In today’s age, nearly everything takes place online in some shape or form. That means it is essential for your business to have a strong online presence. Does your business have a website? Social media profile? Awesome! Those are great places to start. Another highly effective tool for enhancing your online visibility and driving business is a Google Business Profile. While this platform was formerly known as Google My Business, this free and user-friendly platform offers a wide range of features to help you reach potential customers and retain existing ones.
In this article, we’ll explore Google Business Profile tips for gyms to drive business growth and maximize your business’s potential. We’ll outline tips for gyms and fitness centers can use to boost new members. Read on to discover how to unlock the power of Google Business Profile for your gym.
Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile is a free tool provided by Google that allows local businesses to create a public profile that appears in Google Search and Google Maps. Before you can harness the power of your Google Business Profile, you need first to claim your business and verify your Google Business Profile. It really is fairly straightforward. You just follow these simple steps:
- Sign in to your Google account. If you don’t have one, it would be an excellent time to create one!
- Visit the Google Business Profile website.
- Click on “Manage Now” and follow the simple on-screen instructions.
- Now, you wait. Google will send you a verification postcard to your business address. Once you receive it, enter the verification code as instructed on the postcard to complete the process.
- Verifying your profile not only adds a layer of trust but also allows you to manage and optimize your listing effectively.
- The last step in the process is to complete your profile.
After verification of your profile, you need to provide as much information as possible in your Google Business Profile. The appearance and content of a Google Business Profile may vary, but here are some of the typical elements you can expect to see:
- Business name: The name of your business or organization is prominently displayed. Double- and triple-check the spelling.
- Business category: The category or categories that describe the type of business (e.g., fitness center, gym, spa). You can also add a brief description of your business here. Categories are important — they help Google identify your business in an online search.
- Address: The physical address of your business location, including a map with the exact location on Google Maps. Again, double-check that the location is accurate.
- Phone number: The contact number for your business, allowing searchers to click to call directly from the search results.
- Website: A link to your business’s website, if available.
- Hours of operation: The opening and closing hours for each day of the week, which can be customized.
- Photos and videos: Images and videos that showcase the business, including the exterior, interior, products and services. This is an invaluable tool and a great way to highlight what makes your gym different.
- Customer reviews: User-generated reviews and ratings, which can significantly influence potential customers.
- Q&A section: Users can ask questions about your business, and you, as the business owner, can respond, or other users can respond to them.
- Posts: Businesses can create and share posts with updates, events, promotions and other information.
- Booking and appointment links: If applicable, businesses can provide links for customers to book appointments or reservations.
Having a complete profile not only offers potential customers a comprehensive view of your business but also improves your search visibility.
5 Google Business Profile Tips for Gyms
Monitor and Manage Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are a powerful tool in building trust and credibility. As a business owner, you should encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile. When you promptly respond to both positive and negative reviews, you can show your commitment to customer satisfaction and work to retain members. Get positive reviews by asking your most loyal members to leave a review, adding a review link in an email or newsletter, or following up with new members as they get to know your gym.
While positive reviews can help attract new customers, addressing negative feedback professionally can turn unhappy members into loyal ones. Address them online and follow up in person. The way you handle both positive and negative reviews is an important Google Business Profile tip for gyms — and any other business, for that matter.
Post Regular Updates To Maintain Your Online Presence
As a business owner, when you utilize the Posts feature on your Google Business Profile, you maintain your online presence. Think of Posts as a social media post but on Google Search and Maps. Use Posts to share updates, promotions, events, and news about your gym. These posts appear on your profile and in Google search results, giving you an additional way to communicate with your audience. They may also help optimize your business’s SEO.
As you are writing posts, remember to use high-quality images, engaging content and clear calls to action to make your posts more effective. Always attempt to use photos of your own gym or fitness center before looking for stock photos.
Take Advantage of and Utilize Google Business Insights
As part of your Google Business Profile, you can access insights that provide valuable data about your online presence, including information on how new members found your profile, what channels they used and what actions they took after visiting your profile. Use these insights to tailor your online strategy and focus on the platforms or keywords that are driving the most traffic. When you look at the insights, you’ll know if what you have on your business profile is working to drive traffic to your gym!
Optimize for Local SEO
Google Business Profile plays a vital role in local search. To optimize for local SEO, ensure your profile is up to date and contains accurate location information. Use relevant keywords in your business description, posts and other content. Add zip codes, towns, or cities to establish your service area location. Additionally, request customer reviews and encourage happy customers to mention their city or town in their reviews. Upload videos of smiling, happy people working out in your gym or talking about their experiences in your gym to make the biggest impact.
Encourage Customer Engagement
Engagement with your audience is key to driving business through your Google Business Profile. Respond promptly to inquiries, questions and messages. Engage with people through posts, updates and relevant content. The more interaction you have, the more likely you are to convert online visitors into paying customers.
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