7 Proven Ways to Attract More Clients in 2023 Using Your Google Business Profile
As a local business owner, you understand the importance of having a strong online presence to reach new clients and stay ahead of the competition. With more and more consumers turning to search engines and online directories to find local businesses, having an up-to-date and comprehensive online profile has never been more critical than it is in today's world.
That's why I want to introduce you to the power of an optimized Google Business Profile (GBP) and how it can help you attract more clients. You see, your Google Business Profile is one of the most important tools available to local businesses looking to increase their online sales, phone calls, foot traffic, and increase overall brand awareness.
How Well Is Your Google Business Profile Optimized?
In this blog post, I'll show you 7 proven strategies for improving your Google Business Profile and attracting more new clients this year. From optimizing your business information to encouraging customer reviews and utilizing GBP insights, I'll help you take full advantage of this powerful tool to reach new clients and grow your business.
So, whether you're just getting started with your Google Business Profile or you're looking to take your online profile to the next level, I've got you covered. Let's dive in and discover how to unlock the power of GBP to attract more clients in 2023!
Understanding the Basics: What Is A Google Business Profile?
You might be wondering, "What is a Google Business Profile and why is it so important for local businesses?" Put simply, a GBP is a free tool offered by Google to help businesses promote their online presence. By properly setting up and optimizing your GBP account, you can help ensure that customers searching for services like yours can easily find your business information.
At its core, your Google Business Profile helps you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. It includes the basics like your business name, address, phone number (NAP), a link to your website, photos that represent your business, and more. This type of listing is valuable to local businesses because potential customers and clients are more likely to trust companies with an established online presence.
How To Create A Google Business Profile
To get started, creating a GBP account only takes a few minutes. You'll just need basic information such as your business name, address, and contact info. You can follow along with the on-screen prompts, or use the Google Business Profile help center for more detailed information. It's important to keep in mind that once you've created a new profile, you won't be able to make changes right away—the process can take several weeks to verify your business and location.
Now that we understand what a Google Business Profile is and how to set it up, let's look at the 7 proven strategies to boost your GBP!
1. Add Accurate Business Information
The most important step in optimizing your GBP is making sure that all of your business information is accurate. This includes your business name, address, phone number (NAP), website link, and other relevant attributes like regular business hours, holiday hours, accepted payment methods, etc. You should also make sure to select the correct business categories and any applicable attributes to ensure that your profile shows up in the right searches. Finally, you should check your information on a regular basis and update it whenever there's a change in business hours or location. Remember, your GBP should never just be a set-it-and-forget-it tool.
2. Take Advantage Of High-Quality Photos and Videos
Another great way to boost your GBP is by utilizing high-resolution photos and videos. By adding high-quality images and videos, you can showcase your products and services, the unique features of your business, staff members, or even highlight customer reviews. In addition to giving potential customers a better sense of what your business is all about, photos and videos can also help improve the overall look and feel of your profile.
3. Leverage Your GBP To Generate New Reviews
Word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools available to local businesses looking to increase their online sales, and Google Business Profiles are a great place to start. Encourage customers and clients to leave reviews on your profile, as these can help drive more traffic to your website or online store. Google even provides you with a special link that you can use to help you get even more client reviews. There are also companies that offer done for you reputation management services that will help you increase the number of positive reviews on your GBP.
4. Monitor and Respond to Customer Reviews
Receiving customer feedback is one thing, but responding to it in a timely and professional manner can go a long way in regard to boosting your online presence. Whether customers leave positive or negative reviews on your profile, it's important to acknowledge their comments and address any concerns they may have. This shows customers that you take the time to engage with them and value their opinions, which can go a long way in increasing customer loyalty and online sales.
This will also show potential clients who are reading your reviews that you care about your customers and their experience with your company, which can help you attract even more business. Most people these days are also savvy enough to read through a few of your reviews before making a purchasing decision, so don't let a few negative reviews throw you off track. Combat that by getting more positive reviews to balance out any negative ones.
5. Leverage Google Posts
Google Posts are a great way to give your business a boost and increase online exposure. These posts show up on your GBP profile and let you share all sorts of things, like text, images, and even call-to-action buttons! The key to making Google Posts work for you is to create content that will grab people's attention and keep them interested. Think about what your customers and clients would want to see and hear from you - maybe it's special promotions, events, new products, or just some helpful tips. By posting regularly on your GBP, you keep your listing fresh and up-to-date, which makes it more likely that people will take notice. Not only that, but GBP Posts can also help with your search engine optimization (SEO), making it easier for customers to find you online. Be sure to use eye-catching visuals and relevant calls to action to grab people’s attention, as your GBP posts will only be visible for seven days.
6. Utilize Google Business Profile Insights
If you're looking for an effective way to increase your customer base and track the success of your GBP, you should definitely leverage your Google Business Profile insights. These insights provide valuable data that can help you get a better understanding of how consumers are engaging and interacting with your profile over time. This could include insights like customer searches, top viewed photos or posts, and even the average star ratings of your reviews.
With this information, you can also identify trends and insights that may help you determine future marketing strategies. Some of these valuable metrics include:
Phone calls: This shows you how many people actually called your business from your GBP profile.
Website clicks: Provides the amount of website clicks you’ve received from your GBP profile over a specific period of time.
Direction requests: With this metric, you can gain insight into the number of people who searched for directions to your business.
Searches: This shows you what words, phrases, and questions are being used when people search for your business.
Individuals who took a look at your profile: This metric provides insight into the unique number of people who visited your profile.
These are just a few of the many metrics that you can track using your Google Business Profile insights. By utilizing these metrics, you'll be able to gain a better understanding of how potential clients and customers are engaging with your profile and make more informed decisions that can help you attract more clients this year.
7. Hire a Professional to Manage Your Google Business Profile
If you really want to ensure that your Google Business Profile is optimized for success, it may be beneficial to hire a professional who can handle this task for you. A Google Business Profile Manager with experience in local search optimization will be able to put together an effective strategy and make sure that your profile is up-to-date and follows all of the latest Google guidelines and trends. You will be able to save valuable time and effort while also staying ahead of the competition.
When hiring a professional, be sure to look for someone with experience managing Google Business Profiles, as well as knowledge of local search optimization and PPC advertising. This will help ensure that you get the results you’re looking for and attract more clients in 2023.
Bonus! Get Creative With Your Google Business Profile
There's no one-size-fits-all strategy for boosting your GBP, so don't be afraid to get creative with yours! Consider creating special offers or promotions that are exclusive to those who follow or find your Google Business Profile.
You can also use your profile to highlight community events that you're involved with and exclusive content. Leverage the power of images by adding photos or videos on a monthly basis that showcase your products and services in a more engaging way. Finally, spark conversations with potential customers by making sure that your profile is set up to receive messages.
No matter what industry you're in, taking advantage of your Google Business Profile using these seven tips will help ensure that you're on top of the competition and able to attract more customers and clients in 2023! From optimizing your profile information to leveraging Google Posts and utilizing GBP Insights, there's no telling how much success you could have if you make the most of this tool. Get started today and see what your Google Business profile can do for you! Need help? Click here to get your Free 10-step Guide To Optimizing Your Google Business Profile!
