An introduction to Google Business Profile
Formerly known as a Google My Business listing, a Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most critical parts of your Search Engine Optimisation strategy.
When a business inevitably takes the plunge into expanding their digital footprint, the first of the many things they will do is attempt to create a Google Business Profile, which is the card you will often see when you search up a business on Google.
The beauty of a GBP is that it's a multi-purpose tool. For instance, a GBP doesn’t just show your business name and a few photos of your storefront, products, and services. It also gives you a place to promote said products and services and write blogs and allow customers to leave reviews.
Having this level of interaction on an easily accessible platform such as a GBP is a great way to strengthen your branding and increase the level of trust any potential new customers feel when they see you online.
The last benefit to having a GBP is that it allows your business to compete in the map pack, which is the three links you’ll see under a map sometimes when you search for some of the keywords a company operates under.
For example, when you type “Plumbers Perth”, you will likely see a map and three businesses underneath it. This is known as the Google map pack, which has its own ranking system, seperate from the actual SERPs.
So...
Did you know that you can create a Google Business Profile without an address?
The main thing that stops many small business owners - who are likely running their business from their home - from creating a Google Business Profile is the impression that you cannot create a listing without having an address publicly facing. The good news is that this is certainly not the case!
To achieve this, simply remove the address and select a service area in its place after you request your Google Business Profile verification code.
Google also allows the use of email verification, if you can provide a domain email address for the website connected to the business profile, so you can bypass the postcard verification completely.
When you change your address to a service area, this still allows you to appear in location-specific searches relating to your business.
Creating a Google Business Profile this way ensures that when you enter your verification code and your listing finally appears in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPS), you will only see the service area that you have chosen, and your private address will stay hidden from the public.
Many small businesses often want to kickstart their online presence with a GBP. Still, they rarely have the time to follow through with the setup and management of the profile simply due to being so busy focusing on their day-to-day business obligations.
Contact the team for guidance with your Google Business Profile
PWD is a digital agency with over a decade of experience with Google services, SEO and more, who can handle all of this for you as a part of our digital marketing services.
If your business wants to dive into the digital realm and need a team of professionals who genuinely understand your business and have values aligned with that of your own, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.