Introducing the All-New Google Business Profile!
Hello and welcome to Part 1 of our complete Google Business Profile Guide! We will outline all you need to know about the changeover from Google My Business, how to get started with your own GBP, as well as the benefits of having a Profile. So what are you waiting for – let’s jump in!
The rebranding of Google My Business to Google Business Profile was announced at the end of last year, with numerous questions being asked by users and business owners alike, regarding the change and its potential impact on local SEO campaigns. The company’s renaming from Google My Business to Google Business Profile (GBP) is aimed at simplifying its important local search tool, as well as adding an array of new features too.
With several months of using GBP now under our belts, you may have noticed that the introduction of the new name has also signified an all-new way for businesses to claim their profile. This can now be easily done directly via Google Search and Google Maps. The rebranding has also brought about another major change – the erasing of the GMB app. This means that the only available dashboard & profile access will be in the desktop dashboard or with the New Merchant Experience (NMX) directly in the SERPs.
If you’re like most business owners, you’ve probably been wondering what’s actually new with Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). Well, wonder no more! In our ultimate guide to Google Business Profile, we’ll discuss all the changes that have been made and how they may impact your local SEO campaign.
We’ll also provide tips on how to effectively manage your Google Business Profile in order to get the most out of it. So stay tuned & discover all you need to know about effectively managing your GBP in this handy guide below!
What's New With Google Business Profile (and what it means for you)
As part of the rebranding, a notable change is that businesses can now directly claim their profile via Google Search & Maps. This is a major shift from the previous way that businesses could only claim their profile through the GMB app. The new GBP also offers an array of new features and simplifies the process for businesses to manage their local SEO campaigns.
Some of the key features of GBP include:
– A simplified dashboard that makes it easy to find and manage your business information
– New insights to help you track how customers are discovering & interacting with your business online
– The ability to control what information is shown on your GBP
– Enhanced support for businesses with multiple locations (plus much more!)
The new Google Business Profile is a powerful tool that can help businesses effectively manage their local presence and market to their local target audiences. If you haven’t already claimed your business profile, now is the perfect time to do so! Start by searching for your business on Google and claim your profile today!
Alternatively, if you have any questions about GBP or need help claiming your business profile, iOnline’s team of digital marketing specialists can help! We’re here to answer all your burning questions and ensure that you make the most out of this robust tool. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you optimise your GBP for success!
So What is a Google Business Profile?
A Google Business Profile is a multi-featured profile that enables local businesses to manage their presence across Google, including Search & Maps, verify & edit their details, provide customers with vital information, and is an all-round valuable local SEO tool. And an even bigger bonus – it’s completely free to set up and use!
Essentially, when customers search for your business or similar products and/or services online using Google Search or Google Maps, your Profile on Google ensures that your business appears.
To help customers easily discover and connect with your business, log into your GBP account to update your NAP (name, address and phone number), as well as your website URL and opening hours. It’s also vital to always keep your profile up to date, with current photos, using posts, listing your products or services and highlighting special offers & promotions to entice prospective customers to choose you over your competitors.
Discover the New Google Business Profile Features
I’m sure you are all aware by now that Google has been rolling out some major new features for Google Business Profiles. And if you’re a business owner, this is definitely good news for you!
Whilst business owners have had the option of editing their Profile information from Search for several months now – they can now easily verify or correct other issues with their GBP from Google Search too, with just a click of a button, including verification or updating key profile information.
You can now address any issues or make edits to your GBP by searching for your company name on Google or on the Google Maps app. From here, you can also edit information people see when they search for your business, including your business hours, address, respond to customer reviews, create posts, and much more.
If you haven’t already claimed your Google Business Profile, now is the time to do! Get started on your GBP today and maximise your local visibility with this fantastic free local SEO tool!
What are the Benefits of a Google Business Profile?
Having a Google Business Profile has now become a ‘must have’ for any local business who wants to get found online & show up in local search results by their target customers. With Google introducing new features to GBP, it’s becoming an increasingly important local SEO tool.
It presents many benefits for business owners, with the list continuing to expand. It provides some of the following advantages:
- It’s a powerful local ranking factor
- Vital for zero-click searches
- A convenient source of useful business information
- Helpful for comparing similar business products or services
- Provides a single location to view offers, reviews & images
- Offers appointment & booking capabilities
- Used on Google Maps for local business lists & directions
- Assists searchers in discovering relevant local businesses
- Enables users to suggest feedback & edits
Is Having a GBP Worth It?
Businesses and search users alike will benefit from GBP’s wide range of benefits. Your local business can also benefit from its plethora of features, including reservation & booking buttons and the ability to edit vital business information like trading hours, as well as sharing updates, new promotions, special offers, news, and images.
Reach More Local Customers with a Google Business Profile!
According to Google, businesses that have a GBP are viewed as more reputable and are twice as likely to be considered by users. A well-maintained GBP can help convert customers – even if they don’t visit your business website, as well as provide customers with an opportunity to engage with your business.
When customers search for your business on Google, a Google Business Profile can help you attract and engage them. Adding and editing your business details, responding to reviews, posting photos & advertising current promotions are all made possible through your GBP, which is available both on Google Search and Maps.
Through the ‘Insights’ tab, you can access useful data on how to improve customer engagement, as well as discover ways that you can boost your customer interactions via the ‘Customers’ tab. This section of your profile allows you to view and respond to reviews, reply to messages and answer any questions that your customers may have about your business.
Consumers access Google Business Profiles for a multitude of reasons, including:
- To visit a business’s website
- To call a local business without needing to visit their website
- To find out a business’s opening times
- To find a local business address or get directions to it
- To write and read reviews about a local business
- To make an online booking or appointment
- To view photos of a local business and its products/services
- To ask and answer questions about a local business
Hence, it is vital that you set up and verify your profile as soon as possible (if you haven’t already!). Your GBP assists in adding more visibility to your current business website on Google Search & Google Maps. A link to your website can also be added to your Business Profile so users can go directly to your site.
You can list your business details to appear on Google, with or without a physical address, so a GBP is perfect for service-area and home-based businesses! Having a Google Business Profile is beneficial for both the merchant or business owner and for the customer as well.
Google Business Profiles boast numerous benefits, particularly when it comes to local SEO. Having a GBP allows prospective customers to discover you more easily when they type in a relevant query in your area. Featuring the ability to edit your business information on Google yourself, you can ensure that everything remains up to date and as accurate as possible.
Managing Your GBP - Say Hello to Google Business Profile Manager!
Another major change that has occurred is within the dashboard itself. The Google My Business Dashboard has now been coined the Google Business Profile Manager and single location businesses, unfortunately, lose access to this feature now. Single location businesses will instead use the New Merchant Experience (NME) directly in the Maps or search results. With this new dashboard, however, you are granted more flexibility to manage multiple profiles in one place.
According to Google, any newly created GBPs will instead claim their business and complete the setup directly in the search results. Google says the major upside to this is businesses will, “be able to clearly see whether [their] profile is publicly visible and what to do to get it seen by your customers.” Businesses will then be able to edit profile information, respond to reviews, add photos, and more in just a few clicks.
If you are a local business with only one location, the easiest way to manage your GBP is from Google Search or the Google Maps App. So how do you manage your profile from Search or Maps?
When logged into your Gmail email address that you use to manage your Business Profile, you can simply search for your business name, resulting in your Knowledge Panel & GBP appearing. You can also enter the words “my business” and these panels will appear in Search too (this doesn’t work on Maps).
From here, you are able to directly edit your business information with ease by clicking on the ‘Edit Your Business Information’ link. This includes your business description, services, products, categories, opening date, trading hours, and much more. By clicking on the ‘Update your customers’ option, you can also create posts directly from Search.
How To Claim Your Google Business Profile
In order to claim your Google Business Profile, you can simply search for your business name in Google or find your Google Maps listing directly in the app. You will then see an option to claim the business & once clicked, the traditional processes will be followed to access or reinstate the listing.
It is also easy to resolve issues with an already-claimed GBP this way too. Although it may be easier for business owners to manage their profiles this way, these new changes may not make it as easy for digital agency owners.
You can also complete this step via the Google Maps app, or by entering the keyword “my business” in the search bar. Once claimed and verified, you will be able to review and edit the information in your Google Business Profile & change what is shown in search results when people look for your business.
As the entire process can be completed in Google Search, businesses will be able to immediately see whether their profile is publicly visible or not. In the case that it isn’t, Google will advise you on the best steps to take in order to get it seen by searchers.
Reap Online Success with Your Google Business Profile!
Are you a Gold Coast business owner and feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start when it comes to local SEO and Google Business Profile? Don’t worry – iOnline is here to help you! We are a leading Gold Coast Digital Agency that is committed to generating the best results possible for our clients.
Our team of digital marketing and SEO specialists can assist you with setting up your Google Business Profile, verifying your GBP, carrying out GBP audits, performing optimisations & managing your local SEO needs.
If you’re interested in getting real long-lasting results and growing your business to new heights, get in touch with us today! Discover our range of tried and trusted digital services that will help elevate your business to new heights!
**Please Note: As of November 2021, Google’s original ‘Google My Business’ platform underwent a name change and is instead now referred to as ‘Google Business Profile’ for the profile that searchers see. The dashboard used to manage your profile is also now coined ‘Google Business Profile Manager’. **