
Sign up for a Google Account
Go to the Google Gateway for Business Profiles
With your new email address in hand, go to google.com/business and select the “Manage now” button to get started:
Look for the Business
To find out if a profile matching the company name already exists, start by entering the name. You’ll see it pop up as you type if it does. Select “Add your business to Google” if the company isn’t already listed.
Control Your Google Company
Requesting Access to an Existing Business Profile
Don’t fret if someone else has set up a Google Business Profile for the company. To take control of your profile, you can ask to do so. To get started, just hit the “Request Access” button.
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Add the Business Name and Category
Adding a company’s name and category is the next step in making a new profile. The name you use here must be the same as the legally registered name of your company. Do not incorporate any keywords into the name, as doing so is against Google’s guidelines.
The next step is to select the group that best describes the company. If you aren’t sure what to select at this time, don’t worry since you can always change it or add more categories later on in your profile.
Check out our tips for regional firms on selecting the finest GBP niches for further information on how to proceed.
Profile for Google’s Business Use
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Does the business have a physical location?
Now is the time to let people know where they can find you if they want to stop by for a face-to-face meeting with the company. Pick “Yes” and move on if that’s the case. Choose “No” if the company does not have a physical location or does not accept clients there.
Warning:
Don’t try to game the local search results by improperly claiming the company has a storefront. Listings that repeatedly break these rules are subject to suspension or removal.
Position of Gbp in the World
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Enter the Business Location
This is the time to reveal the company’s address, assuming it has one. A map may be presented, and you may be prompted to place a pin there to verify the location.
Addresses should be correct and comprehensive to avoid problems with the verification procedure and customer confusion.
Mailing Address in Great Britain
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Does the business provide home deliveries or services?
In the following screen, choose “Yes” if the company provides services to its clients’ homes or if it offers home delivery of its products.
Transportation Home Calls
If you choose “Yes,” then specify which regions the company’s products and services are available in. When your company grows, you can always go back and make changes, and you can always add new locations.
Served Regions
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Add Contact Details
Information about how to get in touch with the company comes next. Besides the required phone number, you can also provide the company’s URL. A checkbox should be checked here if the company does not have a website.
You can include this data when a website is eventually built.
If you are an agency creating a GBP for a client, you must use the client’s information rather than your own. You should make it obvious to your client that Google will be contacting them as part of the verification process, which we will get into in a moment.
Obtaining a Company’s Contact Details
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Stay in the Know
Before proceeding with the business verification, you will be asked if you would want to receive useful hints and suggestions from Google. You are under no obligation to accept this information, but it may be useful to you.
Sign up for our email to gain insight on GBP and local marketing in your area.
Advice Worth a GBP
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Verify the Business
A means of verifying that the business is indeed located at the given address must now be selected. The most frequent means of verification is through the receipt of a postcard at the company’ physical address, however telephone and electronic mail contact may also be available.
Note:
Please be aware that while verification is ongoing, your Google Business Profile will not appear on Google, but you can still make changes and updates to it.
Pick Your Preferred Method Of Verification
Verification via Postcard
All companies have access to this kind of verification. Postcards are mailed to commercial addresses and often arrive within five days.
The GBP account will require the code on the postcard to be input. Please let us know if you do not receive the postcard so that we can send you another.
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Verification via Phone
It will be possible for some companies to confirm their accounts over the phone. A checkbox to select this option will appear on the eligibility page if you meet the requirements.
If you go this route, you’ll get a phone call from an automated system with a code.
GBP Email Verification
Not everyone has access to email, just like not everyone has access to phone verification.
You can ask for a verification number to be sent to your email address if that’s an available option. To avoid any confusion, this can only be sent to the registered GBP account’s email address.
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Add Your Business Hours
Potential clients need to know when they may visit or contact you, so including those details is crucial.
Important as it is to mention exact hours, you should always update this information whenever your business’s hours of operation change, whether permanently or temporarily.
Please include Working Times.
Your regular business hours may need to be adjusted momentarily due to factors like holidays or absent employees. It’s important to inform clients in these situations. Learn more about the significance of this and how to easily manage your business’s hours in Google Business Profile by reading our in-depth tutorial.
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Add Messaging
The ability to receive messages from potential customers in GBP is a fantastic approach to build rapport with your audience and boost revenue. You should only activate this feature if you can reliably monitor and control it. Failure to respond to messages promptly could result in an unsatisfactory user experience, which could reflect poorly on your company.
Improve Your Persona Modify
To allow messages, just press the button. You can return at any time to halt or turn off this function.
Add the Business Description
By outlining the company’s offerings, you can help customers determine if it’s a good fit for their needs.
750 characters are allotted to you in this space, so make the most of it by succinctly communicating the most relevant points.
Please Include Business Description Here
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Add Photos
Including images is a great approach to give searchers a feel for the company and its brand. Some customers who leave you a Google review may also upload their own images to the listing.
You should have a few of your own photographs mixed in with the user-generated content, but you won’t be able to choose the order in which they show on your listing.
Display many features of your business, including items, services, and the actual space itself.
You’ll learn everything you need to know about how to present yourself professionally in GBP pictures with the help of our comprehensive tutorial.
Photographic Evidence of Business in Great Britain
Boost Your Google My Business Presence
Once your listing is live, you can start thinking about how to best optimize GBP for maximum exposure and sales.
Important ongoing responsibilities include:
- Uploading fresh media files
- Connect with your target market and provide them with the answers they’re looking for using Google Business Profile Q&A.
- Making posts on a Google My Business page to advertise specials and discounts.
- Describe the goods and services you offer or the food you serve.
- Asking customers to click the “Follow” button on Google Maps
- Requesting for Google Ratings and Comments
