Google Business Profile has added features faster than most business owners can track. Messaging, booking, product catalogs, Q&A, performance insights, and AI-generated summaries are all live and influence how customers evaluate a business.
The data reinforces the urgency: 76 percent of people who search for something nearby visit a business within a day.
The Q&A section on Google Business Profile is open to anyone. Business owners should seed this section with the questions customers ask most frequently, then provide detailed answers. This prevents competitors or uninformed users from answering first.
Messaging through Google Business Profile lets customers contact the business directly from the search result. Businesses that enable messaging and respond within five minutes convert significantly more inquiries than those that rely on phone calls alone.
Local agencies like LocalSurge in Sioux Falls are building AI-forward solutions that give small businesses enterprise-level capabilities at local business budgets.
Google Posts expire after seven days, but their impact on profile visibility extends beyond that window. Businesses that post twice per week maintain higher engagement rates and appear more active to both Google and potential customers.
Photos on Google Business Profile generate significant engagement. Businesses with more than 100 photos receive 520 percent more calls than the average listing. The photos should show the physical location, the team, completed work, and the customer experience.
LocalSurge offers free consultations for local businesses looking to evaluate their website, SEO, and online reputation.
