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Deck the Halls of your Google Business Profile to Catch the Eyes of Holiday Shoppers
The Sprocket Report
If your business is counting on a lot of sales during these last few weeks of the year, then you’ll want to invest some time into prepping your Google Business Profile properly.
We suggest every business claim and set up a Profile and often that’s the last folks think about it. But since Google is the most-used search engine, taking advantage of their tools can really boost your visibility when your customers are looking around online. And you can personalize your Profile at this time of year to really stand out from the competition!
Here are some suggestions for holiday updates on GBP for better fa-la-la-local search results:
Make your basic corrections.
Everyone should be sure that their business name, address, and phone number are correct on their Profile, but storefronts should also check that their store hours are up-to-date. Will you be closed on Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day? Are you open later than normal during this season? Don’t tick off your customers by leaving bad information posted.
Check your categories and attributes.
Be sure people who are looking can find you by getting listed under the right categories. This is particularly important for storefronts and for service businesses that operate within a defined location. “Find [ ] near me” is how everyone searches, so choose carefully what to put in those brackets.
Add appropriate attributes.
The Profile allows you to add extra details to your listing, including whether you offer pick-up or delivery. You can even indicate if the business is woman- or Latino-owned and whether clients need to make an appointment.
Upload seasonally-festive photos.
Show off your store’s holiday decorations or your restaurant’s winter specials. Post photos of your brick-and-mortar location inside and out so customers know what to expect. It may be harder for service businesses to find something to share, but be creative! Is there a wreath on the dispatch door? Or can you get your technicians to wear Santa hats for a photo op? Pop graphics for seasonal discounts or sales among your photos, too.
Highlight products for pin-point searches.
While you can always put images of products in your photos, Google also gives you the option of Pointy. If you already use a POS barcode scanner in your shop, you can add products by scanning the UP/EAN barcodes. Google will then upload the appropriate image for you. This can be a big plus for winning customers who shop from their phones and don’t have time to drive around looking for a specific item. There are some restrictions, but the service is free.
Encourage reviews with the Google Marketing Kit.
The Marketing Kit includes downloadable posters and stickers as well as instructions on how to use links and QR codes to make it easier for your customers to leave a review on your Profile. Just be sure to respond to all reviews promptly and professionally! And remember, bad reviews are not the end of the world. The best response is to acknowledge and offer to help offline.
Answer your own questions.
Every Google Business Profile has a Questions & Answers section. People are often too impatient to write up their questions, but they still have them. While it may sound weird, marketing experts suggest that you come up with a list of Frequently Asked Questions to ask and answer yourself. Then your customer can find the answer to the question they were thinking about without having to go to any trouble.
This can be a hectic time for some organizations and if your competitor is too busy to deck out their own Google Business Page, this could be an opportunity to set yourself apart. None of these suggestions will cost you money, but they will take a little time. If you are already overwhelmed by seasonal demands, give us a call to find out how our Sprocket Websites team can help.
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Kate Gingold
I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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