When someone searches for a plumber, a restaurant or an accountant near them, the map and listing results often appear before any website. Your Google Business Profile is that listing, and it is free to claim and manage.
I am Vice President of Operations at DirecTech Connect, a Nashville-area provider of business phone systems, managed IT, websites and digital marketing. I oversee our managed VoIP and telecommunications services, managed IT for small and medium-sized businesses, and client project delivery, so these are questions I deal with every week.
Part of that work is helping businesses make sure their online presence supports the phones ringing, and the profile is one of the first places I look. It is simple to maintain, but many owners set it up once and never touch it again.
Claim and verify it. Search for your business and follow Google’s steps to claim the listing. Verification is how Google confirms the business is really yours, and you cannot manage the profile without it.
Keep the basics exact. Your business name, address, phone number, website and hours should match what is on your website and everywhere else. Inconsistent details confuse customers and search engines alike.
Choose categories carefully. Pick the main category that best describes what you do, and add secondary ones only where they are true. The categories help Google decide which searches you appear for.
Add real photos. Use photos of your actual work, team, storefront and location. Real images tell a customer more than a stock picture, and they help people recognize you when they arrive.
Describe your services. List the services you offer in plain words, and the areas you serve if you travel to customers. Write them the way a customer would search for them.
Respond to reviews. Reply to reviews politely, good or bad, and ask happy customers to leave one. Never offer to pay for reviews or write fake ones, which can get a listing penalized.
Check the profile every month or two. Update holiday hours, add new photos and answer questions. A few minutes of upkeep keeps your listing accurate and gives customers more reason to call you.
Danielle Lemons is Vice President of Operations at DirecTech Connect, a Nashville provider of business phone systems, managed IT services, websites and digital marketing. More about Danielle.
