Originally known as "Google My Business", Google Business Profile is a tool that lets you manage your online presence on Maps and Search. According to HubSpot, 97% of users turn to the internet to find a local business, and 93% of consumers rely on Google for local solutions.

Google holds nearly 90% of the search engine market share. This makes it super important to focus on Google My Business or Google Business Profile (GBP). It helps potential customers find you and learn more about your business. If you're visible on Google Maps, it could drive traffic to your site.

That said, creating a Google Business Profile is just one part of managing your online presence. You also need to optimize it. This will improve your Google Business Profile rankings, enabling your business to show up in relevant searches. Backlinko states that businesses with an optimized Google Business Profile are 70% more likely to receive visits. They're also 50% more likely to gain paying customers.

Sapphire SEO Solutions is a full-service SEO agency that provides affordable local SEO services to small and medium-sized businesses looking to gain more traffic. Our experts can help create a Google Business listing and optimize your GBP to show up in Google search results.

In this detailed guide, we will explore what Google Business Profile is and how you can set it up. Keep reading until the end, as we'll also walk you through how you can optimize your GBP to outrank competitors and drive measurable results.

Let's get started!

What Is Google Business Profile?

Google provides many free tools to help you manage your online presence, and GBP is one of them. Businesses can use Google Business Profile to manage how they show up across Google Search and Google Maps.

When a local searches for a product or service, they'll see a lot of businesses and their profiles. If you want to appear in that search, you need to properly optimize your GBP.

Google Business Profile shows important information about your business, including the following:

NAP details
Website URL
Business hours
Positive reviews
Negative customer feedback
Photos
Product listings

Why Is Google Business Profile Important for Local Businesses?

Are you running a local business? Here are a few reasons why Google Business Profile is important for you:

It Helps You Appear in Local Search Results

According to Semrush, 46% of all Google searches now include local intent. Customers are closer to converting, which means they're ready to take action. Your GBP listing connects these high-intent searches to your business, bringing in more traffic.

It Builds Trust with Customers and Google

Google evaluates your business using E-E-A-T guidelines. When your business appears in map search results, customers have access to customer reviews, product and service descriptions, and other information. This builds trust, bringing them one step closer to making a purchase.

It Is Great for Driving Traffic

With a properly optimized Google Business Profile, you can drive traffic to your site and get more calls. In fact, 48% of all profile interactions are website visits while 21% are calls.

It Offers an Opportunity to Rank High

Only 64% of local businesses have a verified and optimized Google Business Profile. This means that many of your competitors are not showing up in Google Maps. By having a properly optimized GBP, you can easily outrank larger businesses that neglect their local presence.

How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile in 5 Simple Steps

Before you can start optimizing your GBP, you need a Google account. Create one using your business email. When done, follow these five important steps to set up your Google Business Profile the right way:

1. Claim Your Google Business Profile

Search for your business on Google Search or Maps. Sometimes, Google makes a basic profile from publicly available information. If that's the case, all you need to do is claim it.

Don't worry if you don't see any listing. You can make one by selecting "Add your business to Google." To enjoy all of the features, verify the account using any of the following methods:

Postcard by mail
Phone or text
Email
Video recording
Live video call

2. Add a Google Business Profile Logo and Cover

Build trust and drive engagement by adding visual elements to your GBP. Choose a logo and cover photo that represents what your business stands for.

3. Geotag and Upload High Quality Photos

Regularly updating your GBP with newly taken photos tells Google that you're active. In fact, profiles that post regular, high-quality photos receive 35% more clicks to their website.

Potential customers are looking for a bit of convincing. By showing them different pictures of your business (interior and exterior areas), products, team, and behind the scenes, you can convert them. Take many high-quality photographs and upload them to your GBP to get started.

4. Enhance Your Google Business Profile

Now that you've set up your GBP, it's time to enhance it. Here are a few areas you should focus on:

Business name: Use your exact legal business name. Never add keywords or location names (like "Joe's Plumbing - Best NYC Plumber"). This violates Google's guidelines and may result in a suspension.
Business category: Choose one primary category that best describes your core business (Law Firm SEO, Plumber, Hair Salon). Add up to nine additional relevant categories. Look at what your competitors are doing for some guidance.
Business description: You have 750 characters to highlight what your business is about and why people should buy from you. Focus on clear, compelling language without promotional hype, external links, or keyword stuffing.
NAP: Your Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) number must be the same across your GBP, website, and all online directories. Inconsistent NAP data confuses Google and also your local customers.
Business hours: Make sure that the regular hours are always updated, and don't forget to add special hours for holidays. This approach to optimizing your GBP is a great way to avoid customer frustration.
Contact information: Here's how you should use your contact information:
- Use a local phone number for customers to call your business directly
- Link to your main business website for conversions
- Keep all contact details consistent across platforms
Service areas: If you serve customers at their location or deliver products, specify your service areas (cities, counties, neighborhoods). This helps you appear in search results relevant to those areas.
Attributes: These help customers filter searches and improve your ranking for specific queries. Fill out every relevant attribute GBP has, including the following:
- Accessibility
- Amenities
- Payment options
- Service options
- Identity attributes

5. Add Services or Products to Your Google Business Profile

Detailed service and product listings with high-quality photos help customers choose you over your competitors. It can also improve search engine rankings and boost conversions.

To showcase your offerings, here's what you should do depending on the type of business you're running:

Service businesses: Detail each service type with clear descriptions. This helps customers understand your complete scope of work.
Product businesses: List popular items with photos, descriptions, and prices when possible. While Google may automatically list in-store products, it's best to link them to the right URL yourself.

How to Increase Google Business Profile Traffic

Optimizing your Google Business Profile can maximize visibility and drive more customers to your business. Here are some effective ways to optimize GBP:

Implement a Review Generation Strategy

Reviews drive your local search engine rankings. This makes them incredibly important. But it's not just about quantity. The timing and quality of reviews also matter.

Customer behavior speaks volumes. According to Forbes, 87% of customers read reviews when searching for local businesses. That said, fresh reviews carry more weight than older ones with both customers and Google's algorithm.

Reviews have a massive impact on conversions. In fact, a study by Brightlocal reveals that a 5-star rating increases clicks from the local pack by 25%. Also, 71% of potential customers don't even consider visiting businesses with fewer than 3 stars.

What's even more interesting is that for every 10 new reviews you earn, your GBP conversion rates jump by 2.8%. These statistics further highlight the importance of garnering reviews for your GBP.

Requesting reviews from past customers can be challenging and time-consuming. To make this process easier, you can explore the following approaches:

Train your team to request reviews at the right time.
Have a simple script rather than a complicated one.
Follow up for a review with an email or text after a purchase or an appointment.
Include a Google review link to make it convenient for your customers to leave a review.
Avoid fake reviews or giving incentives for reviews, as Google can penalize your GBP.

Respond to Reviews

According to a SOCi research report, responding to customer reviews promptly increases conversion rate by 4.1% for every 25% of reviews you answer. It's a fantastic way to bring more web traffic to your business.

When potential customers see you respond to feedback, 88% are more likely to visit or use your business. Your responses show that you're engaged, professional, and care about customer experience.

Also, don't be afraid to respond to negative reviews. But make sure to always be respectful and detailed, showing that you're willing to assist affected shoppers. This creates a good impression among potential customers.

Ensures Correct Business Details

Google verifies your business's legitimacy by checking whether the NAP details are consistent across different platforms. The search engine also cross-checks it with online directories like Yelp, Facebook, and industry-specific sites. When the details don't match, you'll lose credibility.

80% of consumers lose confidence in local businesses with inconsistent online details. That's a lot of lost revenue. Fortunately, with regular NAP audits, you can avoid all of this while maintaining local ranking stability.

Complete Your Google Business Profile

Google's algorithm prioritizes businesses that provide comprehensive, up-to-date information. If your GBP is not updated, you're losing out on potential visibility. Here are some best practices to help you stay competitive online:

Always review your profile monthly for new features or attributes
Make sure to verify your seasonal hours
Add new services if applicable
Refresh your business description as your business grows

Create Google Posts

Google Posts act like social media updates, and they appear on your GBP. There are many different types of posts you can create to drive website traffic, including the following:

"What's New" posts share general business updates
Posts that highlight promotions with specific coupon codes or redemption details
Event posts announce workshops, sales events, or special dates
Product posts showcase specific items with descriptions and purchase links

So, what are the best practices to follow when posting? Well, you should post weekly to maintain activity signals. Also, use high-quality images, keep text concise, and always include a strong call-to-action (CTA).

Use Google Q&A Features

If potential customers have questions about your GBP, the Q&A section lets them ask your business directly. While it's a great way to interact with the business, having too many questions shows that the GBP doesn't provide the information that people are looking for. This means that you need to optimize your GBP with common inquiries and detailed answers.

A key thing to remember is that your Q&A section could fill up quickly if you're not active. Don't let questions sit there unanswered. You can also include relevant keywords in your response to appear in search queries. But make sure to use them in a natural way.

Focus on High-Quality Visuals

By now, you already know the importance of high-quality visuals for your GBP. Here are two important tips that you should consider when creating a visual content strategy:

Add new photos monthly showing fresh inventory, special events, customer interactions (with permission), and more. With a variety of photographs, you can keep your profile engaging and current.
Add short, high-quality videos, such as business tours, product demonstrations, or owner greetings. They can boost engagement and give customers a deeper business preview.

Optimize for Local Search Results

To amplify your GBP performance, you must optimize your website, focus on citation building, and gain local backlinks. Here's how you can do that:

Ensure your website loads quickly on mobile devices since most local searches happen on smartphones.
Integrate local keywords naturally into your website content, meta descriptions, and page titles. Phrases like "bakery in (your city)" or "best coffee shop (your neighborhood)" should be part of your local SEO strategy to boost visibility.
List accurate information about your business across major directories like Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps, and industry-specific platforms. These citations build location authority.
Earn links from other local businesses, community organizations, or local news sites. Backlinks from local businesses can improve your website's authority and local search rankings.

Monitor and Optimize Performance

After you've set up your GBP, you need to monitor and optimize it so that it performs well.

Open up the GBP dashboard and navigate to Google Insights. With this tool, you can see how customers find and interact with your business. Use these findings to further optimize your online presence.

There are many metrics to track on Google Insights. Use this free tool to:

Track direct searches versus discovery searches. This reveals brand awareness versus organic discovery performance.
Monitor where customers view your profile. Also, track customer actions, such as website clicks, direction requests, phone calls, and messages originating from your GBP.
Check photo view counts compared to your competitors and look at the overall profile impressions. 1,800 monthly impressions is a good benchmark to set for performance tracking.

Best Tools to Attract More Visitors to Google Business Profile

For faster and effective Google Business optimization, you should consider using tools. They can help your GBP stand out, attract more customers, and outrank local competitors.

There are many tools that you can use, but we highly recommend getting started with the following free tools:

Google Keyword Planner

This tool reveals the exact words customers use to find businesses like yours. Search for keywords related to your services and set your geographic location to your city or service area.

Also, look for terms with decent search volume but low competition. These are your best opportunities to optimize your GBP description and Google Posts.

Google Search Console

Your website performance directly impacts local visibility. Google Search Console shows which keywords bring traffic to your site and identifies technical issues that hurt your rankings.

Check the Performance Report to discover local keywords you hadn't considered. If your website ranks for specific local terms, make sure your GBP reflects those. A healthy website strengthens Google's trust in your online presence.

Canva

Professional visuals can increase engagement and click-through rates. Canva lets you create eye-catching pictures for your cover photo and Google Posts without the need to hire a graphic designer.

How Can Google Business Profile Optimization Service Help Your Business

Professional GBP optimization isn't about handing over control. It's about leveraging expertise to make the most out of your GBP profile.

If you're a busy business owner, you need to rely on an experienced SEO agency for GBP. Sapphire SEO Solutions can help you avoid the pitfalls, address the challenges your business faces online, and rank higher in local search results.

Here are a few benefits of seeking a reliable Google Business Profile Optimization service:

It Helps You Stay Current

Google's algorithms and features change constantly. What works today might be less effective next month. Professional Google Business Profile Optimization services help you stay current with algorithm updates, new features, and guideline changes, ensuring your profile avoids penalties and capitalizes on new opportunities.

Sapphire SEO Solutions works across multiple industries, giving us broader insights into what strategies drive results in different business niches.

It Saves Time

GBP optimization requires ongoing efforts. You must create regular Google Posts, generate and respond to reviews, monitor performance insights, update business details, and manage Q&A sections. That's a lot of things to handle for a busy business owner.

Fortunately, you can outsource these tasks to a reliable SEO agency. This approach can free your time to focus on core operations, customer service, and growth initiatives instead of digital marketing.

It Improves Local Search Visibility

With Google Business Profile optimization services, businesses can improve their local search visibility.

At Sapphire SEO Solutions, we carry out an in-depth local keyword research before strategically integrating high-value search terms into your business description and Google Posts. No keyword stuffing, and no awkward phrasings.

Our experts will optimize your primary and secondary business categories to align perfectly with Google's indexing and customer search queries. We will audit and correct your Name, Address, and Phone number across all online directories, building citations that boost local SEO authority.

It Boosts Customer Engagement

Sapphire SEO Solutions implements strategies to encourage genuine reviews while managing the entire review cycle with timely, personalized responses. Our experts create compelling Google Posts highlighting promotions, events, and new products to keep your audience engaged and drive clicks.

To learn more about what an SEO agency does, don't forget to read our detailed guide!

How Our Google Business Profile Service Works: 5 Steps to Local Success!

Sapphire SEO Solutions delivers proven results through our effective five-step process, which includes the following:

1. Tell Us About Your Location

At Sapphire SEO Solutions, we start with a comprehensive consultation to understand your business model, target audience, service area, and current online presence. Following that, we will identify your goals to create a strategy that aligns with your objectives.

2. We Will Audit Your Listing

Our experts perform an in-depth audit of your existing Google Business Profile or create one if needed. We check NAP consistency across all major directories, analyze your current categories against customer search behavior, and evaluate your competitors' GBP strategies to identify opportunities.

Sapphire SEO Solutions will also assess your review volume, response rates, Q&A engagement, and visual content quality. Our experts will calculate your profile completeness score to identify missing sections that hurt visibility.

3. You'll Receive an Action Plan

You receive a clear, strategic roadmap detailing specific profile optimizations for:

Google Posts
Review management approach
Visual enhancement recommendations
Ongoing maintenance schedule

Our experts will explain every aspect and answer your questions before proceeding with GBP optimization.

4. We'll Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Sapphire SEO Solutions will update your core business information with strategic keyword placement, apply optimal categories for maximum local search relevance, and upload geotagged photos and videos.

Our experts will help create compelling Google Posts, implement ethical review generation systems, and populate your Q&A section with common questions.

5. Sit Back and See Your Rankings Climb!

With Sapphire SEO Solutions by your side, you don't have to worry about anything. We will continuously monitor your profile performance using Google Insights and specialized tools.

Our experts will continue to track impressions, views, clicks, calls, and direction requests. At the end of the month, you'll receive a detailed monthly report that shows your performance, any visibility improvement, and further recommendations.

Work with Sapphire SEO Solutions to Attract More Visitors to Your Google Business Profile

With 97% of users searching online for local businesses and Google controlling 90% of the search engine market share, an unoptimized GBP means lost customers. Don't let your free digital presence gather dust.

Call us at 216-600-8091 for a free consultation with an experienced local SEO expert and transform your Google Business Profile into a customer magnet today!

Attract More Visitors to Google Business Profile in 2025