Businesses that take the time to meticulously showcase their products and inventory in their Google Business Profile unlock a powerful gateway for connecting their goods with interested local searchers.
For local and small businesses, getting found online by relevant customers often spells the difference between flourishing growth and stagnating sales. According to recent surveys, over 80% of shoppers now look up info about a local store or product online before walking in. It is critical for businesses to tap into this research behavior and have their products visible within those search results.
With Google controlling over 90% of search traffic, local businesses need to specifically optimize for Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). However, shockingly, 68% of small businesses still have incomplete profiles or inadequate info on their key products and services.
This article will explore how to unlock the full potential of the products section within your Google Business Profile. Follow our tips and transform your GBP into an optimized e-commerce portal for both service providers and retail stores alike.
What is the Google Business Products Section?
The Products section in Google Business Profile allows businesses to showcase and provide detailed information about the products they offer for sale. Here are some key things to know about the Products feature:
- Purpose – The Products section enables businesses to highlight their goods/merchandise, with the goal of connecting interested local customers with the ability to purchase those items.
- Visibility – Listing products helps businesses get discovered in relevant local product searches on Google Search and Maps. When users search for particular items nearby, businesses with those products listed may show up as a result.
- Organization – Products can be organized into broad categories like apparel, accessories, gear etc. This helps group similar items together for better discovery. Individual products can then be listed out with details.
- Product Details – For each product listed, businesses can provide information like product name, description, price, images, availability, sizes, colors, materials, specs and more. Additional details help inform and convert searchers.
- Inventory Linking – The Products section can be linked to a business’s commerce site or menu system to provide up-to-date inventory availability and prices. This helps keep product data current.
How do Google Business Products and Services Benefit Local Businesses?
The Products section in a Google Business Profile is an incredibly valuable asset for local businesses aiming to attract and convert online shoppers for the following reasons:
- Customer Convenience – Listing products on a GBP allows nearby customers to easily browse inventory, product details and pricing without having to first visit the store. This research convenience helps convert shoppers faster.
- 24/7 Exposure – A complete products showcase gives a local store 24/7 visibility and discoverability in Google local searches. Even when the business is closed, customers can browse and get to know their selection.
- SEO Benefits – Optimizing products by adding descriptions, variants, images etc. improves the chances of ranking for valuable product-related searches in Google. This draws more qualified traffic to convert.
- Mobile Optimization – Google shopping journeys are increasingly happening on mobile devices. A Google Business Profile optimized around products makes inventory accessible on-the-go to today’s consumers.
- Building Trust & Authority – An accurate and data-rich products listing inspires trust in the depth of a local business’s inventory and competence. This perception encourages sales.
The ability to turn a local store’s GBP into a customizable online storefront via the products section is hugely impactful for customer conversion, especially on mobile. Local businesses should tap into this valuable resource for growth.
How to Add Products to Your Google Business Profile (10 Steps)
- Log in to your GBP account Navigate to google.com/business and either log in to your existing GBP account or create a new one if you haven’t yet.
- Click on the “Products” tab Once logged into your dashboard, click on the “Products” tab in the left sidebar. This is where you will manage all products.
- Click the “+ Add products” button This opens up the product addition window. Make sure “I sell products” is selected at the top if it isn’t already.
- Enter product name In the “Product name” field, enter the official name of the product as it should appear.
- Select the product category Use the category dropdown to select which group the product belongs to. Choose an existing category or create a new one.
- Upload a photo Click the upload button to add a high-quality photo showing the product. Multiple photos are encouraged where possible.
- Enter additional details In the fields provided, add information like description, price, available sizes/colors, technical specifications and more.
- Set availability Select whether the product is “In stock”, “Out of stock” or “Discontinued”.
- Add more products Click “Save & Add Another” to add more products and repeat Steps 4-8.
- Finish and publish Once done, click the “Save” button to finalize all products. They will now appear in the products section publicly.
Best Practices for Populating the Google Business Products and Services Section
Organize Products/Services from Most Popular or In-Demand to More Niche
Strategically organizing your products and services is crucial for providing the best user experience in your GBP. Always lead with your best sellers, signature items, or most popular offerings first.
For example, if you are a restaurant, feature main dishes before appetizers and sides. Or if you are a clothing retailer, list best-selling items like jeans before seasonal goods. Highlight any limited-time specials at the very top as well. This showcases your core products efficiently.
Then create sub-categories for product types like:
- Coats
- Pants
- Shirts
- Shorts
- etc.
Where relevant, break those groups down further like Mens/Womens/Kids apparel. List more niche items under the appropriate sub-groups afterwards. This helps connect searchers with relevant items faster.
Creating a methodical hierarchy based on popularity and product segmentation improves scannability and conversions.
Basically, group similar offerings logically while leading with customer favorites.
Include all Variations of Names, Keywords, and Terminology
To increase discoverability, be exhaustive when adding product names in your GBP. Don’t just list the official name. Include all nicknames, shortened forms, spelled-out versions, and branded terms associated with an item.
For example, a restaurant would list “Chicken Sandwich” along with “McFeast Chicken Sandwich” or just “McFeast.” Retail products should include color variants like “Navy Blue Wool Coat” and “Wool Overcoat – Navy.”
Additionally, incorporate whatever descriptive keywords and terminology customers may use when searching. This helps you pop up across the myriad of product queries.
The wider the synonym net you cast for each product name, the greater your visibility and traffic potential. Brainstorm all reasonable variations.
Optimize with Additional Details like Price Ranges, Sizes, and Technical Specifications
Merely listing product names is not enough – you must also optimize each product with supplemental details that matter to searchers.
Key information to include:
- Price – Provide accurate price ranges
- Sizes – List all available sizes
- Colors – Showcase colors it comes in
- Materials – Is it canvas or leather?
- Tech Specs – Dimensions, battery life, etc
- Options – Variants like frame color for sunglasses
- Description – Short sentence with sales-oriented copy
Additional specs help customers research effectively and provide crucial buying criteria. Enabling self-service research builds confidence to purchase and positions your GBP as an authoritative resource. Go beyond titles to compel conversions.
Use Clear Photos
Ensure every product listed has an attractive, high-quality accompanying visual. Images should showcase the aesthetics of a product, demonstrate scale, call out materials, and highlight standout features.
Seeing is believing, so enable visual research for enhanced trust and conversion rates. This includes using color variants as separate images when possible.
Images should focus predominantly on the product itself with clean backgrounds. Optimize images file sizes for fast loading as well. Well-composed photos that delight visitors help drive purchase decisions.
Explore which CTAs Resonate with Your Audience
There are different CTA options baked into your Google Business Profile:
- Buy Now – Perfect for e-commerce businesses or product-based offerings.
- Learn More – Ideal for service-oriented companies looking to provide more information about their services before users commit.
- Order Now – A must-have for restaurants and food delivery services aiming to streamline online orders from customers directly via Google Maps.
The first step is understanding your audience’s needs and preferences when interacting with local businesses like yours online.
- Analyze customer reviews: What do they mention frequently as pain points or positive experiences?
- Evaluate competitors’ CTAs: Which ones seem effective based on their overall success?
- A/B test different options: Experiment with various CTAs to see which ones resonate best with your audience.
Remember, the goal is to choose a CTA that aligns with your overall marketing objectives and target audience preferences.
Link to Your eCommerce Site or Menu
Finally, add a link below each product description that points to your e-commerce site or online menu that houses more details, photos, reviews etc. Creating connected pathways between your GBP and existing product catalogs keeps the research and shopping journey moving seamlessly.
Direct access to your own content builds confidence and positions your GBP as a trustworthy launch pad versus a walled garden. Meet their needs at every step through strategic links and bridges into your platforms.
Follow these 5 best practices for remarkable products exposure that captivates consumers and accelerates conversions. Treat your GBP products section as the driver for inbound sales, not just a profile finishing touch.
Tips for Organizing Your Product Spreadsheet Effectively
- #1: Start by listing out each product name along with its description, price, image URL (if available), and any other critical data points like SKU or category.
- #2: Use separate columns for different types of information – this will make editing much more manageable later on.
- #3: Don’t forget about SEO. Incorporate relevant keywords into your descriptions without overdoing it. Remember that readability matters too.
- #4: Keep things tidy by using clear headings at the top of each column. This way, you can quickly identify what goes where when updating your GMB products list.
A well-prepared spreadsheet not only saves time but also ensures that potential customers get an accurate representation of your offerings through engaging visuals and informative content.
So, take the time to create a spreadsheet that truly reflects your brand and its products. And don’t forget to optimize your business profile by adding Google offers, business hours, and customer reviews. After all, Google dominates search, and you want to make sure your business stands out.
Leverage Pointy From Google
Pointy from Google is a free integration tool that helps retail stores automatically sync their in-store product inventory to their Google Business Profile. Here is an overview of Pointy and how it can be used to easily populate the Products section of a GBP:
What Pointy Does
- Pointy uses a small hardware barcode scanner placed in the retail store that continuously scans items on shelves/racks to detect inventory.
- The Pointy algorithm then matches those scanned barcodes to the correct product names and details from an online product catalog.
- New or updated inventory is then automatically uploaded in real-time to the retailer’s Products section in their Google Business Profile.
Benefits for GBP Products Section
- Eliminates manual entry and updates – inventory appears automatically.
- Keeps product names, availabilities, images etc current in real-time.
- Can upload 100s-1000s of products faster than manual methods.
- Helps drive more local traffic and sales by keeping product listings fresh.
Pointy provides an automated solution for syncing in-store products to your Google Business Profile continuously. This saves huge effort while providing more real-time accuracy on product availability directly in Google search. It’s a valuable service for retailers managing extensive inventories across their GBP and online store.
Don't Forget to Update Your Products on GBP
As your inventory evolves or you introduce new products, it’s crucial to maintain an up-to-date Google My Business listing.
You don’t want potential customers drooling over last season’s items, do you?
To stay on top of your game, evaluate internal resources and develop a plan for regularly editing and updating product information in the listing.
- Determine how frequently your inventory changes – daily, weekly or monthly?
- Assign a team member responsible for managing GMB product updates.
- Create reminders or calendar events to ensure timely edits are made.
Maintaining consistency across all channels is key – both online and offline.
- Audit existing listings periodically; make sure they align with current offerings.
- Edit descriptions as needed: update prices, remove discontinued items, etcetera.
- Add new products promptly so that customers can find them easily while browsing online.
Direction.com suggests using tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social to manage your GMB listing alongside other social media platforms, making it easier to keep everything up-to-date and in sync.
Remember: an accurate, engaging, and fresh Google My Business Products listing is essential for attracting potential customers and boosting local search rankings.
So go ahead – take charge of your virtual storefront and make those updates count.
Monitoring and Analyzing Performance: A Data-Driven Approach
To make the most of your Google My Business Products, it’s essential to keep an eye on performance data within the platform. This way, you can optimize your listings for better results and higher conversions.
So, how do we go about this?
Key Metrics to Track in GMB Dashboard
Metric #1: Views – Keep track of how many people are seeing your products or services listing.
Metric #2: Clicks – Monitor the number of clicks on each product/service listing and CTA button. This helps gauge user engagement levels with specific items.
Metric #3: Conversions – Measure success by tracking conversions such as purchases or sign-ups resulting from users engaging with your listings.
Leveraging Data Insights for Continuous Improvement
Data is power. When used effectively, it can help you make informed decisions about optimizing product listings. Here’s what you need to do:
- Analyze trends over time – Identify patterns in views, clicks, and conversions that may indicate opportunities for improvement or areas requiring attention.
- A/B test different elements – Experiment with variations in product descriptions, images, CTAs, etc., to determine which version performs best among users.
- Evaluate competitor performance – Stay ahead of the competition by monitoring their GMB profiles and identifying strategies they use successfully that could be adapted for your business.
By staying on top of your GMB Products performance data, you’ll be well-equipped to make the necessary adjustments for continuous growth and success.
Remember: Knowledge is power, but only when it’s put into action.
FAQs in Relation to Google My Business Products
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. GMB helps businesses connect with customers, showcase products and services, share updates, and collect reviews. It is essential for local SEO and increasing visibility in search results.
What are the product categories in Google My Business?
Product categories in GMB help organize your offerings into specific groups such as clothing, electronics, or food items. There isn’t a fixed list of categories; you can create custom ones based on your business needs. Proper categorization improves discoverability by helping potential customers find relevant products more easily.
What should Google My Business posts be about?
GMB posts should focus on promoting events, offers, news updates, or highlighting specific products/services related to your business. They provide an opportunity to engage with customers directly through images, videos, and texts while showcasing what makes your brand unique. Keep content fresh by posting regularly and ensuring relevance for target audiences.
Should I add products to Google My Business?
Yes. Adding products to GMB enhances listings by providing detailed information about what you offer directly within search results/maps viewings without requiring additional clicks from users browsing nearby options. This may lead to increased engagement and conversion rates overall when utilized effectively alongside other features like photos, reviews, CTAs, etc. available on this platform.
Optimize Your Google Business Profile Products With Direction Local
In conclusion, Google Business Products is a powerful tool that can help businesses improve their online presence and attract more customers. By providing accurate and engaging product information, featuring popular dishes or menu functions, creating compelling descriptions, adding call-to-action buttons, regularly updating listings, and monitoring performance metrics, businesses can optimize their GMB profiles for success.
If you want to take your business’s online visibility to the next level with Google My Business Products, our SEO experts can assist you in designing a tailored approach that suits your distinct objectives and desires. Let us help you grow your business!
Get a free demo today to learn more about how we can help you leverage the power of Google My Business Products for better results!