How A Google Business Profile Can Help You

While your on-site SEO is certainly something that is important, your off-site SEO is just as important. Combining the two will give you better chances and more opportunities to rank higher on search engines. One significant off-site SEO secret that many people still don’t know about is Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly Google My Business (GMB).

What Is Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile, formerly referred to as Google My Business, is a free business profile and website that you can create directly on Google. It displays in both search results and maps, and using it can better your chances of being in Google’s local 3-pack, which is the coveted spot on Google search results. It is Google’s top 3 business listings that are relevant to the search term used. While it doesn’t have near the customization options and is quite limited, in comparison to having a custom website, a Google Business Profile and website work great for small businesses and those on a budget. In other words, having something (especially free) is better than having nothing at all.

Tip: For those of you that do not have the budget to build or have a custom website built, we highly recommend that you create a GBP and website—it’s free! Feel free to contact us and ask how we can help.

What Can You Do With A GBP and Website?

Think of it like working directly with Google to feed them information to present to your potential customers and clients. Instead of waiting for your content and information to first be crawled by Google’s search engine crawler (bot), then indexed (published on Google), you are skipping that entire process and feeding them this information immediately.

There are many things that you can do with a GBP and website, like creating posts, sharing offers and specials, introducing photos, and answering your customer’s or clients’ questions. One of the most important parts of a GBP website is having the ability to create content. And, as we’ve expressed several times, Google loves content.

How Can A Business Profile on Google Help?

If you don’t have a website of your own already, a Google My Business Profile website can dramatically help increase your brand’s visibility. By having the profile itself, you are not only providing social signals to Google but you’re also driving more traffic to your website, and creating a way that shows off social proof from the Google reviews. Having the profile and website is just another way for people to find you, your listing, and ultimately what you’re selling. If you already have a website, we do not recommend creating a GBP website, as it will dilute your brand and act as a direct competitor, meaning you’ll be competing with yourself—that’s not good for SEO!

How Do I Create My Profile and Website?

If you would like a Google Business Profile, you can create one absolutely free of charge. Google doesn’t charge you a dime for creating the profile or the website. However, once you’ve published your GBP website, it will have a “business.site” domain extension. If you would like a premium domain extension (which is what we recommend), such as .com, .net, or .org, you are required to pay a fee to register the domain.

Creating A Google Business Profile

Method 1

1. Create a Google account.
2. Sign in to Google Maps.
3. Enter your business address in the search bar, then click “Add your business.”
4. Follow the instructions from there to sign up for a Google Business Profile.

Method 2

1. Visit the Business Profile page on Google.
2. Click the “Manage Now” button.
3. Sign in or create an account.
4. Follow the instructions from there to sign up for a Google Business Profile.

Creating A Google Business Profile Website

1. Go to your Google Business Profile Manager.
2. On the left panel, click “Website.”
3. Change the domain name and/or extension or leave it how it is.
4. Edit the theme and content as you wish.
5. Click “Publish” when you’re ready for it to go live.

Website or GBP Website: Which Is Better?

We recommend building your own website, however, if you are on a tight budget and do not have the funds for one at this moment, we suggest the free option (GBP website). A custom-built website is always going to be the better option, as you have more freedom to create, more options, plugins, apps, and it’s much more professional. Just because you’re creating a website on Google doesn’t mean you can skip the process of ranking. Even a GBP website requires SEO, content development, and takes time to rank. Google will not automatically recommend you over another website just because you’re using a free website of theirs. Whichever route you take, contact us and let us tell you how we can help.