We’ve talked to many of our clients and even other business owners lately about the changes in Google My Business, as it transitions to Google Business Profile. Many people have questions around this transition and we’re here to help!
What is Google Business Profile?
To begin, what is Google Business Profile? Google Business (formerly known as Google My Business) is a free online business listing that’s searchable by anyone with a computer and an internet connection. It showcases various information about your business, including its location, services, online customer reviews, and more. The great thing about the tool is that it increases your firm’s visibility and allows you to customize how your business appears on the interwebs.
What’s changing in the transition from Google My Business to Google Business Profile?
The biggest question is what will be changing?
Google’s answer is very simple. Your customers won’t see a difference at all. Your customers will still be able to search for you and your services and find your listing on Google Maps mobile app and Google Search.
It will be changing for the business owners, however. We’ll begin accessing these profiles through the Google Maps app to keep our profiles up to date now, instead of the Google My Business app. Overall, not a big deal.
One of the coolest things about the change is that when signed in with the correct email address (that manages the Google Business Profile), you can edit your profile right on the search results page.
When you login, it’ll give you the opportunity to “Try it on Search” and the experience is fairly painless. Overall, these changes are pretty minor and we hope they won’t hold you back from still utilizing the tool.
Why You Need A Google My Business Account
Every business absolutely needs a Google My Business account for the many benefits it brings to businesses - mom-and-pop shops and international enterprises alike!
Get Found Online
Too many business owners struggle for years to get their firm found online, but with Google Business, it's a cinch. With a Google Business account, your business will appear not only in Google Search results but also on Google Maps when people search for services like yours. It’s a total win! What's more, as your internet visibility increases, you'll get more leads and - you guessed it - more customers!
Get Reviews
Businesses with bookoos of reviews are thought to be more reliable and legitimate than those with just a handful. And your review rating (on a scale of 1 to 5) will be used by customers to determine the quality of your company and its products or services.
Since 93% of customers look at internet reviews before deciding to do business with a company, it’s a no-brainer to strive for a stellar online reputation and use it as a lead magnet!
Online customer reviews are often biased, but they are the opinions of people who have personally used your services or products. Accordingly, customers often adjust their preferences based on other customers' feedback. So, if your business strives for a 5-star review at every turn, you’re sure to see positive consequences, like more customers and a boost in online visibility.
Update Information About Your Business
A Google Business profile enables you to maintain accurate and up-to-date information about your business on a mega platform (ehem…Google). You can update your profile whenever things change within your business. Here are a few things that you can update in just a few clicks:
- Photos
- Business description
- Phone Number
- Hours
- Etc.
Why You Need To Update Your Google Business Profile
If you already have a Google Business profile, you’re ahead of the pack. But there’s still more to do; right now is prime time to update it. Sometime this year (2022), Google will be retiring the Google My Business app. In addition, the Google My Business web platform will be transitioned to primarily support larger businesses with multiple locations. As part of this shift, the web platform will be renamed the “Business Profile Manager.” Updating your profile sooner rather than later allows you to move your business’s information around and ensure everything is correct and ready to go before the update.
You’ll also want to keep your Google Business profile updated to maximize your visibility. Google's search results tend to favor companies with complete and up-to-date profiles.
Want tips on how to optimize your Google Business profile? Check out our blog we wrote a few months ago about this very topic!
