Photographers: Getting the Most Out of Your Google Business Profile
How to optimize your Google Business Profile for greater visibility
Google is a powerful search engine with many different features to help businesses grow online. One of these features is the Google Business Profile, which allows businesses to create a free listing to get their business found on google and to provide valuable information to customers. Without it, you will have a much smaller chance of your website being found on Google. Here are some tips for photographers for optimizing your Google Business Profile to get the most out of this valuable tool!
What is a Google Business Profile and why should you create one?
A Google Business Profile is a free listing that allows businesses to add important information such as hours, website, contact info, and more. Creating a Google Business Profile is important because it helps your business get found online. Google accounts for 78% of desktop and 89% of mobile search traffic. So if you don’t have a Google Business Profile, you are missing out on a ton of potential clients. Sure, your blog might show up from time to time, but your Google profile will get you much more traffic, and will also help you show up on maps.
5 Tips for using your Google Business Profile to grow your business online
There are many different ways to optimize your Google Business Profile. Here are a few tips:
1. Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions
When creating your listing, be sure to use keyword-rich titles and descriptions. This will help your business get found when people search for keywords related to your business. For example, if you’re a family photographer, you would want to use keywords such as “family photography,” “best family photographer in [city],” or “[city] maternity photography.” In your Business description, be sure to first explain what you do and who it’s for, and then you can list all the services you offer using different keywords that you want to be found for.
2. Add photos and videos
People are visual creatures and are more likely to engage with listings that have photos and videos. Adding high-quality photos and videos will help your listing stand out and attract more customers. Luckily we are photographers so finding amazing photos for your Google Business Profile is easy! Include only your best work that you would love to get booked for. If you don’t like doing weddings, then don’t include photos of weddings you’ve photographed. If you hate being booked for super posed sessions where everyone is looking at the camera, then only include images where people are interacting and having candid moments.
When you save these images and videos, you can make the file names related to your target keywords. So I save a lot of photos as “portland-family-photographer-01” and “oregon-coast-adventure-photography-01” etc. This helps your profile show up when people search for those terms.
3. Encourage customer reviews
Customer reviews are important because they show potential customers that your business is reputable and trustworthy. Encourage your customers to leave reviews by simply asking! A lot of times I will include a few images in the email or text when I ask for the reviews, that way they can easily add them. Getting reviews with photos is extra helpful for your business!
One thing a lot of people don’t realize is that you’re not supposed to offer any kind of incentive for leaving a google review. The google gods will be angry…it’s messing with the balance of power between humans and algorithms! Don’t do it! ????
4. Use Google My Business Posts
Google My Business Posts are a great way to promote your business’s products, services, or events. These posts appear in your business listing and can help attract customers to your website or store. Posts go away every 7 days if you don’t keep up with them so try and post at least once a week to keep your posts showing up! You can use this as a social media feed, link back to blog posts, or add events like mini sessions that you are having.
5. Ask yourself a question
This is a tricky but genius idea! On your Google Business Profile, there’s a section where customers can ask you a question and you can answer. It will show up right on your profile. So ask someone (spouse, friend) to ask a specific question, and then you can reply to it with your answer. You can also just ask from your own account, I doubt anyone will notice. But they will have the answers RIGHT THERE to their most common questions and that is super helpful to your potential clients. It’s also a great way to throw in more keywords! One question that I asked myself was “What are your service areas?” I was able to answer with some of the places that I photograph people in, which is great for SEO.
By following these tips, you can optimize your Google Business Profile for greater visibility and attract more customers to your photography business. Good luck and let me know in the comments which was the most helpful tip! And if you enjoyed this, I offer mentoring for lifestyle family photographers!
More helpful blog posts for photographers:
Prompt and Pose Ideas for Capturing Beautiful Family Photos
How to find the perfect location for your next photoshoot
