When someone hears about your business, they may search for your name before visiting your website. What they see in your Google Business Profile can help them decide whether to call, ask for directions or keep looking.
Your profile doesn’t need constant attention, but it does need to be accurate. Here’s a short check you can do this week.
First five minutes: look at it like a customer
Search for your business name on Google and open the profile that appears in Search or Maps.
Check the essentials:
Is the phone number correct?
Does the website link go to the right place?
Are the opening hours current?
Is the address or service area accurate?
Does the business category describe what you actually do?
Imagine someone finding the profile for the first time. Would they know whether you serve their area and how to take the next step?
Next five minutes: check what you offer
Businesses change. You might have added a service, stopped offering one, moved premises or shifted your focus. Your profile should reflect the business you run today.
Review your description and any services listed. Use the words customers would recognise, rather than internal terms. If people commonly ask whether you offer a particular service, make it easier for them to find the answer.
Then check the page linked from your profile. If the profile mentions a service but the website gives no useful information about it, a potential customer still has work to do.
Next five minutes: inspect your photos and reviews
Do your photos show your current premises, team, products or work? Choose images that help customers picture the experience of dealing with your business.
Read your recent reviews, too. Look for questions or concerns you could address in a reply. Reviews can also reveal what customers value most. If several people praise how clearly you explain the process, that may be worth mentioning on your website.
Ask customers for honest reviews as part of your normal service process. Make it easy by sending the direct review link, and respond professionally whether the feedback is positive or critical.
Final five minutes: make a short action list
You don’t need to fix everything at once. Write down the three changes that matter most and assign someone to do them.
For example:
Correct the holiday hours.
Replace outdated photos.
Update the service description and its website link.
Set a reminder to check the profile again when your hours, services or contact details change. It’s also sensible to look at it periodically, especially before a busy season.
A Google Business Profile cannot guarantee you a particular place in search results. What you can control is whether customers see accurate, useful information when they find you.
Brightside helps businesses keep their online presence current and connected, from profile information through to the website pages customers visit next. If yours could use a fresh pair of eyes, get in touch for a free marketing review.
