GBP is the fastest way for your business to get in front of your customers.
It’s a free platform by Google that allows you to showcase your business in Google Search and Google Maps.
Let’s say you want to go out to eat but aren’t sure what’s good. You would search “Restaurants Near Me”, and bam, super simple.
The top 3 places to eat show up, click “more places, and a full list of restaurants appears. Google shows the closest and best-reviewed places first.
Each restaurant had set up its own Google Business Profile for Free.
Key Features of Google Business Profile (GBP)
- Display Business Information: GBP shows your company’s essential information. Things like working hours, physical address, contact information, and a link to your website. This information can be easily seen on Google, making it quick for your customers to find and contact you.
- Customer Engagement: You can interact with customers through reviews and Q&A sections. Responding to reviews helps in building trust with potential customers. Answer the most common questions with Q&A.
- Photos and Videos: Adding images and videos of your business shows customers what you can do for them. It allows your businesses to show products, services, and your actual store. Don’t use stock photos; take photos to show customers that you are a real business, which builds trust.
- Posts: Like social media, GBP allows your business to create posts. You can do whatever you wish, such as special offers, events, and updates on what’s new. This is a powerful way to keep customers informed and attracted to you.
- Insights: Google provides detailed analytics showing how customers find your profile. They can find you through searching or Maps. It also shows stats on the actions they take, like visiting your website or getting directions.
Why do you need a Google Business Profile?
GBP is Free
GBP is 100% cost-free and increases the chances for customers to find and contact you.
The ease of access to information about your business can make all the difference in getting new customers.
Be on Google, not in a Dusty Old Yellow Pages Book.
GBP is often the FIRST place customers look.
It’s 2025, and your website is not the first place customers find you anymore. They need to know if you are right for them quickly and easily.
GBP is shown above all other websites in Google. This is what we call a “map-pack”.
If you don’t have a GBP, customers using Google Maps won’t be able to find you.
If the customer needs to learn more about you, they can click “website”, “call,” or “get directions”.
Local SEO
Ever heard a Digital Marketing Guru say, “You need to do local SEO”?
Well, GBP is the first step; it’s as local as you get. GBP works by using your customer’s location and what they are searching for. To show up, you need reviews and a strong GBP profile; otherwise, your competitors will be there and not you.
Get on Google Maps in South Africa
Listing your business on GBP in South Africa automatically gets you on Google Maps. According to Google Public First, more than 50% of South Africans have used Google Maps.
Now, say your customers are ready to visit you in person.
Optimising the strength of your GBP gives customers a reason to trust you. Make sure you provide accurate information and engaging content.
Share photos, your logo and more
Sharing photos in your GBP makes your business look more attractive. It also helps customers see what products and services you can offer them.
You can set a main picture, choose a logo, and upload as many extra photos as you like. Keep adding new pictures regularly, like you would on social media such as Instagram.
Customers can add their photos to share their experience. Your photos are under the “By owner” section, making it clear which images are from your business.
Updating your GBP with new photos and videos improves how people see your brand.
Essential Information to Include in Your Profile
When creating and maintaining your GBP, include detailed and accurate information that potential customers need. Here’s what you should focus on:
Business Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP)
Ensure that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are correct. You should also make sure they are the same across all online platforms, like your website and social media. This consistency helps Google authenticate your business and positively impacts your local search rankings.
Operating Hours
List your operating hours. This includes regular business hours and any special holiday hours. You can prevent misunderstandings and improve customer satisfaction by ensuring they visit you at the right time. You never want a customer to visit you when the doors are closed.
Business Category
One of the most important is your business category. Select the most relevant category for your business. Google uses your category to match you with relevant searches, so it’s important to choose the right ones. Example: Someone searching for plumbers, but your category is home improvement. If your company fits a few categories, choose more than one to broaden your reach.
Website URL
If you have a website, include the URL in your profile. A direct link to your website can drive traffic and provide potential customers with more detailed information about your products or services.
Business Description
Your business description should explain 3 main things:
- What do you do? (One clear sentence that says the main thing you sell or do. Example: “ Fresh sourdough bread baked with love every morning by our artisan bakers.”)
- Who do you do it for? “Perfect for ____________.” (The exact people you help. Example: “Perfect for busy parents who want healthy lunches for their kids.”)
- Why should those people care? “So you can ____.” (The biggest benefit or feeling they get. Example: “So you can serve real food without spending extra time in the kitchen.”)
Ask yourself. What is your USP (What makes your business unique in a way that benefits the customer)? You can also include a brief history, and mention any specialities you offer.
Use keywords that your customers are likely to search for (“Fresh sourdough bread”). This helps match what people who are searching for with what you do. It’s essentially SEO.
Avoid using jargon (words your industry uses) that customers may not understand. Example: boule or a batard = round or oval.
Engaging with Customers Through Reviews
Why Reviews Matter on Google Business Profile
A 2022 BrightLocal study says that businesses which go from 3 to 4 stars get 44 % more customers. Reviews on your GBP are a powerful tool for establishing trust.
In South Africa, consumers rely on reviews when making purchasing decisions.
Having many positive reviews increases your credibility, helps you stand out and gets you more customers.
How to get more reviews?
- The fastest way to get more reviews is to ask for them. Encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews by talking and engaging with them. Especially your regulars.
- Make it a habit for you and your team to ask for a review successful sale or service. You can also send a polite follow-up email or message requesting a review.
- Shops can show a small sign with a QR code in-store or stick it on the receipt.
Free “Leave A Review + QR Code” template.
Click here to get your free template.
Google Business Profile is free, fast, and the first place your next customer looks.
- Fill it out once
- Keep the photos fresh
- Get more reviews and reply to all of them.
And you’ll stay in the map-pack while your competitors fade into the background.
This is where Fluid Digital comes in. We make sure your GBP is as strong as it can be. Without any “guru” tactics and strategies, we help get your GBP shown to the customers you want.