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Google Posts: A Complete Guide to Boosting Local Traffic and Leads

Picture of Connor Wilkins
Connor Wilkins

CMO, Direction.com

Google Posts Guide

By frequently publishing localized, rich content through Google Posts, businesses can stay top of mind with current customers while also reaching new audiences that are actively searching for or engaging with information related to their products and services.

Revolutionizing your local lead generation with Google Posts can provide a significant boost to your online visibility and customer engagement. By leveraging the power of Google’s vast ecosystem, you can effectively fuel lead generation for your business and stay ahead of the competition. Google Posts are just one piece of the puzzle. Understanding the broader local SEO ranking factors can help you maximize your overall visibility and results.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

In this article, you’ll learn how to leverage Google Posts as a powerful tool for improving local search rankings and engaging potential customers. Whether you’re new to the platform or looking to refine your strategy, we’ll break down:

  • What Google Posts are and where they appear
  • The benefits of publishing Google Business Profile posts
  • The five top-performing types of Google Posts with real-world examples
  • Pro tips on how to use Google Posts for maximum visibility and engagement
  • Optimization techniques that align with our Google Business Profile Audit Checklist to enhance local SEO performance
  • How to tailor Google Posts by industry for better audience targeting and engagement

We’ll also explore essential formatting, keyword usage, and tracking methods that can turn your Google Posts into high-converting assets.

Let’s dive into how you can maximize the potential of your Google Business Profile posts to generate more traffic, leads, and customer action.

What are Google Posts?

Google Posts are short updates with images, GIFs, or videos that businesses can publish directly to their Google Business Profile to engage customers and highlight timely information.

Appearing prominently on knowledge panels in Google Search and Maps, these posts allow companies to share announcements, offers, events and more to both inform existing patrons and become discoverable to new ones searching for related products or services.

Essentially, Google Posts enable relevant, eye-catching content creation that keeps audiences continuously informed while also serving as an SEO-friendly format for attracting nearby visitors.

7 Key Benefits of Google Posts

We’ve identified seven key advantages that come with consistent and strategic posting, including increased visibility, improved customer relationships, and higher local search rankings.

1. Increase Visibility in Local Search Results

One of the key benefits of Google Posts is that they appear prominently in the knowledge panels displayed in Google Maps and Search results. When a user searches for a business or related keyword, up-to-date and relevant posts will catch the searcher’s eye right away.

Without Google Posts, businesses struggle to showcase fast-changing offerings in higher-ranking local search entries that tend to favor static business info and reviews. Posts give you control to programmatically insert fresh content and announcements right into a prime spot for discovery.

The effect over time can be dramatic by consistently highlighting what makes your business unique, seasonal or special in a visitor-friendly format shaped for local searches. You essentially create an always-updating billboard in Local Knowledge Panels for promoting new products, events, deals and showcasing your difference as a brand.

2. Help Customers Find Updated Information About Your Business

When a business publishes new content via a Google Post, it is featured conspicuously in the “Posts” section of their knowledge panel in Google Search and Maps. This section is situated towards the top of the panel, making it one of the first things users see when seeking information.

For example, if a retail store creates an announcement post regarding new winter inventory, when local shoppers search for the store or related terms like “cold weather gear”, they will quickly notice the timely post headline and imagery at the top of business info. This allows the store to proactively showcase in-demand products vs. waiting for searchers to potentially find dated website content instead.

Additionally, posts have a distinct visual presentation that differentiates them from other static info in knowledge panels, with eye-catching formatting. This further draws user attention to the featured content. Also, panel posts in Maps present timely updates specific to a searched location for quick discovery.

3. Keep Customers Informed on the Latest Service/Product Offering and Events

One of the major advantages of Google Posts is the ability to immediately share new announcements with your existing customer base. As soon as a business releases a new product or service, they can draft a descriptive Google Post highlighting the details, features, price promotions etc. and publish it instantly to their followers.

Local stores can utilize posts for timely updates like special shopping hours, sidewalk sales or inventory updates. Restaurants are able publish opening and closing times or showcase menu additions and daily specials.

Service companies can announce new locations, enhanced offerings or staff additions to provide transparency to customers. For time-sensitive updates like flash sales or last minute cancellations, real-time posts ensure fans are notified right away no matter where they are searching from.

Without posts, businesses traditionally had to hope customers saw emails/website banners or visited in person. Now, loyal followers that care about a brand can literally be among the first to know anything by checking and engaging with brand’s Google Posts routinely for all the newest updates relevant to them.

4. Drive More Visits and Actions by Featuring Promotional Content

One of the most effective uses of Google Posts for businesses is highlighting special deals and limited-time offers. For example, a restaurant can create a visually engaging post announcing a 15% off coupon code for first-time customers. This post can stand out clearly within their knowledge panel for searchers browsing dining options in the area.

The true value comes from adding a clickable call-to-action button/link within the promo post leading directly to the restaurant’s website for redeeming the coupon. This convenient path from discovery to conversion is far more effective than just hoping website visitors organically find dated coupon details buried elsewhere.

Without the convenient clicks straight to your own website from actionable posts, you miss out on conversions from interested customers in moments where their buying intent is hottest. Promo posts showcase time-sensitive offers and seamlessly connect searchers to your site to transact easily. The end result is a lift in lead generation and sales.

5. Stay Top-of-Mind with Your Audience

One major advantage Google Posts have over static website content is the ability to publish vibrant imagery, videos and GIFs natively to catch viewer attention. 

Over time, audience growth and engagement build, as consistent multimedia posts provide transparency, entertainment value and helpfulness that followers crave.

The more a business satisfies these needs with fresh content, the more existing and potential new customers turn to them as digital thought leaders and trusted resources within their niche.

6. Improve Click Through Rates from Search Results

Google Posts don’t just improve visibility. They help influence user decisions at the moment of search. With eye-catching imagery, compelling headlines, and clear calls to action, these posts enhance your business’s knowledge panel, encouraging more users to click your profile over others even if you’re not ranking first.

Think of Google Posts as a mini content pitch within your listing. For example, a dentist highlighting “Free Consultations This Week” or a contractor sharing “Now Booking for Spring Projects” instantly gives searchers a reason to engage. Over time, this visual storytelling directly contributes to higher click through rates, making your Google listing more competitive across both desktop and mobile search results.

7. Capture Engagement from Zero Click Searches

With over half of Google searches now ending without a click to a website, engaging users directly in the search results has never been more important. Google Posts allow you to capitalize on these zero click moments by offering timely updates, promotions, or contact options right inside your Business Profile.

Whether it’s a user looking for directions, calling your store, or viewing a post about weekend specials, your content delivers value immediately without requiring them to visit your website. This not only supports customer convenience but ensures your business remains actionable and accessible in today’s evolving local search landscape.

5 Types of Top-Performing Google Posts

Among the Google Post formats that consistently captivate audiences, generate clicks, and drive strong engagement, five categories stand out from the rest when crafted thoughtfully:

  1. Event Announcements and Promotions
  2. New Product/Service Releases
  3. Customer Testimonials
  4. Behind the Scenes Content
  5. Localized Community Happenings

While the reach and creative options are endless, focusing on these content formats that align unique offerings with target audience aspirations helps ensure posting efforts deliver delightful, dramatic and dominant engagement levels.

When crafted consistently over time, an optimal mix of these five top performers absorbs searcher interest to your brand story; earns visibility by satisfying their knowledge needs; and rewards your business with measurable new levels of customer attention and action powered by Google Posts sizzle.

Infographic showing 5 types of high-performing Google Posts

1. Event Announcements and Promotions

Event announcements enable timely promotions of one-time or limited-run happenings that intrigue nearby searchers already browsing for related local attractions.

To maximize interest, the post headline and visuals should spotlight key details like:

  • the event name 
  • featured performer or guests
  • venue location
  • time

Posts can highlight any special experiences, entertainment offerings, or exclusive access that events facilitate to convey differentiated value versus regular business operations.

This attracts qualified attendees implicitly seeking such unique events while aiding discovery among casual searchers.

Additionally, promotional posts should emphasize limited-time availability or scarce capacity clearly in content and offer actionable registration or ticketing links. Urgency and exclusivity inspire commitments to participate.

2. New Product or Service Releases

Google Posts present the perfect medium for brands to build launch momentum for newly released products and service offerings. Posts should focus on articulating unique selling propositions, showcase the innovation in action, and prompt next steps.

  • Introduce the product/service name clearly and describe standout benefits versus competitors or the company’s own existing portfolio.
  • Supplement launch details with imagery depicting differentiators like new features for tangible goods or plan options for services.
  • Embed calls-to-action that enable interested searchers to seamlessly learn more details, find purchasing avenues or claim limited-time incentives for activating trial accounts or support plans. 

Follow-up posts are equally important for sustaining launch success over time by publishing customer reviews, showcasing growing adoption, hinting at advanced applications, and announcing version updates or ancillary products that extend implementation scope.

3. Customer Testimonials

Customer testimonials add credibility and social proof when shared through Google Posts. To maximize authentic impact, identify and excerpt raving fan quotes that convey genuine emotion stemming from meaningful interactions with your business.

For example, highlight powerful sentiments expressing life-changing outcomes, enormous time savings, or relief from pain points delivered by your products or services. Any vivid specifics on quantitative results/metrics or qualitative transformations hold weight over generic praise.

To build trust, accompany fan quotes with relevant context like the customer’s location, circumstances, or photo alongside text linking to published online reviews on high-authority websites. Faces and stories resonate more than disembodied commendations.

Over time, varying highlighted testimonials by demographic factors like gender, age ranges and geographic locales fosters further engagement and representation. Most importantly, ensure those featured provide consent and align to brand guidelines. Powerful word-of-mouth carries responsibility.

4. Behind-the-Scenes Content

Humans inherently crave feeling exceptional through exclusive access.

Behind-the-scenes style Google Posts that provide insider perspectives into company culture, product development, events, or processes can deeply engage audiences. 

For physical products/services, give sneak peeks at R&D labs, concept testing, creation stations on the manufacturing line, etc. Explore the artistry and care invested into offerings customers experience only as finished goods.

For knowledge/creative companies, spotlight talented teams collaborating or individual genius captured in photos/video as seminal ideas develop. Democratize access to the magic behind innovation.

For location-based businesses like restaurants, venues or stores, capture vivid scenes of meticulous setups, staff enthusiastically preparing, or venues transforming pre-event. Pull back the curtain on the orchestration required to delight guests.

Essentially these posts display the humanity and happenings customers don’t get to witness that make offerings extraordinary even before purchase. This behind-the-scenes framing fosters deeper affinity and advocacy.

5. Localized Community Happenings

Sharing involvement with community events, local partnerships, sponsorships and other civic-focused activities can build tremendous goodwill and affinity with target area customers.

Google Posts should highlight any donations, volunteer efforts, mentoring programs or other social initiatives the business participates in to give back locally. Even small contributions make a difference to those in need.

Supporting regional events and institutions also earns recognition. Give glimpses into company-sponsored festivals, performing arts programs, little league teams, etc. that embody area traditions and values.

Partnering with complementary local businesses showcases communal alignment. Cross-promote specialty retailers, niche service providers or neighboring establishments that share target audiences via Posts.

Essentially, demonstrate corporate citizenship and interconnection with the fabric of regional culture. This earns respect locally while attracting like-minded talent and visitors.

How to Optimize Google Posts for Engagement and Discovery

Google Posts must accomplish dual objectives to succeed – attracting discovery from relevant searchers while also engaging viewers enough post-click to take intended actions like visiting your sites, registering for events etc.

This requires strategic optimization across factors driving visibility and engagement. Follow these actions to ensure you’re gaining substantial reach and exposure from your efforts.

Include Relevant Keywords

Research the precise terminology potential customers use around solutions you provide via keyword tools, then directly reference these natural phrases in post headlines, body text and alt text descriptions of imagery. This signals relevancy to search algorithms.

Craft Compelling Headlines

Pose teaser questions, offer previews into addressed topics, incorporate emotional elements like humor or surprise that entice clicking for satisfying resolution. Avoid overused tropes.

PRO TIP: Add your crafted headline to AI writing tools to optimize verbiage for a more compelling headline.

Use Eye-Catching Visuals

Creative images, designs, typography, color composition video and GIF elements increase average time spent digesting content while also lifting click appeal and shareability. Invest in quality.

Google Post Image Size: The Ideal Google Business Post image size is 583px x 305px

Include a Clear CTA

To drive engagement and encourage users to take specific actions, always include a clear call-to-action within your Google Business Profile posts. Whether it’s inviting customers to visit your website, make an appointment, or sign up for a newsletter – be sure that each post has one primary goal with an accompanying CTA button or link directing viewers towards taking that desired action.

By optimizing your Google Business Profile posts using these strategies, you’ll increase their overall effectiveness in attracting new customers and improving local search rankings. This will ultimately help revolutionize your local lead generation efforts and contribute positively towards business growth.

Don't Use Hashtags

Hashtags can be a powerful tool when used strategically in your social media posts, but not your Google Business Profile posts, as there is no way (currently) to search for keywords across a variety of Google Business profiles.

Publish Consistently

Ongoing cadence refreshes your brand’s presence facing both followers and occasional local searchers. Allow time for momentum. Be realistic balancing meaningful content generation without overextending.

Track Performance Trends

Analyze metrics like click rates, website referral traffic, reactions and comments per post. Learn what works and what misses the mark. Continually optimize and test approaches.

How to Optimize Google Posts by Industry

While general best practices work across the board, customizing your Google Posts for your specific industry helps make your content more compelling and more likely to convert. If you haven’t already, reviewing our complete Google Business Posts guide provides a strong foundation before diving into these tailored strategies for four high-impact sectors.

Law Firms

Law firms operate in a trust-based industry where credibility, authority, and transparency are essential. Google Posts provide a direct opportunity to communicate key updates, highlight wins, and build rapport with both potential and existing clients.

Best post types include:

  • Client success stories and testimonials
  • Updates on legal changes or new practice areas
  • Free consultation offers
  • Community involvement or pro bono initiatives

Using Google Posts, law firms can strengthen their presence in local search and stay top of mind during key legal decision-making moments. The goal is to demonstrate both expertise and approachability through thoughtful, professional messaging.

Real Estate Companies

Real estate is a highly visual and time-sensitive industry. Whether it’s a new listing, an open house, or market insight, agents and brokerages need to communicate quickly and effectively. Google Posts allow agents to showcase their latest offerings and promote services where local intent is high. For more tailored tips, check out our guide on using Google Posts for real estate brokers and agents.

Ideal post types include:

  • Featured property listings with photos and details
  • Open house announcements with maps and times
  • Local market updates and buyer/seller tips
  • Introductions to your real estate team or client testimonials

By using high-quality visuals and time-sensitive calls to action, real estate professionals can generate more interest, traffic, and appointments-all directly from Google Search and Maps.

Medical and Healthcare Providers

In the medical field, building patient trust is everything. Google Posts offer a chance to reinforce expertise, humanize your practice, and guide potential patients toward booking care. Whether you’re a private practice, urgent care, or specialist, consistent posting improves your visibility and reputation. Strengthening that visibility often goes hand in hand with a thoughtful approach to SEO for doctors, which helps ensure your practice appears where and when patients are searching for care.

Recommended post types include:

  • Announcements of new services or treatment offerings
  • Seasonal health tips and appointment reminders
  • Physician or staff introductions to build familiarity
  • Patient testimonials (always with permission)

Medical providers should keep visuals friendly and welcoming, use plain language, and include clear CTAs like “Call Today” or “Schedule Your Visit.” This keeps the patient journey seamless from discovery to booking.

Tax and Financial Services

For financial advisors, accountants, and tax professionals, Google Posts are an excellent tool for positioning yourself as a trusted advisor while driving new inquiries around critical deadlines or planning milestones. This is a high-intent audience that values simplicity and confidence.

Top-performing post types include:

  • Tax season deadlines and reminders
  • Financial tips or common FAQ posts
  • Promotions like free consultations or audits
  • Client success stories that highlight savings or solutions

To stand out, these businesses should emphasize trust, experience, and accessibility. Posts that offer simple next steps, such as “Schedule a Free Review,” help convert passive searchers into leads.

5 Examples of Great Google Posts

Service Pets does a great job with clearly outlined call-to-actions in their images, plus, “Save Thousands of Dollars” seems like a no-brainer to get me to click!

Audi of South Austin does a great job letting people know of a huge credit in one post, and in the other, while there is no visual imagery, none is required as “No Payments Until Spring” is a pretty enticing offer.

MD Paving Pros does a great job showing a special with a percentage discount on services. With paving, you’ll first need a quote – so, this to me seems like an awesome way to generate calls for quotes.

Silver Tax Group does a great job with the post copywriting, creating a sense of urgency, while offering free consultations.

DMV Roofing Pros does a great job in highlighting attractive savings, and offering money for referrals.

Analyze Performance by Connecting Google Business Profile to Google Analytics

Once you’ve optimized and published your Google Posts, it’s essential to understand how they’re performing. Fortunately, you can integrate your Google Business Profile (GBP) with Google Analytics to gain insights into what content resonates most with local searchers-and how that engagement supports your broader marketing goals.

Tracking this data allows you to fine-tune future posts, measure conversions, and better understand how customers interact with your business across Search and Maps. If you’re looking for additional ways to evaluate your overall online performance, check out these website analysis tools for SEO to round out your strategy.

How to Link Your Google Business Profile to Google Analytics

If your website is built on WordPress, we recommend using Google’s “Site Kit” plugin to make integration seamless. However, you can also connect manually within your Google Analytics account. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Log in to your Google Analytics account
  2. Navigate to the Admin tab
  3. Under the Property column, click Google Ads Linking
  4. Click the blue New Link Group button
  5. Select your Google Business Profile from the dropdown list
  6. Customize your settings (e.g., data sharing options)
  7. Click Save to complete the setup

Once connected, Google Analytics will begin collecting behavioral data that reflects user interaction with your GBP, including activity driven by your Google Posts.

Key Metrics to Track and Why They Matter

After linking your accounts, you’ll unlock a variety of useful metrics to monitor how your Google Posts contribute to discovery and engagement:

  • Impressions: How often your Business Profile is displayed in Google Search and Maps
  • Actions: How many users took action (e.g., clicked your link, called your business, viewed your photos)
  • Search Queries: The exact terms users typed into Google before your profile was shown
  • Customer Actions: Specific interactions users completed, like requesting directions or clicking for a website visit

By regularly reviewing these metrics, business owners and marketers can identify which types of posts drive the most interest and which ones might need adjustment. This kind of visibility ensures that your Google Posts strategy continues to generate local leads, website traffic, and real-world results.

Why Google Posts Should Be Part of Your Local SEO Strategy

Google Posts represent a foundational local marketing pillar that every knowledgeable brand should leverage to gain maximum visibility and engagement.

As explored throughout this guide, consistent and well-crafted Google Posts can unlock highly qualified traffic, drive conversions, and capture customer attention in ways traditional static content cannot. From increasing your presence in local search results to sharing real-time updates, promotional offers, and testimonials, the opportunities are vast when this feature is used with strategy and intent.

Start Generating Better Local Rankings and Leads Today

Ready to take your Google Posts strategy to the next level?

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale your local SEO efforts, our team is here to help. Get in touch for a free local SEO consultation and discover how optimized Google Business Profile posts can drive more traffic, leads, and visibility for your business.

Frequent Questions Regarding Google Posts

Google displays posts prominently in the dedicated “Posts” section of your Business Profile’s knowledge panel shown in Search and Maps.

This puts timely, engaging user-generated content right at the top of listings when people search your business name or relevant query terms.

Craft eye-catching headlines, incorporate vibrant imagery, videos or GIFs, provide valuable announcements like events/offers, or behind-the-scenes content.

Include calls-to-action to drive visits, conversions and stickiness. Ensure topics relate to your business offerings and location to attract engaged searchers.

Google My Business enables free posting directly through your profile dashboard or mobile app. Simply setup your free Business Profile to get access and start publishing updates to engage customers and improve local SEO. 

For best results, aim to post at least once a week. Consistency keeps your content fresh in Google’s eyes and signals to both users and search engines that your business is active. For time-sensitive promotions or events, consider posting more frequently to align with customer behavior and seasonal trends.

Yes, Google Posts support your local SEO efforts by keeping your Business Profile active and relevant. They add keyword-rich, fresh content directly into your knowledge panel, which can improve engagement signals, click-through rates, and visibility in local search results.

While Google’s native tools do not support post scheduling, several third-party platforms offer this functionality. Scheduling helps maintain consistency and ensures you always have fresh, timely content, especially useful for campaigns, promotions, or recurring updates.

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