How to Use Google Business Profile Posts to Connect with Customers

Google Business Profile has a feature called Posts that you can use to connect with customers on Google Search and Maps. Having an optimized Google Business Profile is the most effective way for a business to improve their local SEO rankings and reach local customers on Google Search and Maps.

Google My Business was rebranded to Google Business Profile in November 2021.

What are Google Business Profile Posts?

Posts is a feature available on your Google Business Profile. You can use Posts to promote special offers, events, sales, products and services directly on Google Search and Maps.

Posts can include text, photos or videos. Using Posts on Google Business Profile has not been shown to improve search or local SEO rankings. However, it does help to improve customer engagement, provides a better customer experience and may lead to an increase in conversions.

Google has a content policy for Google Business Profile Posts. It is best to comply with the content policy. Policy violations can result in rejected posts.

What are the benefits of using Posts on Google Business Profile?

Posts can be used as an extension of your Google Business Profile to promote your business and engage with customers on Google Search and Maps. They can be used like free ads to promote your products on your business profile.

You can use Posts to:

  • Publish company announcements, sales, special offers and events.
  • Promote your products and services.
  • Engage with customers with videos and photos.
  • Publish Covid-19 updates such as changes in hours or Covid-19 related services.
  • Publish your latest blog posts or business news.

Sixty-four percent of consumers look for a business’s Google My Business Page for contact information (BrightLocal, 2020).

People are already searching on Google for a business’s Google Business Profile to get their contact information. You can further engage customers on your Google Business Profile by sharing Posts with the latest information about your special events, sales and products.

You should publish Posts on your Google Business Profile regularly. Your Posts should include images or videos. Posts with images have been shown to have better engagement than posts without images.

When people hear information, they will remember only 10% of that information three days later. However, when a relevant image is included with that information, they remember 65% of that information three days later( Brain Rules)

Where are Posts shown on Google Search and Maps?

When you search for a business on Google, their business information will be pulled from their Google Business Profile and displayed in the knowledge panel. Their latest Posts will be shown at the bottom of their business listing.

For mobile searches, Posts will be shown under the “Updates” or “Overview” sections of the business profile on Google Search and Maps. For desktop searches, Posts will be displayed in the “From the Owner” section of the business profile.

The exception is Covid-19 posts which are shown towards the top of the business listing.

Figure 1 shows a Google search for my business. Our latest Posts are displayed at the bottom of the knowledge panel.

Posts displayed on the Google Business Profile
Figure 1: Posts displayed on Google Business Profile

How long are Posts displayed on the Google Business Profile?

Posts are now displayed on the Google Business Profile for 6 months. Posts older than 6 months get archived unless you specify a date range.

Types of Posts on Google Business Profile

The Posts available on your Google Business Profile include (source: Google):

  • Covid-19 Updates

    Provide Covid-19 updates including hours, business closures, addition of new services like take-out or delivery, safety and hygiene policies.

  • Offers

    Publish promotional sales and offers along with a start and end date and times. A “View Offer” button will be added to the post. Offers can include descriptions, photos, videos, coupon codes and links. Offers will be shown in the Posts tab and near the top of the business profile.

  • What’s New

    Provides general information about your business. This can include blog posts, business news and new products. They can include photos, videos, descriptions and an action button.

  • Events

    Announce business events with a title, start and end date and times. This can include photos, videos, description and an action button.

  • Product

    Product Posts are currently available only in the Google Business Profile Manager. They can be used to highlight information about your products.

Several Call to Action (CTA) options are available to add to the action button for your Posts.

These include:

  • Book
  • Order Online
  • Buy
  • Learn More
  • Sign Up
  • Call Now

Note that Posts cannot include a phone number, or they will be rejected. A business phone number can be listed on your Google Business Profile, but not on Posts.

Photo and Video Guidelines for Posts

Photos and videos used on Google Business Profile need to comply with Google’s guidelines and Photo and Video Content Policy.

Photos

  • Format: JPG or PNG
  • Size: 10 KB to 5 MB
  • Resolution (recommended): 720px tall by 720px wide
  • Resolution (minimum): 250px tall by 250px wide
  • Photos should not include significant alterations or filters.

Videos

  • Duration: Upto 30 seconds
  • Resolution: 720p or more
  • Size: Upto 75 MB

How to create a Post directly from Google Search

  1. Log into the Google account you use for your Google Business Profile.
  2. Search on Google for your business name to find your Google Business Profile.
  3. Click on Promote on your business profile.

    4.  

    Finding your Google Business Profile on Google Search
    Figure 2: Search for your business profile on Google

  4. Select the type of Post you want to publish from Updates, Offers and Events.

    Select the type of Post for Google Business Profile
    Figure 3: Select the type of Post

    1. For Updates, add your description, photos or videos and an optional call to action button (shown in Figure 4).

      2. Dialog box for Update Post on Google Business Profile
      Figure 4: Dialog box for Update Post

    2. For an Offer, add your title, start date, end date and photos or videos. (see Figure 5).

      3. Dialog box for Offer Post on Google Business Profile

      Figure 5: Dialog box for Offer Post

    3. For an Event, add your title, start date, end date, optional start and end times, and photos or videos. (see Figure 6).

      4. Dialog box for Event Post on Google Business Profile
      Figure 6: Dialog box for Event Post

  5. Click on “Post” to publish your Post.

More tips from Google about checking the status of your Posts and the latest content guidelines.

How to create a Post from Google Business Profile Manager

You can also use the Google Business Profile Manager to publish Posts on your profile. Products Posts are currently available only under the Google Business Profile Manager.

Google has been encouraging businesses to post directly from Google Search and Google Maps. The Google Business Profile Manager may eventually be transitioned for use by larger businesses only.

  1. Log into your Google Business Profile.
  2. Click on Create Post

    3.  
    Create posts from Google Business Profile Manager
    Figure 7: Create Posts from Google Business Profile Manager

  3. Select the Type of Post from Covid-19 update, What’s New, Offer, Event and Product Posts.

    4.  
    Create a Product Post from Google Business Profile Manager
    Figure 8: Create a Product Post from Google Business Profile Manager

  4. Click on “Publish” to publish your Post.

Get Insights for Your Posts

To check the performance of your Posts, click on the “Posts” tab in your Google Business Profile Manager.

Here you will see a listing of all your posts, with the number of views and clicks under each post.

Google Business Profile Insights on Posts
Figure 9: Insights on Posts

Conclusion

The Posts feature should be used as an extension of your Google Business Profile. It allows you to post updates, special offers, events and news directly on Google Search and Maps to keep customers informed about your products and services. You should post regularly to keep customers engaged.

Using Posts on your Google Business Profile has not been shown to improve search or SEO rankings. However, it helps you connect with customers on Google Search and Maps, keep customers updated about business events, improve customer engagement, and may help to increase conversions.

Google Business Profile Posts is a free feature that is available on your Google Business Profile and should not be overlooked in your local SEO marketing strategy.

Related Articles

  1. Google My Business Rebranded Google Business Profile
  2. How to create and optimize a Google My Business Listing for your business
  3. 11 New Google My Business Features for 2020 and Covid-19
  4. What is SEO or Search Engine Optimization and Why is it Important?
  5. 10 Local SEO Tips to Boost Local Search Rankings
  6. How to Use Google My Business Insights to Analyze Performance
  7. How to Manage Your Google Business Profile on Google Search and Maps

Need Help with Your Google Business Profile or SEO?

If you need help with your Google Business Profile or SEO, please feel free to contact us. We provide digital marketing services including Google Ads PPC Marketing, SEO, Local SEO, Web Design & Development, and Digital Marketing Consulting services. We are located in Plano, TX outside Dallas and serve businesses in the USA. Contact us at https://goldmangodesign.com