If you’re a service business owner, here’s a question for you: Have you set up a Google Business Profile yet?
If not, you’re leaving money on the table, and it only takes a few minutes to fix that.
Why Should You Care About Google Business Profiles?
Google Business Profiles are free and give you a way to show up in Google searches when people are looking for services like yours. Even better, they allow your customers to leave reviews, which can make you stand out from the competition.
Over time, good reviews can help bring in actual leads from Google.
You won’t get hundreds of leads overnight, but even a trickle of new business is worth the 30 to 60 minutes it takes to set up your profile. They work great for service businesses because good reviews sell services, and every customer is an opportunity to get one.
People pay huge amounts of money to advertise on Google, and this is a way to do that for free.
Why not take advantage of this opportunity? It only takes a few minutes to make a Business Profile.
How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile
Setting up your profile is easier than you think. Here’s how:
- Sign in to your Google Account (or create one if you don’t have one).
- Go to Google Business Profile.
- Enter your business name.
- Choose your business category.
- Enter your business address.
- Add your phone number and website.
- Select a verification option (usually a postcard sent to your business address).
That’s it. You’re officially on Google!
Want to Get Even More Out of It? Add Q&A
Here’s an easy way to get more mileage out of your Business Profile: Add questions and answers.
Now, when people in your service area search for those answers on Google, they may see your answer and find your Business Profile. Sometime they will turn into a lead and client.
Here’s how to add Q&A to your Google Business Profile:
- Log into Google using your personal account.
- Find the “Ask a Question” button on your business profile.
- Enter a question (something customers frequently ask) and post it.
- Repeat for any other questions you can think of.
Answering those questions is just as easy:
- Search for your business name and city, and your business listing will show in the sidebar.
- Click “Ask a Question” and type the question you want to answer.
- Now that you’ve added a question, click “See all questions” and click the Answer button.
- Now you can type the answer to the question and save it.
- Repeat this for all questions. You should add the most popular questions that all your customers ask.
Adding Q&A to your profile not only pleases prospective customers, but it also gives Google more chances to promote your business.
The sooner you get your Google Business Profile created, the sooner you can start getting reviews and leads.