For small businesses and local stores, Google My Business has long been the best tool for increasing SEO and online visibility. To be honest, it is past time you created a Google My Business profile if you have not already. Oh, and you should know that they changed “Google My Business” to “Google Business Profile” recently.

Using a Google Business Profile is similar to running a social media profile dedicated to helping local businesses raise their search engine rankings through local SEO and client testimonials. Google is making changes constantly and updating the platform for a more robust experience. Let’s look into some of the new features and updates and how you can use them to boost your local business.

At Adox Global, your go-to SEO company in Kochi and a digital marketing agency in Kerala, we understand the importance of taming Google to stay visible online.

Google Business Profile Management Is Now Directly Available on Google

With this exciting new update, users can now make edits and modifications in a place that is more visible and accessible. It used to be more difficult to access the Google Business Profile dashboard. Users would frequently need to type “Google My Business” into the search bar to find the URL. But the most recent update conveniently integrated the dashboard into the main Google page.

Remember that to use this feature, you must be signed into the Gmail account that is used to administer your Google Business Profile. As one of the leading digital marketing companies in Ernakulam, we believe businesses must use these features to stay competitive.

Add Social Media Profiles

Small companies that wish to give more links to their social media profiles to prospective clients will find this update to be minor but very beneficial. When searching on Google or Maps, the Google My Business profile typically appears first. If a user wants to view a business’s Instagram profile, they must conduct a new search, which takes longer.

Small businesses can now add links to their website and social media profiles to their profiles, allowing customers to find the right place for interaction or engagement. You can add social media stickers to your Google My Business profile by logging in, selecting Edit profile, and then selecting the Contact tab from the popup window.

GMP Messaging Feature on Desktop

To help you engage with your customers more, Google has also released updates to the messaging section of your Google Business Profile. Previously, messaging was accessible only through the app; now, it is directly accessible and manageable from the desktop version as well.

The majority of account managers either do not use it or are still unaware that it even exists.However, Google has started offering the same mobile app chat feature within the desktop dashboard this year, so they are making progress in that direction. 

Customers can message you whenever they want when messaging is enabled. They will notice a “Chat” button on your Google Maps Business Profile. With the chat window open, small businesses can quickly respond to inquiries from prospective clients, which is a great addition to their toolkit.

As a trusted digital marketing agency in Kerala, Adox Global is here to help businesses make the most of these new features. Our team of experts understands the intricacies of online marketing and can develop a customized strategy tailored to your business goals.