5 Significant Benefits of a Google Business Profile (GBP) that will help your Business Thrive!

A Google Business Profile (GBP) is IMHO a ‘must have’; or dare I say a ‘need to have’ tool for any local business looking to attract clients, build authority, and gain visibility in your local area through local search results.

To emphasize the point, here are just a few Statistics that illustrate just how pivotal a GBP can and should be to any businesses local marketing strategy.

• 97% of people learn more about local companies online than anywhere else.
• 91% of adults use search engines to find information.
• Google has well over 90% of the total search engine traffic.
• 81% of consumers use Google to evaluate local businesses.
• 64% of customers use the phone number on the GBP listing to reach out to the local business.
• More than half (>50%) of all GBP interactions end up with a visit your website.
• According to Google a staggering 46% of all searches have local intent.

I have written a whole article with even more mind-boggling stats you may not already be aware of. Check it out here.?

Despite these staggering statistics, the majority of business owner’s, coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs and professionals remain generally oblivious to the real power and benefits of a GBP through no fault of their own. I get it; most business owner’s, coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs and professionals just don’t have the time, energy or extra effort required to properly leverage the power of a GBP to gain authority, visibility and clients in your local market. ?

In this article, I share just 5 (five) of the plethora of Benefits you can realize from simply ‘claiming’ your 'free', Yes FREE GBP for your business.?

BENEFIT # 1: A GBP provides Priceless online Visibility for your business for FREE!

A free GBP Listing gives your business a tremendous amount of exposure online and enables your business to become highly Visible because Googles Business Profile directory is the new digital/online version of the old ubiquitous Yellow Pages for businesses. If properly optimized a GBP can dramatically raise the visibility and profile of your business in local search by helping you reach, share, engage and communicate with potential clients. Especially if you are successful in getting into the top ranked local listings or ‘Map Pack’ if your GBP is ‘optimized’ and ‘verified’; then your business will benefit from a tonne of authority, exposure, visibility, phone calls, foot traffic and ultimately clients from your GBP!

BENEFIT # 2: A GBP provides quick and easy social proof via Customer Reviews?

As a business owner it may interest you to note that Googles GBP captures the lion’s share of all online reviews at 73% of all online reviews!?That is a massive amount of attention, exposure and eyeballs. Even Meta (Facebook) with its huge audience on social media comes in a distant third with just 3% of all online reviews while TripAdvisor is number 4 also with 3% of online reviews.

Should you choose to take advantage of the visibility that a GBP allows because of Googles ubiquitous presence in search; your local business will have an unfair advantage against the competition and your business will rapidly build authority gain trust and attract clients because of your increased visibility.

BENEFIT # 3: A “Call Direct” feature allows people to contact your business Directly from your GBP?listing

The “Call Direct” feature enables customers to contact your business directly from your GBP by simply tapping on the Call To Action (CTA) button you choose to display on your GBP for example, “Request A Quote”, “Book Online” or other, depending on your business type.?This CTA feature can be activated by simply turning on the messaging feature in your GBP knowledge panel.?This provides a perfect opportunity for potential clients to interact and engage directly with your business.

BENEFIT # 4: A GBP allows searchers to get directions to your business via Google Maps?

It should come as no surprise that Google Maps is the world’s # 1 navigation App on All platforms. Naturally, with the added benefit of a Google Maps listing; your business also benefits from having a GBP with your business location pinned (if you have a physical location where you serve customers as opposed to a service based business), and GPS directions to your business for searchers, shoppers and walk in traffic alike. Google Maps no doubt further increases the visibility and accessibility of your business.

BENEFIT # 5: A GBP lets you choose what business categories you want your business to appear.?

Most business owners may fail to appreciate that by choosing a wrong business category they end up negatively impacting the business’s ability to rank at all in Google’s local search results.

Choosing the right primary business category and the secondary or additional business categories for your business are super important because this helps to inform both potential clients searching and search engines about what your business is and does; and enables you to accurately share what your business does. Your GBP allows you to list 1 ‘primary’ business category and up to 9 ‘secondary’ or additional business categories. My advice is however, rather than choosing as many categories as possible, choose the most specific categories available to hone in your search relevance and provide insight into what products and services you provide to searchers.?

And here is a Bonus Benefit as a thank you for sticking with me and reading through the entire article.

BONUS BENEFIT # 6: A GBP enables you to share pictures and video of your business with your audience?

This one feature is perhaps one of the most underappreciated features of GBP because a GBP with no photos simply raises ‘red flags’ in the minds of potential customers. This feature enables you to bring potential clients inside your business by sharing what your business looks like inside and out; as well as products & services pictures. Google also gives you the added feature of being able to display prices which makes it even easier for clients to buy directly from your GBP! Just remember a picture communicates a thousand words and video even more so!

If you found this list beneficial, helpful, or informative then please don’t hesitate to share it with anyone else you think may find it useful.