Step by Step Guide to Set Up Your Google Business Profile
Jan 02, 2023
We typically talk social media, which is massively important when attracting new clients and gaining influence in the industry, but we can't ignore another main avenue salon owners get found - Google Search.
"Places near me" style searches are up over 900% on Google search over the last 2 years so it is more important than ever to make sure that you give yourself the best chance at showing up on the map when someone is looking for a new beauty pro.
In this article, we will go over how to set up your Google business page if you haven't already, and how to add your business to Google maps.
First thing's first. Let's set up your Google Business Page. This will be where you manage your Google maps listing, open hours, photos, and more!
How to set up your Google Business profile
Step 1: Sign in to Google Business
Go to business.google.com and click sign in, if you already have a G-suite account with your business attached to it, or click "Manage Now" if you don't. Because we are adding a new business and we have a Google account, we clicked "sign-in" to get into our business-related Google account.
Step 2: Search for your business on Google Maps
This step will ensure your business listing doesn't already exist on Google Maps and their current list of business profiles.
Step 3: Fill in basic info in your Google Business profile
The more completely you fill in this information, the better chance you have of people finding you! So be thorough!
Step 4: Find your Google listing
After some basic information, it will prompt you to confirm or deny if other similar business listings belong to you.
Look over these options carefully, sometimes a client or third-party actor has created a temporary location profile for you (Google will sometimes prompt users to do this).
If you have a listing already, make sure to select that option to avoid duplicating listings. Otherwise, create a new listing by selecting “this doesn’t match”.
Step 5: Enter contact information in your Google Business profile
Enter in your business’s other information like phone number, website, and preferred email address to confirm that you own the listing.
Google will then send a verification number to your email which you need to input into a verification box.
Step 6: Add your services to your Google Business profile
This step is incredibly important as you’ll want customers to know at a glance what you offer.
Add each of your services, starting with your most commonly provided services.
This is how Google knows what you do, and can better serve up your salon as an option for people in your area looking for those services.
Be sure to use the custom services section to add any services that Google hasn't suggested for you.
Step 7: Add your business hours to your Google Business profile
If you have standard hours, you should mark them down appropriately.
If you are by appointment only, we suggest you say that you're open every day, this will help you show up when searchers check the "open now" filter.
Step 8: Add messaging to you Google Business profile
We strongly suggest that you accept messages from Google.
This will allow potential customers to reach you right through the Google Maps app. And as we've stressed before, the fewer clicks it takes to get to you, the better.
Step 9: Add a brief description to you Google Business profile
This is where you can showcase a bit of who you are and your brand. We suggest including the name of your salon (for SEO purposes), what you specialize in, why you're different, perhaps some credentials, and any other important information.
Another important piece to include is calling out that you are inside a salon suite location, this will reduce confusion when people go to street view and don't see a sign with your salon's name on it.
This is your mini "about us" and a sales pitch all in one, so make it good!
Things to not include:
- A URL - Google will not accept any URL, and you already added your website to your listing.
- Any HTML code - This will get flagged and reduce the chances that your listing will show up for potential customers.
Step 10: Add Photos to your Google Business Profile
This is your opportunity to you can showcase your work, your brand, and your salon’s culture.
We recommend you include 5 things:
- A photo of you and your team
- 2 photos of your best work
- A photo highlighting your brand
- A photo of your door in the hallway of the salon suite you're in
Adding a professional (or at least well-lit) photo of yourself and your team is critical in creating a stronger sense of trust quickly.
Your work product photos demonstrate competence and level of quality while the brand photo confirms you are who you say you are.
The hallway photo reinforces the note from your bio that your door is not street-facing and gives customers a visual of the space they should be looking for when they come to see you.
Step 11: Review and add in the extras to your Google Business profile
Check over the information you entered, test all of the buttons, and read over your description again.
If that all seems to be in order, it's time to fill in the extra points of information the setup process didn't ask you.
These include:
- Exterior photo - Add an exterior photo that showcases the salon suite building you’re in so new visitors know what to look for
- Booking link - Add an appointment link so customers can book an appointment in fewer clicks
- Turn on Google Chat - You gave Google permission to send you messages in step 8, now it's time to set it up!
- Add FAQs - In your listing, you will find a "Question and answers" section. This is a great spot to include all of the typical questions you get from new clients. This is another great place to include that you are located INSIDE another business.
- Add an incentive - Create an offer for new clients who find you via Google Maps. This will provide an incentive for new clients to book, and will help you track how well your Google listing is doing!
Step 12: Collect reviews for your Google Business profile
Send your new listing to your best customers and ask them for a review!
Additionally, incorporating asking for a review into your service process will help you rank higher on the google maps listing, so make sure to ask for it while your clients are in your salon!
Text them a link directly to your listing to make it easier, and watch your rank increase!
Step 13: Download the Google My Business app
Once you sign in to the account associated with your new business profile, you can easily manage all of the profile options from here.
It's a much easier, more convenient way to post updates, use the customer chat function, and monitor reviews. It's available on Android and iOS.
Setting up your Google Business Profile
In conclusion, setting up a Google Business Profile is an essential part of marketing your business in today's world.
The process takes time and effort, but it will pay off as you increase your visibility and reach more customers.
Take the time to do it right and make sure you're filling out all the parts with accurate information that reflects your brand identity.
With this in place, you'll be able to increase your presence and reach more customers.