We always advise our clients to think of Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) as another social media channel. In terms of digital promotion, you might think your main channels are Facebook and Instagram, reaching your target demographics, Facebook for age demographic 45 and older (typically), and Instagram for age demographic 44 and younger. This blog explains WHY Google Business Profile is your best value social media channel - generating important leads, for free!
There is a strong business case for using Google Business Profile as a social media platform
The reason that your business profile will come up in someone's search is because they're looking for your business. If you're a business owner, it's important to take advantage of this free way to put advertising and media on your Google profile - right there for your customers to see.
How does my Google Business Profile help my business?
Your Google Business Profile helps you with your visibility, credibility and authority.
The profile can be used to showcase news, special offers, and events.
Your Google Profile will feature products, your services and a Q & A.
A complete and accurate Google Business Profile also helps build trust with potential customers.
You move leads from the awareness stage to the consideration stage with just a glance.
A rich and full Google Business Profile enhances your business and helps prospects and leads who are already aware of your business, and want to think more deeply about it. Your Google Business Profile will help move these individuals move from the awareness stage of the buying funnel to the consideration stage of the sales funnel faster.
Lead Generation right from Google Business profile
If you think about it from the consumer perspective, they are already searching for your business, and at a glance, you are saturating the page with positive reviews, product descriptions, services, news, Q & A and more.
Google Business Profile is visual
Google Business Profile is not a text based advert, like costly Google ads. You are able to provide a visual advertisement, it's free, and achieves the ultimate goal for targeting your prospect.
Visual advertising is appealing -- and generates leads
Your Google Business Profile updates are visual ads, and should be given the same importance as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. This is yet another way to repurpose your marketing assets, and make a huge impact to your business.
How to post social media to your Google Business Profile
Image size
The image size that Google recommends for your Google Business Profile is 540 wide x 405 high (minimum). Maintain a ratio of 4:3 to ensure that Google displays the picture properly in search results. You can add up to 10 photos per post.
Video size
For videos, the maximum upload size is 100 MB. The videos should not be more than 30 seconds in duration. You can add up to 10 videos in one Google Business Profile post.
Text limits
While creating a ‘What’s new’ Google Business Profile post, you can add up to 1500 characters of text. This provides you with a great opportunity to give more details about the post and increase customer engagement with the content.
You get a “Call-to-Action" (CTA) button - FREE
It's great getting a click from Google and not paying for it! Use the News Updates to promote specific links to your website. On Facebook, you only get a button when you have a paid advertisement, so using Google Business Profile as a social media channel gives you the best value.
Book Button. This is helpful for businesses that offer appointments or bookings.
Order Online Button. You guessed it, this is for businesses that have e-commerce capabilities on their website.
Buy Button. This is also for businesses that sell products on their website.
Learn More Button. This button can be used as a general CTA to encourage clicks through to your website.
Sign Up Button. You can use this to increase the number of newsletter subscribers, or to get people to sign up for an event.
Call now. This is a great way to encourage people to call your business.
Get offer. This is perfect for businesses that want to promote a sale or special offer.
Google Business Profile is your chance to showcase your business
Google Business Profile is your best chance to show off what you do, to people that are ready and waiting to be convinced.
Ready to get started?
We offer coaching and advice - and we can also help with your posts! From resizing to captions, graphic design and strategic content calendars, Treat has you covered. Trust us to advise on the best strategy to capitalise on this exciting, high-value digital marketing platform.
If you have any queries regarding adding Google Business Profile to your social media marketing strategy, or anything else regarding your social media strategies and activities, please contact us on 07513 472371 or email us at hello@treattorbay.co.uk