Help potential clients find your coaching business through Google.
The most-visited website globally, Google holds around 93% of the search engine market. It also provides a dedicated tool for businesses called Google Business Profile (formerly called Google My Business).
Companies globally — whether small, midsize or large — can use this fantastic feature and appear in top searches. Here’s all you need to know about how to get on Google Business.
What is a Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile is a free business listing tool that allows business owners to customize their companies’ look and feel on Google Search and Maps. You can include information about your business and its location, services, and product images. It also allows you to share updates, list opening and closing hours, and more.
Remember, Google Business Profile doesn’t replace a website; it’s a complementary marketing tool that helps spread brand awareness and directs new clients to your practice.
Keep in mind that Google Business Profile isn’t limited to companies with physical locations. If your business doesn't have a physical address, you can still have a Google Business Profile — as long as there's face-to-face interaction with clients. Hybrid businesses can also use a Business Profile if they directly serve customers. The same applies to service-only companies.
As a physical business operator, Google Business Profile allows you to:
- Communicate with clients through reviews, forms, and phone calls.
- Analyze interactions to see how clients engage with your website, social media, and other marketing channels.
- Feature products, services, images, and more for public viewing.
Although online-only businesses can’t leverage Google Business Profile's features, they can use Google Ads and Analytics.
What are the benefits of having a Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile is free. But that’s not all. Here are its other premium features.
- Increases brand visibility: A Google Business Profile listing makes it easier for potential clients to find your practice. It boosts local businesses’ SEO by allowing people in the community to search and locate the company in a few clicks.
- Displays key information: The profile allows you to include essential information, such as contact details, location, and timings. All these appear on search engines and Google Maps and inform potential clients at a glance.
- Helps manage reputation: A business profile helps maintain positive relationships with existing and potential clients through reviews, feedback, and Q&As.
- Builds trust: Having a Google Business Profile raises trust levels between you and your clientele. People are 70% more likely to consider a business reputable and authentic with a complete Google Business Profile, with 50% expected to make a purchase.
- Provides accurate directions: Since Google Business Profile directly connects to Google Maps, it shows clients the exact business address and directions.
- Allows small businesses to compete: Google often displays small businesses' locations on Google Maps alongside websites that receive significantly higher traffic. This way, they can compete with companies that dominate top Google Search rankings.
Steps to set up your profile
Google Business Profile is a powerful service to accelerate growth. Now that we’ve established its importance as a marketing tool, let’s learn how to set up a complete profile.
1. Sign up or log in to your Google Business account
Log in to Google Business Profile by entering your Google account credentials. Create an account if you don’t have one. After that, click Manage now.
2. Select your business name
Enter the business name. Click Add your business to Google if it isn't listed in the drop-down menu. Then, choose the category that best fits your business and click Next.
3. Add your business location
If your business has a physical location, choose Yes when prompted, and add the address. Google might ask you to place a marker on a map. If you run a small coaching practice that shares an address with a personal residence, consider keeping the location private on Google and directly sharing it with your clients. Then, click Next.
4. Enter your contact information
Enter the business' contact number and website address so clients can connect with you. You don't have to add a phone number if you prefer email. After entering these details, click Next.
5. Confirm your business’ local listing
Verify the business' location by entering the correct address – don't use a post office box address. Google only uses this information for verification and doesn't display it publicly. Then, click Next.
Google uses two options to verify your profile based on the company’s nature – physical businesses receive postcards, while service-area companies get emails. You’ll obtain a five-digit code that you'll enter on the next screen and click Verify or Verify business.
6. Fill in the final details
Add opening and closing hours, a business description, communication preferences, and images. Click Continue when done, and Google will take you to the Google Profile Manager dashboard. Use this dashboard to analyze insights, reply to reviews, create ads, and manage the profile.
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How to make the most of your Google Business Profile
It’s important to provide the most amount of information for Google to make your business shine in its search results. Here are three metrics that Google uses to decide local search rankings.
- Relevance: How well a search query matches your listing.
- Distance: The distance between your business and the person entering the search query.
- Prominence: Your business’ popularity depends on your SEO, reviews, overall score, etc.
Let's discuss a few quick tips to strengthen these metrics and improve your ranking.
- Ensure the profile is complete: Google says businesses with complete and accurate profiles have a higher tendency to match relevant searches, so fill in all your details to improve relevance.
- Include a verified location: Verified businesses are more likely to appear in local SEO. Authenticate your business with a verification code from Google, and instantly improve your distance score ranking.
- Use relevant keywords in your profile’s content: The right keywords help clients find your practice. For instance, if you’re a life coach, use terms such as wellness, coaching, and positivity. Leverage tools such as Google Trends and Analytics to look for trending terms.
- Add photos and videos: Business profiles with photos and videos receive higher traffic through directions and website visits. Upload your practice’s images or your entire team’s pictures. You could also add a short video of your business –– just like a virtual tour for your clients.
- Reply to clients' reviews: A positive review can make or break leads and conversions. New clients read existing reviews and make purchasing decisions accordingly. Plus, they enhance the business score. Keep clients happy by replying to their comments and questions. If someone leaves negative feedback, professionally apologize for their poor experience.
- Update profile details regularly: Keep business hours up-to-date, especially during public holidays and weekends. Share information about packages on your dashboard to attract more clients.
FAQs
Do you still have a few doubts about Google Business Profile? Here are some frequently asked questions to clarify any concerns.
What are Google My Business services?
Google My Business is now known as Google Business Profile. It’s a free business listing tool that allows you to customize how your business looks on Google.
How do I use Google My Business?
Follow the steps mentioned above to use Google My Business (or Google Business Profile).
How do I get my business to show up on Google?
Once you fill in all the necessary details in your Google Business Profile and Google verifies them, the business listing will appear on Google searches.
What is a Google Business account?
A Google Business account is a Google account that allows you to manage your business on Google Business Profile.
How do I get my business on Google Maps?
When signing up for Google Business Profile, Google will ask to add a business location. It might also ask to mark the location on Google Maps.
Complement your Google Business Profile with Practice
Being a coach and business owner simultaneously means remembering details about products and services, catering to clients, and motivating team members to pursue the company's goals.
Google Business Profile helps manage multiple variables, but it's important to complement it by leveraging a customer relationship management (CRM) tool to stay organized.
Practice's Client Management Software, designed with coaches in mind, is the ideal approach to growing an offline or online coaching business. It handles administrative tasks, tracks appointments, and manages forms and contracts so you can focus on other aspects of your business. Try it today.
