Google Business Profile and Google Maps: The Importance of Local SEO
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 4:27 am
Google Business profile and the importance of being present in local searches to be able to manage products, reviews and your business on Google maps. But be careful because you could already be there without knowing it and without control...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why Google Business Profile is Important
Mobile First Concept
Google Business Profile and “local SEO”.
What are the benefits of a Google Business Profile page?
What can you do with Google Business?
How much does a Google Business account cost?
Conclusions
Post Suggestion Conclusions
Why Google Business Profile is Important
First thing: “we are there… maybe without whatsapp number list knowing it”. Or even “the importance of being present…”.
These could be sentences taken from some neuromarketing book or some Oscar Wilde comedy, but in reality we are referring to the fact that Google (and other search engines) maps our activity and shows us to everyone.
It inserts our name, telephone numbers, our headquarters with a map on Google Maps , it suggests opening hours and above all it opens our business to opinions and reviews from customers and competitors.
We are talking about the Google Business profile page (in Italian translated Google business profile) and formerly called Google my Business which, if not managed, is at the mercy of anyone who can even change hours, telephone numbers and give us a funeral, communicating the definitive closure of our company.
Google using its own means opens our business automatically. If you are not aware of this and need a consultation to see how to take ownership, contact me directly.
In any case, for every physical activity on the territory the presence on Google Maps is almost certain, but from a risk, it can become a big opportunity.
In these cases we talk about Local SEO, or optimization on Google for local businesses. In the following lines we try to explain some principles, starting from that of mobile first .
Mobile First Concept
Google Business Profile - Local SEO
For some years now, Google has developed the “mobile first” concept , which means that maximum importance should be given to content consumed on mobile devices before desktop computers.
This is because people are using mobile devices much more and are subsequently searching from their smartphones. These searches are often local in nature, where local businesses are searched for (shops, physical exercises, companies, services, professionals, etc.).
For example, if we search for a “Neapolitan pizzeria” on Google from a smartphone (see image), the search engine has implemented the “Local 3 pack”, a layout where the map appears in first position, then the 3 places it considers most important and then the organic search results which are almost always monopolised by large portals or websites.
Google Business Profile and “local SEO”.
To be visible and found by customers, it is therefore essential to apply SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for local businesses and open/activate/take possession of your own Google Business Profile card , which is the tool for being present on the Maps and one of the main elements for developing Local SEO.
Local SEO is basically SEO that is implemented to help small businesses and local businesses gain visibility on maps and search engine results.
You will find the pages with Google Business Profile cards both on mobile and on computer (in the latter case they will be visible on the right of the page) so Local SEO also applies to searches that occur from the computer.
What are the benefits of a Google Business Profile page?
Given that Local SEO is the gateway to access the top positions in search engines, the necessary tool to use is certainly the Google Business Profile page.
Initially it was the page for Google Maps, but today, since it offers many other customization opportunities and above all keys to improve your responses, it has evolved and includes many useful functions for local businesses.
Google has in fact decided that rather than being a point of passage towards specialized sites, for many things it is better to keep users on its own engine by trying to sell the services directly.
In fact, now if you search for films showing in your city you can find the list of cinemas directly on Google, or if you search for offers in a specific shop directly on the Google profile page of the business without having to enter the site.
Google Business Profile Bologna Cinema Programming Card
What can you do with Google Business?
Google Business Profile is the control center of your business starting from the basic elements of your business, the name, address and phone number. From there you can manage your storefront, enter your opening hours and those on special days (for example holidays), insert photos, videos of the structure and finally the products you offer.
Very important then is the direct management of your customers' reviews. Once you have your business page you will be able to read and respond to your customers' reviews.
As you may have noticed, I talked about “owning your business page” because, as I explained at the beginning of this post, your business could be listed on Google but you might not control it or, worse yet, not know it exists.
This is because Google has taken your data through other channels such as the yellow pages, white pages, on some of your social pages or on some “free” portal where you had registered your company, or finally also through the photos received by Google Cars that map the city.
If you don't know the free tool of your business profile and you have one in your area, then try to search for it on the search engine and see if you also have an active page.
Taking possession of it is the first thing to do: if you can't do it independently you can contact me or your trusted web specialist.
How much does a Google Business account cost?
Google Business profile is free. All you need is a gmail and you can connect your business. There are some paid tools if you want to advertise your products by listing them in the Merchant Center to sell your products online.
Conclusions
With Google Business Profile you manage Local SEO and presence on Google Maps. These are of primary importance today because most searches are done via smartphone and Google puts the local pack and maps in the first positions whenever it understands that the user is looking for a local business.
Google Business Profile is a fundamental figure within a good marketing strategy to make your business increasingly competitive on the territory.
Local SEO google business profile also applies to the website, advertising on Google Ads and on your social channels as it can improve your visibility making your business more accessible.
Post Suggestion Conclusions
My advice is to absolutely not underestimate the potential of the Google Business Profile page by taking care of it in every field and updating it periodically.
Finally, Google also links the reviews you get on other portals/social networks (for example Facebook, TripAdvisor, The Fork, etc.) so you know how to best manage your customers' comments to your advantage.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why Google Business Profile is Important
Mobile First Concept
Google Business Profile and “local SEO”.
What are the benefits of a Google Business Profile page?
What can you do with Google Business?
How much does a Google Business account cost?
Conclusions
Post Suggestion Conclusions
Why Google Business Profile is Important
First thing: “we are there… maybe without whatsapp number list knowing it”. Or even “the importance of being present…”.
These could be sentences taken from some neuromarketing book or some Oscar Wilde comedy, but in reality we are referring to the fact that Google (and other search engines) maps our activity and shows us to everyone.
It inserts our name, telephone numbers, our headquarters with a map on Google Maps , it suggests opening hours and above all it opens our business to opinions and reviews from customers and competitors.
We are talking about the Google Business profile page (in Italian translated Google business profile) and formerly called Google my Business which, if not managed, is at the mercy of anyone who can even change hours, telephone numbers and give us a funeral, communicating the definitive closure of our company.
Google using its own means opens our business automatically. If you are not aware of this and need a consultation to see how to take ownership, contact me directly.
In any case, for every physical activity on the territory the presence on Google Maps is almost certain, but from a risk, it can become a big opportunity.
In these cases we talk about Local SEO, or optimization on Google for local businesses. In the following lines we try to explain some principles, starting from that of mobile first .
Mobile First Concept
Google Business Profile - Local SEO
For some years now, Google has developed the “mobile first” concept , which means that maximum importance should be given to content consumed on mobile devices before desktop computers.
This is because people are using mobile devices much more and are subsequently searching from their smartphones. These searches are often local in nature, where local businesses are searched for (shops, physical exercises, companies, services, professionals, etc.).
For example, if we search for a “Neapolitan pizzeria” on Google from a smartphone (see image), the search engine has implemented the “Local 3 pack”, a layout where the map appears in first position, then the 3 places it considers most important and then the organic search results which are almost always monopolised by large portals or websites.
Google Business Profile and “local SEO”.
To be visible and found by customers, it is therefore essential to apply SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for local businesses and open/activate/take possession of your own Google Business Profile card , which is the tool for being present on the Maps and one of the main elements for developing Local SEO.
Local SEO is basically SEO that is implemented to help small businesses and local businesses gain visibility on maps and search engine results.
You will find the pages with Google Business Profile cards both on mobile and on computer (in the latter case they will be visible on the right of the page) so Local SEO also applies to searches that occur from the computer.
What are the benefits of a Google Business Profile page?
Given that Local SEO is the gateway to access the top positions in search engines, the necessary tool to use is certainly the Google Business Profile page.
Initially it was the page for Google Maps, but today, since it offers many other customization opportunities and above all keys to improve your responses, it has evolved and includes many useful functions for local businesses.
Google has in fact decided that rather than being a point of passage towards specialized sites, for many things it is better to keep users on its own engine by trying to sell the services directly.
In fact, now if you search for films showing in your city you can find the list of cinemas directly on Google, or if you search for offers in a specific shop directly on the Google profile page of the business without having to enter the site.
Google Business Profile Bologna Cinema Programming Card
What can you do with Google Business?
Google Business Profile is the control center of your business starting from the basic elements of your business, the name, address and phone number. From there you can manage your storefront, enter your opening hours and those on special days (for example holidays), insert photos, videos of the structure and finally the products you offer.
Very important then is the direct management of your customers' reviews. Once you have your business page you will be able to read and respond to your customers' reviews.
As you may have noticed, I talked about “owning your business page” because, as I explained at the beginning of this post, your business could be listed on Google but you might not control it or, worse yet, not know it exists.
This is because Google has taken your data through other channels such as the yellow pages, white pages, on some of your social pages or on some “free” portal where you had registered your company, or finally also through the photos received by Google Cars that map the city.
If you don't know the free tool of your business profile and you have one in your area, then try to search for it on the search engine and see if you also have an active page.
Taking possession of it is the first thing to do: if you can't do it independently you can contact me or your trusted web specialist.
How much does a Google Business account cost?
Google Business profile is free. All you need is a gmail and you can connect your business. There are some paid tools if you want to advertise your products by listing them in the Merchant Center to sell your products online.
Conclusions
With Google Business Profile you manage Local SEO and presence on Google Maps. These are of primary importance today because most searches are done via smartphone and Google puts the local pack and maps in the first positions whenever it understands that the user is looking for a local business.
Google Business Profile is a fundamental figure within a good marketing strategy to make your business increasingly competitive on the territory.
Local SEO google business profile also applies to the website, advertising on Google Ads and on your social channels as it can improve your visibility making your business more accessible.
Post Suggestion Conclusions
My advice is to absolutely not underestimate the potential of the Google Business Profile page by taking care of it in every field and updating it periodically.
Finally, Google also links the reviews you get on other portals/social networks (for example Facebook, TripAdvisor, The Fork, etc.) so you know how to best manage your customers' comments to your advantage.