Get Your Business Found On Google – It's Easier Than You Think!

Many businesses already have a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) automatically generated, but it's important to claim and optimise it for maximum online visibility. Here's what you can do:

1. Search for your Business: Head over to https://www.google.com/business/
    and enter your business name.
2. Claim Your Profile (if it exists): If your business appears, you'll see an option to "Claim this business". Follow the on-screen prompts to verify ownership.
3. Create a New Profile (if it doesn't exist): If your business isn't listed, click "Add your business to Google". Fill out the details accurately, including your address (if you have a physical location) and choose relevant categories describing your business.

Feeling overwhelmed? Smartview Marketing, your Barnsley-based Google Business Profile experts, can help you claim, optimise, and manage your profile for better local search results. Contact us today!

To make the most of your profile, ensure it includes the following:

• Core Information:
  • Business Name (as it appears in the real world)
  • Accurate Address (or service area, if you don't have a storefront)
  • Phone number
  • Website
  • Business Hours
  • Relevant Categories (describing your products/services)
• Beyond the Basics:
  • Engaging Business Description (highlight what makes you unique)
  • High-quality Photos and Videos
  • Regular Posts (sharing updates, offers, etc.)
  • Customer Reviews (encourage and respond to them)

Expert Tip: While the basics are free to set up, optimising your profile for maximum visibility requires strategy and ongoing maintenance. Smartview Marketing, your local Google Business Profile specialists in Barnsley, can handle the optimisation for you, ensuring your business stands out in Yorkshire searches.

The verification process can take up to 7 business days. This allows Google to review your information and ensure the profile's accuracy, which helps protect users. Here's what to expect:

• Verification Methods: The most common method is receiving a postcard with a code at your business address. Some businesses might qualify for instant verification options like phone or email.
• Waiting Period: Once you've initiated verification, it's usually a waiting game. Google will send you a notification when your business is verified.
• If It Fails: If Google isn't able to verify your business using your chosen method, you'll have the option to try again with a different method.

Don't want to wait? Smartview Marketing, your Yorkshire-based Google Business Profile experts, can streamline the verification process and optimise your profile to appear in more local searches.

A Google Business Profile offers several key benefits for local businesses in Yorkshire:

• Get Discovered: Appear prominently in local Google searches, especially when people search for businesses like yours "near me."
• Own Your Online Presence: Control the information people see (hours, contact details, website, etc.), ensuring it's always accurate.
• Build Customer Trust: Showcase customer reviews and respond to feedback, boosting your credibility.
• Free Marketing Tool: Google Business Profile is free to use, making it a powerful way to reach potential customers without breaking the bank.
• Gain Valuable Insights: Track how people find your profile and learn more about your customer base.

Need Help Maximising Your Profile? Smartview Marketing, your Barnsley-based Google specialists, can ensure your profile is fully optimised and working hard to attract new customers.

Absolutely! A well-optimised Google Business Profile can positively impact your SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) in several ways:

• Boosts Local Visibility: Prominent placement in local search results (like the "map pack") drives more people to discover your website.
• Provides Trust Signals: Customer reviews and engagement on your profile enhance your credibility, which search engines like Google take into account.
• Backlinks: Including your website link on your profile creates a valuable backlink, signaling your website's authority to search engines.
• Mobile-Friendly: Google Business Profiles display seamlessly on mobile devices, catering to the increasing number of mobile searches and improving your mobile SEO.

Maximise the Impact: Regularly update your profile with fresh content, photos, and offers. Smartview Marketing, your Yorkshire specialists, can help you create an SEO-friendly Google Business Profile that gets results.

Consistency is key! Aim to post at least once a week to maintain a fresh presence on Google. Here's why regular posting matters:

• Visibility: Frequent updates increase your chances of showing up in local searches.
• Engagement: New content encourages customers to interact with your business.
• Up-to-date Info: Posts are ideal for sharing offers, events, or important announcements.

Bonus Tip: Experiment to find what works best for your audience. Start with once a week, and if you have the resources, gradually increase your posting frequency.

Need help creating content? Smartview Marketing, your Barnsley specialists, can manage your Google Business Profile and create engaging posts that get you noticed in Yorkshire.

Several strategies contribute to better local search rankings on Google:

Optimise Your Google Business Profile:

• Complete Information: Fill out all profile sections (business name, address, hours, contact info, description, categories).
• Verification: Verify ownership to increase trustworthiness.
• Regular Updates: Keep your information accurate and add fresh content like photos, offers, and posts.
• Reviews: Encourage positive reviews and respond to both positive and negative feedback.

Beyond Your Profile:

• Website Optimisation: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and targets keywords relevant to your location and services.
• Citations: List your business consistently on reputable local directories (like Yell or similar)
• Backlinks: Earn links from other local websites to build authority.

Need a Helping Hand? Smartview Marketing, your Yorkshire-based specialists, can manage all aspects of your online presence to boost your rankings and attract more customers.

Yes, creating and managing the basics of your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) is completely free. This allows you to control how your business appears on Google Search and Maps, giving potential customers easy access to your information.

However, to get the most out of your Google Business Profile, it needs regular optimisation. That's where Smartview Marketing comes in! Our Barnsley-based agency are specialists in fully optimising your profile to boost your local search rankings and attract more customers in Yorkshire.

You have two main ways to edit your profile:

1. Directly on Google Search and Maps:

• Search for your Business: Type your exact business name into Google Search. You can also search for "my business".
• Locate your Profile: Your Google Business Profile should appear on the right side of the search results (and on Google Maps).
• Manage your Profile: Click "Edit profile" or other relevant options (Add photo, Read reviews, etc.) to make changes.

2. Through the Google Business Profile Manager:

• Go to the Manager: Visit https://business.google.com/ and sign in with the Google account linked to your profile.
• Edit Sections: The manager offers a dashboard-like view where you can edit all aspects of your profile, including business information, photos, posts, products/services, and more.

Need a helping hand? Smartview Marketing, your Barnsley-based specialists, can manage your Google Business Profile for you. This ensures accurate information and ongoing optimisation, helping your business shine in local search results.

They're essentially the same thing! Google rebranded "Google My Business" as "Google Business Profile" in late 2021. The core purpose remains unchanged: it's a free tool to manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps.

Why is a Google Business Profile important?

• Get found locally: Increases your chances of appearing when people search for businesses like yours in Yorkshire.
• Build trust: Customer reviews on your profile enhance your credibility.
• Control your info: Ensure customers always have accurate details about your business hours, location, and more.

Smartview Marketing Tip: Consistent optimisation is key to maximising your Google Business Profile. We're your local specialists in Barnsley, here to do the heavy lifting for you!

Only owners and primary owners can permanently delete a profile. If you don't have these permissions, you can remove yourself from managing the profile.

Important: Deleting a profile is irreversible. If you're unsure, consider these alternatives:

• Transfer ownership: If someone else will be managing the business, you can transfer ownership to them.
• Deactivate: This temporarily hides your profile from Google Search and Maps. You can reactivate it later if needed.

Unsure about the best option? Smartview Marketing, your local Google Business Profile experts in Barnsley, can offer guidance and help you manage your profile effectively based on your business needs.

Unfortunately, no. Deleting your profile simply removes your ability to manage it. The reviews (both positive and negative) will remain visible on Google Search and Maps.

Important: If you're concerned about negative reviews, deleting your profile isn't the solution. Here's what you can do instead:

• Respond to Negative Reviews: Address concerns professionally and offer to resolve issues. This shows potential customers you care.
• Focus on New Positives: Encourage satisfied customers to leave fresh reviews, which will help outweigh older negative ones.

Need a fresh start? Smartview Marketing, your Barnsley-based experts, can help you manage your existing reviews and build a reputation strategy to attract positive feedback on a new or optimised Google Business Profile.

Google prioritises user privacy and doesn't reveal the identity of reviewers. This ensures people feel comfortable expressing their honest opinions.

Concerned about fake reviews? Here's what you can do:

• Respond professionally: Address genuine concerns and highlight positive aspects of your business.
• Report suspicious reviews: If you believe a review violates Google's guidelines (e.g., spam, personal attacks), you can flag it for review.
• Encourage positive reviews: Happy customers are more likely to leave positive reviews, which can drown out negativity.

Looking for extra help managing your online reputation? Smartview Marketing, your Barnsley-based Google Business Profile experts, can help you develop strategies to build trust and encourage positive reviews.

SEO pricing for small businesses can vary significantly depending on several factors:

• Project Scope: Do you need basic Google Business Profile optimisation, or a full website SEO overhaul?
• Competition: Highly competitive industries often require a greater investment to see results.
• Agency Experience: Agencies with proven track records may charge more, but can deliver faster ROI.
• Your Location: SEO pricing can differ slightly based on your region.

Generally, you can expect to see SEO services starting around £500 per month, with more comprehensive packages potentially exceeding £2,000 per month.

Finding the Right Fit: Focus on finding an SEO provider who understands your business goals and offers transparent pricing tailored to your needs. Smartview Marketing, based in Barnsley, specialises in affordable SEO solutions for local businesses in Yorkshire. Our basic level Google Business Optimisation plan starts at just £68 a month.