Do You Really Need a Google Business Profile? If You’re a Local Business, Yes.

If you own a local business, there’s a good chance your next customer isn’t scrolling social media looking for you.

They’re Googling you.

Or, more accurately, they’re Googling what they need.

“Plumber near me.”

“Electrician in Albuquerque.”

“Best dog groomer near me.”

“Septic service Rio Rancho.”

“Jewelry repair near me.”

And when those search results come up, your Google Business Profile may be one of the first things a potential customer sees.

That means if you’re spending all your time worrying about Facebook posts and Instagram Reels but ignoring Google, you may be putting a whole lot of effort into marketing while overlooking one of the places people are actively searching for your services.

First, What Is a Google Business Profile?

A Google Business Profile is the business listing that can appear when someone searches for your business or services like yours on Google Search and Google Maps.

You may still hear people call it “Google My Business.” That was its old name. Google now calls it Google Business Profile.

Your profile can include things like:

  • Your business name
  • Phone number
  • Website
  • Hours of operation
  • Service area or physical location
  • Photos
  • Services
  • Customer reviews
  • Business updates
  • Other important information about your business

Think of it as a mini storefront on Google.

For some potential customers, they may see that storefront before they ever visit your website.

Why This Matters So Much for Local Businesses

Here’s the big difference between someone finding you on social media and someone finding you through a Google search:

Intent.

Someone scrolling Facebook might happen to see your post.

Someone searching Google for “septic pumping near me” probably has a septic tank that needs attention.

That person isn't casually consuming content. They're looking for someone who can solve a problem.

And they may be ready to make a phone call.

That's why I don't want small local businesses to think of their Google Business Profile as something they set up once and forget about.

It is part of your marketing.

Reviews Are Marketing Content

One of my clients is a perfect example of this.

Rian owns a local septic service business and has built a great reputation because he takes care of his customers.

His problem wasn't the quality of his work.

His marketing was simply inconsistent and a little scattered.

But there was something he was already doing really well.

He asked happy customers to leave reviews.

That simple habit has helped him build a collection of great customer experiences that future customers can see when they're deciding who to call.

Think about your own behavior for a second.

You search for a business and find three options.

One has dozens of recent positive reviews.

Another has only a couple of reviews and hasn't received a new one in years.

The third has almost no information at all.

Which business are you going to investigate first?

Your happy customers can become some of your best marketing.

But sometimes you have to ask them.

Your Profile Shouldn't Look Abandoned

This is where a lot of businesses miss an opportunity.

They technically have a Google Business Profile.

But the hours are wrong.

There are three photos from 2019.

The website link doesn't work.

Nobody has responded to the reviews.

The service information is incomplete.

And nothing has been updated in forever.

Meanwhile, the business owner is wondering why Google isn't doing more for them.

Your profile doesn't have to be perfect.

It just needs to accurately represent the active business behind it.

Start with the basics:

  • Make sure your business information is accurate.
  • Add good, current photos.
  • Clearly explain what you do.
  • List the services you provide.
  • Ask satisfied customers for reviews.
  • Respond to those reviews.
  • Keep your information current.

You don't need to spend hours every week doing this.

Don't Forget the Photos

This is especially important for service businesses.

You might be thinking:

“Nobody wants to see pictures of the work I do.”

You'd be surprised.

People want to know you're a legitimate business.

Show the truck.

Show the equipment.

Show the team.

Show before-and-after photos when appropriate.

Show the project you just completed.

Show yourself actually doing the work.

If you're a landscaper, show the yard.

If you're a painter, show the room.

If you're a contractor, show the project.

If you're an artist, show what you're creating.

You don't necessarily need a professional photographer following you around.

Your phone is probably perfectly capable of capturing what customers need to see.

Respond to Your Reviews

Here's another easy win.

When someone takes the time to leave you a review, respond to them.

You don't need to write a novel.

Thank them. Mention something relevant about their experience when appropriate. Be human.

Instead of:

“Thank you for your review.”

You could say:

“Thank you, Lisa! We really appreciate you trusting us to help with your septic emergency. We're glad we could get you taken care of quickly.”

Now someone reading that review sees two things:

A happy customer and a business owner who pays attention to their customers.

Make Asking for Reviews Part of Your Process

This is one of those tiny marketing systems that can make a big difference over time.

Don't wait until you remember to ask for a review.

Build it into what you already do.

When a job is complete and you know the customer is happy, ask.

You might send them a quick text, an email, or your direct review link.

It doesn't have to be awkward or complicated.

Something as simple as:

“I'm glad we could help today. If you were happy with our service, we'd really appreciate it if you'd leave us a quick Google review. It helps other local customers find us.”

That's it.

Now you've turned something you were trying to remember into part of your normal business process.

What If You Don't Have a Google Business Profile Yet?

Don't panic.

And definitely don't turn this into one of those projects you put on your list for six months because you think you need to understand local SEO first.

You don't.

Start with the basics.

Create or claim your business profile.

Complete as much information as you can.

Add your services.

Upload several good photos.

Make sure your contact information is correct.

Then start asking satisfied customers for reviews.

After that, you can learn how to improve it.

Marketing gets much easier when you stop believing you have to do everything at once.

Your Business Doesn't Need More Random Marketing

This is something I see all the time.

A business owner posts on Facebook when they remember.

They created an Instagram account because somebody told them they needed one.

They've thought about TikTok.

Someone told them they need SEO.

Now somebody else is talking about email marketing.

And suddenly marketing feels like another full-time job.

Nope.

Start with where your customers are already looking for what you sell.

For a lot of local businesses, Google deserves to be pretty high on that list.

Get your profile working.

Build your reviews.

Keep your information current.

Then build from there.

You don't need to become a marketing expert.

You just need a few simple systems that consistently help the right people find your business.

Want Help Figuring All of This Out?

That's exactly why I created Build With Tammy.

I'm creating practical resources for business owners who want to understand marketing, AI, digital tools, and building income online without turning everything into another complicated project.

Maybe you want to learn how to manage your Google Business Profile yourself.

Maybe you need help figuring out what you should focus on first.

Or maybe you'd rather have someone help you get everything set up.

Either way, you don't have to figure out everything at once.

Start with one thing. Get it working. Then build the next thing.

That's how we build a business without the overwhelm.