When looking to start a business, the most important factor that must be considered is how your future customers will reach you – now, through Google Business Profile, you control just how your business shows up on Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Shopping.
Formerly titled Google My Business or GMB in short, this feature offered by Google helps local businesses manage their information and how people will find them through searches. Best of all, it’s free!
This is a crucial step in marketing – the people who will come across your Google Business Profile are impressionable and will base their decision on what they see listed on your profile, products, services, and contact information, alongside location and business timings.
This rebranding move made by Google may have left some local business owners wondering what new features are available after the update, what changes were implemented to the previous GMB, and everything else that comes with the revamp of this Google service.
Listed below are some of the notable changes and updates on Google Business Profile that we have found.
Google Business Profile – what’s new?
As a local business owner, you can now directly handle your business accounts and input accurate information in Google Maps, Google Search, and Google Shopping, depending on your services. This increases visibility and solidifies your business presence to searching customers with the help of your Google Business Profile.
Publishing content, such as pictures of your location and the products or service you provide can now be accomplished in fewer steps.
But in addition to this, anyone with online access may also contribute to your Google Business Profile with their content – reviews, photos, videos to name a few, and you have to ensure these user-generated content are related to your business, instead of irrelevant responses and inaccurate information.
There should be a priority on producing a Google Business Profile that is filled with relevant and concise information regarding your business, as well as listing any details that may be appealing to your customers.
What’s changed in Google Business Profile?
Aside from the name change, the difference between the former Google My Business and the current Google Business Profile is the direct access given to local business owners to modify business information to their liking.
Instead of heading to the previous Google My Business website to handle your profile, you may now verify your account and rectify any other issues that pop up through Google Search Engines. This is a convenient addition, as it shows you just how your Google Business Profile will appear to the people looking through the searches. This is the time to apply effective SEO strategies so that it appears frequently.
You can also check the performance of your Google Business Profile through the Promote tab, which is offered by Google to advertise your business on the search engine. Monitor how well your business is doing through interactions, such as messages and calls received, directions asked and clicks to your website or main page.
Everything else you need to know about the Google Business Profile
Aside from everything else mentioned, some updated features worth using are:
- Utilizing the Google Business Profile to become a reputable business, as having your profile verified and up-to-date will help you rise in the local SEO field.
- Interacting with your customers in real-time by turning on the free messaging feature by Google, including read receipts. You can also now view call history.
- Posting updates on any new development in your business on your profile for the customers to see in real-time.
- Attracting new customers by emphasizing your location and availability, ensuring that your business will show up on searches set within a local range.
One thing to keep in mind is that the Google Business Profile is only limited to businesses that have physical contact with customers, which includes a physical location such as stores and restaurants, and other businesses that offer in-person services.
Online-centered businesses are encouraged to use different Google tools like Google Ads instead.
As the Google Business Profile is the latest rebranding from Google designed to help many local businesses, it is hard to predict whether this will evolve further as it has in the past, or if the Google Business Profile will be a change that lasts for a long time.
You can always expect to hear new updates about this service from us!
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