Originally published July 9, 2020.
5 Free Benefits Of A Google Business Profile Listing
A Google Business Profile, the free listing formerly called Google My Business, puts your business on Google Maps and in front of local searches. This guide covers the five benefits of a Google Business Profile and answers the most common questions about how the listing supports your SEO.
Imagine you are hungry, almost hangry. You open Google and type pizza place near me. That is local intent: you intend to buy something locally. Google’s research has found that nearly half of searches carry local intent. Those navigational searches help customers know exactly where to get what they want, and a Google Business Profile is how your business shows up for them.
Google renamed Google My Business to Google Business Profile in 2021, and management now happens directly in Google Search and Google Maps. The listing is still free to create, claim, and manage.
5 Benefits Of A Google Business Profile
1. Show Up In Google Maps Searches
Google Maps populates local businesses based on search criteria, and location proximity matters nearly as much as reviews. Create your profile and complete verification so your business appears on the map where local customers are already searching. Most local mobile searches lead to action within hours, so being findable on a phone is a requirement, not a suggestion.
2. Increase Consumer Trust With Reviews
Reviews are a major factor in purchase decisions. The last time you searched for a restaurant, did you pick the place with the lowest rating? Your profile lets customers leave public feedback, and the healthiest approach is openness: show the full range of reviews and reply publicly. Businesses that respond to feedback earn more trust than businesses that curate it.
3. Increase Traffic And Sales
A complete, current profile makes a location visit far more likely, and it drives website clicks and calls with one tap. Keep hours, photos, and offerings updated so the profile works as hard as your website does.
4. Support Your SEO And Rank Higher
Your profile feeds Google structured information about your business alongside your website: services, categories, service areas, photos, and posts. A fully completed profile helps Google connect your business entity to the searches you want, which supports your ranking in local results.
The biggest local prize is the local pack, the map preview with three businesses that appears above organic results. A complete, well reviewed Google Business Profile is your ticket into it.
5. Free Business Visibility
Potential customers can reach your website or call your business with the tap of a finger, at no cost to you. For a free listing, the return on a completed profile is hard to beat.
Google Business Profile Questions And Answers
Why is a Google Business Profile important?
A Google Business Profile feeds information to Google Maps and Google’s knowledge panels, which improves how your business appears across search results.
Does a Google Business Profile increase SEO visibility?
Yes. The profile gives Google verified business information to index alongside your website, strengthening your presence in local and branded searches.
Will a completed profile help my website?
Yes. A completed Google Business Profile increases click throughs to your website from search and Maps, and those visits can be tracked in Google Analytics 4.
Claim Your Profile, Then Point It At A Strong Website
Complete every section of your profile: categories, services, service areas, photos, and hours, then keep it current. The profile earns the click; your website earns the inquiry. If your website is not ready for that traffic, read 7 Signs Your Showit Site Needs SEO Optimization or visit the MoCo.Marketing contact page for an audit.
