We all search differently these days with things like ChatGPT and TikTok at our fingertips (ok maybe glued to our fingertips?), but Google is still king. It’s still the most popular search engine out there, taking 90% of the search engine market share each year. And especially when it comes to people searching for businesses, they’re still turning to Google.
That means that Google is a powerful tool in your marketing toolkit. While your website content is one piece of it, creating a Google Business Page will give you a ton of advantages and help more people find you online.
If you haven’t made one yet, don’t worry! It’s never too late, it’s pretty easy to set up, and best of all: it’s free! How often do you get to hear that as a small business owner?
We’ll cover:
- How to set up your Google Business Profile
- Helpful tips
- How your Google Business Page impacts your SEO
- Getting more online business this year
Setting Up Your Google Business Profile
We know, you probably don’t want yet another thing to set up. But we promise this one’s easy! By following these steps, you can have your page up in minutes.
Setting up your Google Business Profile
To save you time, here are the steps Google recommends for setting up your page. An important thing to note: Customers will only be able to find your business page on Google after you’ve completed verification.
1. On your computer, sign into your Google Account or create one. If you create a new Google Account, sign up with your business email domain (please, please, please ditch the yourbusinessname@gmail.com).
2. Go to create a profile (top right hand side).
3. Enter the name of your business. You may also be able to select your business from the list of suggested businesses as you type. If you get a message that someone else has already verified the business, request ownership of the Business Profile.
4. Search for your business category.
5. Click Next.
6. Choose whether you have a location customers can visit. For businesses with a storefront staffed during business hours: Click Yes. You may be asked to enter your business address or position a marker on a map for the location of your businesses. When finished, click Next. For businesses that don't have a storefront staffed during business hours: Click No.
7. Enter the service area of your business. You can set your service area based on the cities, postal codes, or other areas you serve. You can add up to 20 service areas. We recommend you do not extend the boundaries of your overall area farther than 2 hours of driving time from where your business is based.
8. Enter a phone number and website URL.
9. Click Next. You also have the option to create a website based on your information. If you can, we recommend entering the individual phone number or store page for each location, rather than a remote call center.
10. Click Finish.
11. Select a verification option (you can verify now or later).
One extra thing to keep in mind? Even after you go through all of the steps, people will only be able to find your business page on Google after you’ve completed verification.
Helpful Tips for Setting Up a Google Business Page
OK - I know that looks like a lot of steps but we promise they are easy. Before you go, here are a few best practices to consider when setting up your business page (as a small business owner).
- One and only one - Make sure you only set up one profile for the region/city you serve. If you create multiple profiles, you could get suspended—and getting back into the Google network once that happens is not easy!
- Don't have a Storefront? - If you don’t have a physical store location, you’ll need to hide your address during setup.
- Select ‘Service Area Business’ - During setup, select that you’re a service area business when prompted.
- Publish new content - Getting your profile set up is a start, but you can maintain your page by continuing to publish new content like photos and posts about your promotions, discounts, specials, or news.
- Leave reviews for other businesses you love - Getting reviews is always a good goal, but don’t forget you can leave reviews too! Leaving reviews is a great way to boost your visibility and strengthen your network. Plus, who doesn’t love to show fellow small business owners some love?
We know a Google Business Profile might feel like one more thing you need to maintain. Or maybe you’re tempted to set it and forget it. In either case, we take this all into account with Enji’s Marketing Strategy Generator! Enji will tell you when to post on your Google Business Page so you can keep it updated without having to remember everything yourself.
How Your Google Business Page Impacts Your SEO
Proof that this is worth your time? You must be a small business owner. Here’s how Google uses this information (so you know why this is worth getting set up now).
Relevance to users’ searches
When you’re getting set up, make sure you fill out all the necessary information about your business and services. Think about what your customers are looking for and make sure your business description matches what they need. This info then helps Google know what people can expect from you, and it’ll be more likely to rank your business higher in relevant search results.
Proximity to your local market
If you operate your business in a specific location, you’ll want to show up for the people who live there. When you fill out your Google Business Profile with your address, Google knows to rank your page when people are searching for similar businesses in your area.
One of the top searches for your industry is almost always going to be “[type of business] near me”. This is how you show up in those results.
Prominence
The ultimate goal on Google is to rank high, right? To do that, you want to be more prominent, and that means there needs to be activity around your page. That could include your customer reviews as well as the posts you make about events or promotions. You can also increase your activity by responding to reviews and keeping your company information up to date. Easy peasy!
FAQs
Who needs a Google Business Page?
Every business owner can benefit from a Google Business Page, but it’s especially necessary for small business owners and local businesses. As you’re building your brand, a listing on Google gives you credibility. Plus, reviews from your past clients build trust so that new clients want to book with you!
Is a Google Business Page always free?
Not much in this world is free, but thankfully a Google Business Page is! It’s always free to create a page and access all of the features available.
How do I access my Google Business Page once it’s set up?
Accessing your Google Business Profile is super easy. Whenever you’re logged in, just navigate to the Google apps menu in the top right of your browser. From there, click on the Google Business Manager app (it looks like a little storefront!).
What am I missing out on if I don’t want a Google Business Page?
We hate to break it to you, but you absolutely will have FOMO if you don’t get a Google Business Page. Ultimately, you won’t have any control over what Google shows when people search for your business. Plus, you’ll miss out on a lot of traffic and free brand-building (people won’t be able to leave you reviews!). It really is a no-brainer to get a page, especially since it’s free.
Want more business this year?
Once you're all set up, don’t forget to keep an eye on your search rankings, monitor (and respond to!) your reviews, and share new posts and pictures to it on a regular basis. Making the necessary adjustments along the way is how you can make sure you stay relevant to potential customers and book new business.
Once you have your page set up, let Enji do the rest. The Marketing Strategy Generator tells you exactly what you need to be doing on each platform, including your Google Business Page. You’ll be on the fast-track to getting more business this year–all with less work on your end!
