As a home services company owner, you know that your business depends on customers finding you online. But did you know that Google Business Profile is one of the most important tools for reaching those customers? In this post, we’ll explain why Google Business Profile (GBP) is so critical for your company and give you some tips on how to use it to your advantage.
Is Google Business Profile Free?
Yes! Google My Business is completely free to use and manage. Using GBP is a great way to increase visibility and reach potential customers. Additionally, GBP gives you control over what appears on the search engine results page (SERP) when someone looks up your brand, service, or location. To get the most out of your free business profile, customize it with your business information.
Your Google Business Profile is the first point of contact with your business
Your Google business profile is likely the first point of contact with a potential customer for your business – so make sure it’s great!
Even if you have a beautiful high converting website with great online visibility you could still very well be deterring a lot of potential customers if your GBP stinks.
It sets the first impression for your business before anyone clicks through to your website. How well you’re reviewed, how many reviews you have, what your work looks like and so much more on GMB can set them up with either a positive or negative brand image from the get-go.
Google Search is where people find local businesses now
When is the last time you opened the yellow pages to find a local service company? When is the last time you Google’d it? Intuitively, people search for local service companies on Google.
The stats are even more striking. Over 90% of people learn about local companies online. Almost 50% of searches have local intent. Over 65% of consumers use GBP to find new local service companies.
What are the key elements of a successful GBP?
The key elements of a successful GBP profile are:
- Branding. Make sure your logo and other branding elements are consistent with what’s on your website and social media accounts.
- Photos. Include photos of your business, team, services, and any other visuals that help tell the story of who you are as an organization.
- Accurate Information. The contact information must be up to date (phone number, address, etc) so that customers can easily find you when they look for you online.
- Reviews & Testimonials. Encourage customers to leave reviews on Google and other sites like Houzz or Facebook so potential customers can get a better understanding of the quality of service provided by your company.
- Posting & Engaging. Utilize Google Posts to keep your profile active with helpful content or specials that you’re running for customers.
- Q&A. Make sure to answer any questions customers have asked about your business, services, or products.
- Local SEO Optimization. Utilize local SEO techniques to make sure your profile is appearing in the right search results for further reach and visibility.
- Links To Social Media & Website. Make sure to include links to your website and social media profiles for further engagement.
Above all else, make sure your business profile is consistent with the branding of your website and other social media accounts. This helps to build trust and credibility with potential customers.
Improve your local search visibility
GBP is particularly important for home services companies based in, and focused on, one particular geographic region. You’ll typically see a GBP profile when you search with geographic-based terms such as “near me” or the specific city where you live. These service area businesses need to take extra care to optimize their Google Business Profile.
Google Business profiles will also show up depending on the searcher’s actual geographic location, so if someone is based in Halifax and is searching for “plumber” on Google, it will populate the most well-optimized business profile on Google in Halifax.
Google Search and Maps: Showing up in the ‘Map Pack’
Your Google business profile also allows you to show up on (and advertise on) the local map pack and the coveted Google 3-Pack. This shows your business name, reviews, and information such as a business address, service areas, business hours, phone number, and link to your website.
If you’re looking to grow your home services business, then showing up in the Google Map pack is key. Google Maps is one of the most popular ways that people find businesses online, so it’s important to make sure that your business address is visible in this search engine.
Business Reviews & Reputation
This is what GBP is most well-known for, your “Google star rating,” although it’s grown into so much more since its inception.
Still, it’s important to have a system in place for procuring and growing your 5-star reviews. Often this is the first thing customers will look at and continuously receiving fresh reviews will help grow your Google business profile ranking.
As mentioned early, GBP is also a great reputation builder and helps you build trust with potential customers even before they reach your website. Companies that show up on GBP are 3x more likely to be considered than those that don’t. Google has consumer trust and GBP has a certain level of verification required.
Business Profile Insights
GBP “Insights” can give you very helpful data about your customers. It shows the engagement with your profile, photos, and posts so you can see what’s resonating and what isn’t. This can help you make informed decisions about future content, marketing campaigns, and more.
It shows how people are searching to find your business and which keywords and specific services are most effective in driving traffic to your website. You can further utilize GA4 (the new Google Analytics) as well as UTM parameters to show specific age groups, gender, locations, and much more about your GBP audiences.
Why let your business hide in the weeds? Use Google Business Profile to rise above the competition.
If you’re a plumber, electrician or other home service company, you must have a GBP listing. We can help you set up and optimize your GBP listing so that you show up in the coveted Google Map Pack and get more leads from potential customers.
Start Growing Your Home Services Company Now!
Reach out today for a no strings attached consultation with Andy, our CEO and Funder, and learn how we help companies grow.
Learn how we helped a landscaping company grow to 1 million in revenue per month from online sources alone.
See how we helped a permeable hardscapes company become an online juggernaut.
Or check out how we helped a landscape company reach the coveted 10M a year mark.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to leverage the power of Google Business Profile when developing your home services company’s online presence. With it, you can boost organic visibility and local search rankings with relative ease. So make sure to include this powerful tool in your overall digital marketing strategy. Good luck!
