For any small business, getting found in search is one of the key ways you can attract new customers. And since Google still has about a 90% share of the search market globally (despite the rise of AI search) - it’s still really important if you want your website to be found by people looking for a business like yours. One easy way you can influence that is by setting up a free Google Business Profile (which used to be called Google My Business) - and doing so could not be easier.

To set up your Business Profile in Google:

To create a profile for your local business in Google - start by going to: https://business.google.com/en-all/business-profile/ and click ‘start now’.
Enter your business name and select the most accurate category for your business - as soon as you start typing, Google will suggest categories, which makes this very easy.
Walk through the steps to enter your details and complete your profile. You will add details like: your phone number, your business address, your opening hours, and of course your website URL.
The very last step is where you complete Google’s verification process, by providing your phone number and responding to a verification code.

How can you improve your Business Profile visibility on Google?

Getting set up is a good start, but it’s only the beginning. Once you’re set up, you’ll want to make your listing even more engaging by adding photos and videos, and starting to get reviews from happy clients.

Add photos of staff, your location and examples of your work.
If you have engaging videos - pop those on there too.
And ask your clients to leave reviews! Getting high-quality, 5-star reviews will not only boost your visibility within Google, but will also help you get more traffic and convert more first-time visitors into clients.

Why Google Business Profile is important

Having a Google Business Profile will help you get discovered by customers in Google Search and on Google Maps. It is an absolute-must if your business has a physical location, or if you want to be found by local searchers (a neighbourhood coffee shop, for example,). But it’s not just for business with a physical offering - it can also really help service-based businesses get more of that juicy Google traffic. Say you’re a builder, and you serve clients in Hertfordshire - having a Google Business Profile will help you get found by homeowners in Watford or St Albans, or wherever you are trying to target. It will also mean those searchers can see your reviews, and help you build trust, so they are open to working with you.

If you’ve been looking for a quick win to boost your site’s search performance or get more enquiry calls - this is your sign - off you go and get that Google Business Profile sorted!

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