Google Business Profile

What is Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free tool from Google that helps businesses optimize their local presence in Google search results. It allows businesses to manage their business information, collect customer reviews, and interact with potential customers.

Platform

Focus

SEO Benefits

Cost

Google Business Profile

Local Search

High

Free

Facebook Business

Social Media

Medium

Free + Advertising

Yelp

Reviews

Low

Free + Premium

Why is Google Business Profile important for SEO?

Google Business Profile plays a crucial role in local SEO because it:

Increases local visibility: Appears in Google Maps and local search results
Builds trust: Authentic reviews and complete business information
Enables direct customer interaction: Messaging, calls and website visits
Improves local rankings: Relevant signals for Google's local algorithms

  Local Search Statistics
  46% of all Google searches have local intent
88% of users search locally on mobile

Basic Optimization

1. Complete Business Information

Essential Data:

Business name (exactly as on signs)
Address (complete and consistent)
Phone number (local number preferred)
Website URL
Opening hours (updated daily)
Business categories (primary + secondary)

Important: All information must be NAP-consistent (Name, Address, Phone) - identical everywhere on the web

2. Optimize Business Categories

Primary Category:

Choose the most specific available category
Use keywords that customers would use
Only change if there's significant improvement

Secondary Categories:

Up to 9 additional categories
Complement the primary category
Show business diversity

3. Description and Attributes

Business Description:

Maximum 750 characters
Naturally integrate keywords
Highlight unique value proposition
Include call-to-action

Business Attributes:

Fill in all relevant attributes
Specify accessibility
List payment methods
Highlight special services

Google Posts for Local SEO

Google Posts are short updates that appear directly in your Google Business Profile:

Post Types:

What's new: Updates about your business
Events: Events and appointments
Offers: Discounts and special promotions
Products: New products or services

Google Posts Strategy

Content planning
Post creation
Keyword integration
Publication
Performance tracking
Optimization

Best Practices for Google Posts:

Publish regularly (2-3x per week)
Use high-quality images
Include call-to-action
Naturally integrate keywords
Emphasize local relevance

Review Management

Collecting Reviews

Strategies for More Reviews:

Direct request after service
Email follow-ups
QR codes in store
Website integration
Social media linking

Method

Effectiveness

Effort

Recommendation

Email Follow-up

85%

Low

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

QR Code

70%

Medium

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Website Integration

60%

High

⭐⭐⭐

Responding to Reviews

Response Guidelines:

Respond professionally and politely
Address each comment individually
Resolve problems offline
Thank for positive reviews
Accept constructive criticism

Review Management Checklist

Monitor reviews
Respond quickly
Solve problems
Promote positive reviews
Handle negative reviews professionally
Ask regularly
Collect feedback
Implement improvements
Maintain customer relationships
Track performance

Local SEO Optimization

NAP Consistency

Name, Address, Phone (NAP) must be identical everywhere:

Google Business Profile
Website
Directories
Social Media
Print materials

Warning: NAP inconsistencies can lead to ranking losses

Local Keywords

Keyword Strategy:

"Service + Location" combinations
Use long-tail keywords
Local industry terms
Include neighborhood names

Examples:

"Dentist Munich Schwabing"
"Pizza Delivery Berlin Mitte"
"Hair Salon Appointment Hamburg Altona"

Messaging and Customer Interaction