Most small businesses set up their Google Business Profile, add a few photos and never touch it again. That’s a missed chance, because your profile is often the first thing people see when they search for you or for what you do nearby.
Posting regularly keeps it looking active and gives people a reason to choose you over the business next to you on the map. It doesn’t need to take long. Here’s a routine you can do in ten minutes a week.
The three types of post
- Updates: news, recent work, tips. Your everyday post.
- Offers: a discount or deal with start and end dates.
- Events: an open day, a workshop, late-night shopping.
Each one can have a button, such as Call, Book or Learn more, which is how people act on it.
A four-week routine
Week 1: a recent job or product. A real photo and two or three sentences. “New kitchen fitted in Broadstone this week” or “Just in: our winter coffee blend”. Mention the area. It tells people, and Google, where you work.
Week 2: answer a question customers always ask. How long does it take? Do you need to book? Do you cover my area? If you get asked it on the phone, other people are wondering too.
Week 3: an offer or reason to act now. A seasonal deal, spaces left this month, or a free quote. Use the Offer type if there’s a deadline.
Week 4: the people behind the business. You, your team, your van, your workshop. People buy from people, especially locally.
Then start again. After a couple of months you’ll have plenty of photos and ideas to reuse.
Not sure your profile is set up right? We’ll look at it, along with your website, and send you a short list of fixes. Get a free audit.
Tips that make posts work
- Use your own photos. Stock images look like stock images. A slightly wonky photo of real work beats a perfect one of someone else’s.
- Keep it short. The first line is what shows, so put the point there.
- Use the button for your phone number. Google can reject posts with a phone number written in the text.
- Batch them. Write a month’s worth in one sitting, or use a scheduling tool, so it actually happens.
Posts are only part of it
Reviews, the right category, accurate hours and a website that matches your profile all matter as much as posting. Our guide on how to show up on Google Maps covers those, and our local SEO service can take care of the lot for you.
Related: how we help tradespeople, gardeners and cafés get found locally.
Photo by Alex Hudson on Unsplash
Want more calls from Google? Get a free, no-obligation quote for local SEO.