Audit Your Google Business Profile

Google My Business (GMB) has now changed to Google Business Profile (GBP). GBP is making it easier for small business owners to update their business profile and engage with their customers. You can now claim, verify, and manage your Business Profile directly on the Google Search or Google Maps apps.

Having a Google Business Profile helps ensure accuracy in search results and gives business owners the ability to interact with existing customers and attract new ones.

Have You Audited Your Google Business Profile Recently?

With the roll-out of Google Business Profile and end-of-year coming, now is a great time to review your business profile. Keeping your online listings accurate and consistent is an important factor for search engine optimization (SEO).

Google does its best to show correct information for searchers, but it can get confused when there are conflicting results across the web. It’s important to monitor your business profile for changes and make sure it’s accurate. Google users and Google’s artificial intelligence can make changes to your profile when something comes across as inaccurate, but the profile owner will be notified and able to adjust it if it’s incorrect.

Google Business Profile Audit

? Ensure your business contact info is correct. The name, address and phone number should all be free of errors. Having any discrepancies in these across Google can cause your listing to rank lower in search results and hinder your SEO efforts.

✍️ Check that you have a professionally written business description. Follow general SEO guidelines when crafting a description for your business. It should include an overview of your products and services, be written in an expert voice, and include keywords.

? Business hours should be accurate. Be sure to update these for specific holidays or events you will be closed for.

⭐ Encourage your customers to submit reviews. In turn, respond to reviews promptly and respectfully. You should respond to positive and negative reviews to show your customers you appreciate their feedback and make attempts to remedy any unsatisfied customers.

? Link to your website. Having your website easily available for searchers makes it simpler for customers to learn more about your business, moving them closer to a purchase.

?️ Images used should be clear and relevant to the business.

? Be sure to audit your business categories to make sure they are still relevant. If you don’t have any selected, it’s a good idea to choose at least one that is closely related to your business.

❓ Ask and answer Googles Questions & Answers. On GBP customers can ask questions, you should be monitoring and available to respond in a timely manner. It’s also a good idea to ask and answer some of the frequently asked questions you receive on your GBP.

? GBP posts can include content like text, video, and photos to enhance your business listing. In posts you have the ability to highlight promotional offers, new products, or services and upcoming events.

?️ With GBP Services it gives the option to include a list of your services with your listing. This helps customers looking for a specific service find you quicker.

? If you sell online you can use GBP Products. With this you have the ability to add products and drive customer interactions directly on your business listing.

Why is it Important to Audit a Google Business Profile?

Having an incorrect business listing means potential customers are getting bad information. Having correct information gives your business listing a competitive advantage against those that do not. Aside from just having correct information for customers it also boosts SEO, helping a listing stay on top of search results.

Now That I Know What a Google Business Profile Audit is, What do I do Now?

Our marketing experts are available to help optimize your Google Business Profile. Please reach out to Pinnacle Marketing Group at (218) 444-2180 or if you’re an existing customer please contact your account manager directly.

Google offers resources to help update Google Business Profiles. Please refer to Google Business Profile Help for more information.