Unlock the Potential of Your Google Business Profile

Kristina Stubblefield: [00:00:00] Are you throwing money into digital ads and social media post, but still feel like you're missing a piece of the puzzle? Here's a question for you. Are you fully leveraging your Google business profile? I bet many of you haven't even touched it.

Today, I'm sharing why that could be one of the biggest mistakes holding back your business's visibility and what you can do for free to change that.

 Welcome to Simplified Solutions, your go to resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking practical advice, innovative strategies, and simple solutions for business, marketing, and technology. I'm your host, Kristina Stubblefield. If you're eager to take your business to greater heights, then you're in the right place.

We're here to help you unleash your business's untapped potential, boost your visibility, and maximize your investments. Let's [00:01:00] dive into the world of Simplified Solutions. Stay tuned, and let's simplify success together. Today, we're talking about a tool that's often overlooked, but it's completely free and can be a powerful asset for your business, your Google Business Profile.

Here's what I see over and over again. Businesses throwing money into ad campaigns or social media post, but they haven't even set up or optimized their Google business profile. They're missing out on a huge opportunity to get found locally. It's a free tool that can help you get noticed by people in your area, whether they're searching on Google maps or doing a quick local search. For example, I recently spoke with a local business owner who was spending hundreds of dollars on [00:02:00] ads, but hadn't updated their profile in over a year. We made a few tweaks, adding fresh photos, updating hours, and adding a few posts. Yes, that's right. Post and saw a 25 percent increase in profile views within two months.

By the way, did you hear me say it's a free tool, but here's an even bigger shocker. I had another client who came to us for a marketing audit. I'm here to tell you they were spending thousands on Google ads and. Wait for it. They didn't even have a Google business profile. Now, they weren't just doing these Google ads on their own.

They were actually utilizing a company. They were paying for traffic, but missing the local searches right in their own backyard. Can you even imagine that? If you're listening [00:03:00] and thinking. Okay, Kristina, where do I start? Let's cover some basics. First, claim your Google business profile if you haven't already.

You need to make sure your business hours, address, and contact info are up to date. But don't stop there. Now let's talk about how you can set your profile up for success and really make it work for your business.

Photos. Profiles with photos get 35 percent more clicks. And pictures of your storefront, team, products, behind the scenes, the list goes on and on for opportunities. Next, post. Think of post as your many social media updates. You can share events. Promotions or maybe even a tip.

Videos. Videos are great, [00:04:00] but sometimes they can be tricky to upload to your Google Business profile. I encourage you to keep trying if you do run into some trouble, because it really is worth it to have videos on there. 

Next, consider adding services or products to help showcase what it is you offer. The goal is to make your profile as engaging as possible. So when someone finds you online, they get an instant feel for your business. Here's where a Google business profile really shines. It's not just a standalone tool. It can complement everything you're already doing. If you're running Facebook or Instagram ads, use your Google business profile to back up your ad campaigns by adding posts or photos that match your promotions.

Repurpose content. If you're posting a new Instagram Reel, take that same [00:05:00] content and just share a shorter version on your Google Business profile. This way, your visibility grows across multiple platforms without a whole lot of extra effort. I always say, think of it as working smarter, not harder.

Now I get it. Keeping your profile updated sounds like just one more thing on your to do list. But, here's a simple routine. Set a reminder once a week. Spend just 10 minutes adding a new post, responding to reviews, or swapping out photos. Consistency is the secret sauce here. It doesn't need to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent.

If you take just one thing away from today's episode, let it be this. Your Google Business profile is one of the easiest, most impactful ways to increase your visibility. And it's completely free. So what's stopping [00:06:00] you from making it work for you? It's not about doing everything at once. It's about making small, consistent updates that compound over time.

So. Claim and verify your profile. Update it regularly with photos, posts, and even videos. Use it in tandem with your existing marketing strategy. And if you're not sure where to start, head over to my website where I've got a free checklist to help you optimize your profile. 

 Thank you for joining us today on Simplified Solutions. If you found value in this episode and want to dive deeper into topics like this, here's how you can stay connected. Join our vibrant Facebook group, Simplified Solutions with Kristina Stubblefield to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and continue the conversation.

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Until next time, remember there are always simplified solutions for your business.