Keeping your Google Business Profile and other similar online profiles updated can significantly enhance your visibility, boosting your chances of appearing in local search results and on Google Maps by up to 50%. An active profile with current information and positive reviews also builds trust with potential customers, with 88% of consumers trusting online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Additionally, businesses that maintain accurate and optimized profiles can experience up to a 70% increase in website traffic. Finally, maintaining your profile can influence consumer decisions, as 76% of people who conduct a local search visit a business within 24 hours, and 28% of those searches lead to a purchase.
Please note: Risingline provides managed web services for business websites, including web development, management, ADA compliance, on-site SEO, content updates, and website security. We don’t offer off-site SEO, Social Media Marketing, or Business Profile Management. This information is just being provided as a courtesy to our clients. Most small to medium businesses manage their profiles in-house, and in many cases, that’s the best approach. Specialty firms are available for those seeking additional support.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Updating the Google Knowledge Panel via Google Business Profile
Step 1: Claim or Access Your Google Business Profile
Sign in to Google: Use the account you want to manage your business with.
Go to Google Business Profile: Visit https://business.google.com/
Find Your Business: If your business is already listed, search for it using your business name.
Claim Your Business (if not already claimed): Follow the steps to claim ownership of your business by verifying your ownership via phone, email, or postcard.
Step 2: Update Your Business Information
Sign in to Google Business Profile: Visit https://business.google.com and sign in with the account that has access.
Select Your Business: If you manage multiple businesses, select the one you want to update.
Click on “Info”: This will take you to the section where you can update key details.
You can update the following:
- Business Name: Ensure your business name is correct.
- Business Address: Add or edit the physical location of your business.
- Phone Number: Add or update the phone number customers can reach you on.
- Website URL: Update your website link, if needed.
- Hours of Operation: Update your business hours and holiday hours.
- Business Category: Ensure the primary business category reflects your business type.
- Photos: Upload professional photos of your business, products, or services.
- Description: Add a brief description of your business (up to 750 characters).Save Changes: Make sure to save after making updates.
Step 3: Update Specific Features
Posts: You can add business updates, promotions, or events by using the "Posts" feature.
Reviews: Reply to customer reviews, which will be visible on the Knowledge Panel.
Services/Products: If applicable, you can update the services or products you offer in the designated sections.
Insights: Check how people are interacting with your Google Business Profile through the "Insights" section.
Step 4: Monitor Your Updates
Updates you make might take a few minutes to a few days to appear on
Google Search or Maps.
Some updates may be reviewed by Google before they go live.
Step 5: Ensure Consistency
Ensure that all your business information is consistent across the web to improve how your business is displayed in the Knowledge Panel and other Google services.
What if My Business Has Lost Login Information for Our Google Business Profile?
If you've lost access to your Google Business Profile or no longer have the login credentials, follow these steps:
Try Recovering Your Google Account:
- Visit the Google Account Recovery page.
- Enter the email address associated with your Google Business Profile.
- Follow the steps to recover access to the account via your recovery phone number or email.Request Ownership Access:
- Visit your business listing on Google Business Profile.
- Follow the prompts to request ownership.Contact Google Support:
- If you're still unable to recover access, you can contact Google Business Profile Support directly for help.
How to Solicit or Encourage Clients to Post Positive Google Reviews for Your Business
Ask at the Right Time: Request reviews from customers after a positive interaction.
Be Direct but Polite: "If you're happy with our service, we'd appreciate it if you could leave us a review on Google."
Provide Simple Instructions: Share a direct link to your Google review page.
Avoid Offering Incentives: Google prohibits offering incentives in exchange for reviews.
Follow Up Gently: Remind satisfied clients to leave a review after a few days.
Respond to All Reviews: Show that you value feedback by responding to reviews.
Importance of Using Best Practices for Google Business Profiles and Knowledge Panels
Improved Local SEO and Visibility: Consistently updated profiles can increase visibility by as much as 50%.
Increased Consumer Trust: 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Higher Click-Through Rates: Businesses with optimized profiles see up to a 70% increase in click-through rates.
Influence on Consumer Decisions: 76% of people who conduct a local search visit a business within 24 hours.
Other Important Business Profiles to Manage
In addition to maintaining your Google Business Profile, there are several other key platforms where businesses should claim and manage their profiles to ensure visibility in local search results. Each of these platforms serves a large user base, and being listed accurately can enhance your chances of being found by potential customers.
Apple Maps
Apple Maps serves over 1 billion iPhone and iPad users worldwide, making it crucial for businesses that want to reach Apple device users. Many consumers use Apple Maps to find local businesses, request directions, or make recommendations via Siri. Ensuring your business is listed here can significantly boost visibility for iOS users.
How to Claim Your Profile:
Visit Apple Business Register at https://register.apple.com/placesonmaps.
Here, you can follow the steps to claim and manage your business profile
on Apple Maps.
Microsoft Bing Places
Bing handles around 6-9% of all global search engine traffic, making it the second-largest search engine after Google. While smaller in market share, Bing is the default search engine for Windows devices, and many corporate clients or older demographics may use it regularly. Optimizing your business profile here ensures better local search visibility for Windows users.
How to Claim Your Profile:
Visit Bing Places for Business at https://www.bingplaces.com/. You
can claim and update your business information from this page.
Yelp
Yelp remains one of the most trusted platforms for local business reviews, influencing decisions for service-based businesses, restaurants, and retail stores. Around 45% of consumers check Yelp before visiting a business or making a purchase decision. Many third-party services, including Apple Maps, integrate Yelp reviews directly into their platforms.
How to Claim Your Profile:
Visit https://business.yelp.com/ to claim
or update your Yelp profile. Yelp provides a step-by-step guide to
manage your business information and respond to customer reviews.
Facebook Business Page
Facebook has over 2.9 billion monthly active users and continues to be a key platform for businesses to engage with customers. A well-managed Facebook Business Page helps enhance local SEO and improves customer interaction. Around 52% of consumers have discovered a local business on Facebook, making it an essential platform for visibility.
How to Claim Your Profile:
Visit https://www.facebook.com/business/pages/set-up
to set up and manage your Facebook Business Page. This guide provides
instructions on how to claim and optimize your profile.
LinkedIn Company Profile
For B2B businesses, LinkedIn is the top professional networking platform with over 900 million members. Having an active LinkedIn Company Profile can improve credibility and searchability for businesses looking to establish partnerships or attract clients. LinkedIn is particularly useful for professional services, with 80% of B2B leads generated from LinkedIn.
How to Claim Your Profile:
Visit https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/company-pages
to create or manage your LinkedIn Company Profile.
Sources
1. Claim or Access Your Google Business Profile: https://support.google.com/business/answer/4566671
2. Update Your Business Information: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177
3. Manage Reviews and Insights: https://support.google.com/business/answer/2721884
4. Monitor Updates on Google Business: https://support.google.com/business/answer/6333484
5. Recover Your Google Account: https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery
6. Google Business Review Policy: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122
7. Statistics on Local Search and Consumer Behavior: https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/business/
8. Apple Maps Business: https://register.apple.com/placesonmaps
9. Bing Places for Business: https://www.bingplaces.com/
10. Yelp for Business Owners: https://business.yelp.com/
11. Facebook Business Pages: https://www.facebook.com/business/pages/set-up
12. LinkedIn Company Pages: https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/company-pages