I never knew what a Google Business Profile was until late last year when I attended a Google digital skills training workshop. To imagine that I now know how to make money with a Google Business Profile listing within a few short months and teaching others about it is short of a miracle.
I will show you exactly how I make money with a Google Business Profile listing currently and what more I hope to do in the future to increase my earnings. But first, what is a Google business profile?
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What is a Google Business Profile?
A Google Business Profile is a free tool by Google that allows you to manage your business online. It offers tools to create and manage a website, create and edit listings, and manage your online presence. It is a good way to increase your visibility and search engine ranking.
This tool helps you increase the visibility of your business on Google search and maps, which in turn will help you attract more customers. It also helps you with SEO, reviews, and feedback from customers.
A Google business listing is the best way to start managing your online presence, get more leads, and reach more customers. With a Google business profile, you are able to:
– Increase your visibility and search engine ranking
– Grow your online customer base
– Get more leads
– Reach more customers
Once you create a Google business profile, it is important to update it regularly with new content.
The best time to update your Google business profile is when you have new or updated content in your business. For example, if you just opened a new location or if you have a new product that you want to feature on your Google business profile page.
In order for your Google business profile updates to be effective, it’s important that they are consistent with what already exists on your website.
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Important features of a Google business profile
Before I share how I make money with a Google business profile listing, let me first explain the most important features of such a listing.
Please note that to make the most of your experience, you need to use the features that are available to you through the Goggle business profile tool. Some of the most important features include the following:
- Allows you to Publish listings. You can add new listings, edit existing listings, or remove listings.
- Manage your business data. You can use your business profile to manage your company’s listing information, photos, and reviews.
- Connect with customers. You can connect with customers through calls, reviews, messages, or surveys.
- View a business’ website traffic data. This can help you track the success of your website and marketing campaigns.
- Track the success of your website and marketing campaigns. You can see how many people have visited your website, what keywords are being used to find your site, and what advertising campaigns are driving traffic to your site.
- Manage your account. A Google business profile allows you to manage your account by doing activities such as changing your password, adding business locations, or editing your listing information.
- Viewing your business contacts. You can see all the customers that have contacted your business through reviews, messages, or surveys.
- Creating custom reports. You can create custom reports based on your business data such as traffic data, reviews, and messages.
How to set up a Google business profile
Setting up a Google business profile is easy. You only need to have a business and a Google account.
Visit the Google Business Profile page and click on ‘manage now’ to start the process of claiming and managing your business on Google.
You will be guided step by step on how to add your business name, add your business information like location, contacts, services offered, etc, verify your business, populate your listing with posts and photos, and even how to create a website for your business.
How I make money with Google business profile listings
Since I learned about a Google business profile, I have realized there are several ways of using it to make money. I will now discuss some of the ways I use this great tool to make money online.
1. I created a Google business profile listing for my physical business and tripled my earnings
I first heard about creating a Google business profile at a Google digital skills training workshop. It sounded too good to be true. I decided to try it out with my own physical business to see if and how it actually works.
I had operated a physical laundry business for about six months and it was really struggling and I was on the verge of closing it up. In my desperation, I decided to try and see if a Google business profile listing would help at all.
I claimed my business on Google and verified it immediately. I then completed my profile details describing what my business was about, the services I offered, my business hours, the location of the business, and all other useful information that I could think of.
Later I populated my profile with nice photos showing what happens in the business. For example, I took photos showing my workers at work and the various processes that we go through and posted them on my page. Finally, I decided there was no harm in creating a website with the free website tool that is offered by Google after creating a Google business profile.
To say that I saw a complete turnaround of my business within days is an understatement. All of a sudden, I started receiving several calls per day from people enquiring about my business. In a short while, people started flocking to my business just by searching and getting directions on Google.
My business has grown a hundredfold since I claimed it on Google and set up a Google business profile listing. This business which was on the verge of closing has now opened more branches and making me loads of money all thanks to free publicity from my Google business profile listing.
2. I create and manage Google business profiles for businesses
After seeing the success my business received from setting it up on Google, I started telling my friends and family about creating Google business profiles for their businesses. Many doubted it but a few asked me to set their business profiles up on Google.
The few that I helped got immediate success. More people started coming to me for help to set up Google business profiles for their businesses. I soon realized that I could not continue giving this service for free because of time constraints, so I started charging a fee for the service.
The fee did not deter people and more continued coming for the service.
With time, I decided to add another Google business service. The service included managing the Google business profiles on behalf of businesses including adding photos, writing short posts about the businesses, and generally optimizing their listings for search engines.
I now charge a monthly fee for this service and my clients continue to increase by the day.
3. I offer Google digital skills training which includes how to set up a Google business profile listing
After several months of creating Google business profiles for people, I heard about Google’s digital skills training program from a friend. I did more research and realized that Google has some companies that they partner with to train on digital skills.
I eventually did a rigorous interview with one of Google’s partners. After several weeks I was hired to become a Google digital skills trainer with one of the partners.
My responsibility is to look for small business owners and train them on ways to grow their businesses using Google’s digital skills. We offer the training for free to business owners and in return we are paid by Google through the partners.
I am thoroughly enjoying providing the training especially after seeing how businesses are transformed within a short time of going online. One of the modules is how to set up a Google business profile for your business. What a great way to earn.
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Way forward as I look for more ways to make money with Google business profiles
A few months ago I would never have imagined making a living out of a Google business profile listing. Now I do and I still plan to make even more money with this great tool. Below are some things I have in mind to pursue.
Proactively look for more businesses to list
I have realized there are so many businesses that are not listed on Google. Many business owners have no idea that Google business profiles exist. I plan to proactively search for businesses that have no Google business profile listings in my local area, reach out to them and let them know what they are missing.
I plan to add about three businesses per month that would pay me a retainer to create and manage their Google business profile listings. Once I get a sizeable number, I can even outsource some of the work to make the process a bit more passive.
Reach out to more trainees
I know I have not done enough outreach to get more people to train. The training sessions are only one hour long and they are offered online. I don’t have to prepare any training materials as we get all the training materials from Google. I just need to ensure that I always update myself with the content.
If I can reach out and add several more training sessions per week, my earning potential would significantly increase.
FAQs on how to make money with Google business profile
Is a Google business profile free?
Yes, a Google business profile is completely free of charge. This is a free service from Google that allows you to leverage Google’s capabilities to manage your business and reach more people via search and maps.
What happens when I claim my business on Google?
When you claim your business on Google and create a Google business profile listing, it will automatically become available on search and maps any time somebody searches for a business like yours. This is especially important when people are searching for businesses near them on Google. All this helps you to get more customers.
How do I set up my Google business profile?
To set up a Google business profile, click here and follow the steps given as I explained above.
What are the benefits of having a Google business profile for my business?
Some of the benefits of having a Google business profile include the ability to connect with customers, respond to customer reviews, view business analytics, track business success, manage your business, and more.
Final remarks on how I make money with Google business profile listings
It still amazes me that I can make money with Google business profile listings.
I’m still doing more research to find out how else I can make money with this great tool and how I can maximize what I’m currently doing to make more money.
I hope I have encouraged you to claim your business on Google and create a Google business profile for your business today. If you have any further ideas on how to make money with a Google business profile, please let me know in the comments section below.