by Brian Lawrence
With competition among websites at an all-time high, optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) for success is crucial. Most businesses optimize their GBP with information like address, phone number, and business hours. However, you can add several more features to take your profile to the next level. Adding chat, booking, and request quote features to your GBP can boost customer engagement and lead to a higher conversion rate.
In this blog post, I’ll explain more about the benefits of these features and provide a step-by-step guide on how to add them to your GBP.
In this blog, I’ll explain how adding keywords to your business name and changing location can affect your Google Business Profile (GBP) and rankings.
Convenience
Adding a chat functionality to your GBP provides customers with an easy, fast way to communicate with your business. If a customer has a question about products and services, or needs assistance with an issue, chatting through the profile streamlines the process. This improves customer satisfaction, which could lead to a positive review.
Wedding dress and tuxedo rental stores can gain a lot from adding a chat feature. For example, tuxedo rentals can use the chat feature to schedule fittings and answer customer questions about costs without dealing with phone calls. At the same time, wedding venues benefit from using chat to communicate with customers regarding date availability for ceremonies and receptions.
Ease of Access
The booking feature on a GBP streamlines the process for customers looking to schedule a service or time with a business. Customers can take advantage of this feature without having to navigate away from the profile.
Hotels are some of the biggest beneficiaries of the booking feature. Customers looking to book a room at a hotel can simply click on the booking option, select dates and room preferences, and confirm the booking using personal details.
Conversion Rates
Allowing customers to request a quote through your GBP significantly improves your chance of increasing conversions. Customers who take the time to request a quote are more motivated and serious about using your services. Capturing high-quality leads through the request quote feature can help maximize return on investment.
Service-based businesses like home repair contractors, caterers, and real estate agencies streamline their lead generation when customers can easily price check services, weeding out those who aren’t a good match.
Note: If you don’t respond to customer inquiries from chat, booking, or request quote features in an acceptable timeframe, Google will deactivate the features from your GBP. Keep track of your business’s average response time, and provide prompt feedback to prevent penalties.
Ultimately, a complete GBP increases your business’s visibility on Google and Google Maps. Chat, booking, and quote requests are just some of the additional features that help remove barriers between you and your customers.
How to Add These Features to Your GBP
Chat Functionality
1. Sign into your Google Business Profile.
2. Navigate to “Messaging.”
3. Enable messaging by selecting your preferred messaging app or phone number.
4. Customize your welcome message and hours of availability.
5. Save changes.
Booking Feature
1. Sign into your Google Business Profile
2. Go to the “Booking” section.
3. Choose a booking provider from a list of options or integrate your existing booking system.
4. Follow the instructions to connect your booking service to your GBP.
5. Verify and adjust settings before saving changes.
Request Quote Feature
1. Sign into your Google Business Profile
2. Go to the “Services” section.
3. Click on the “+” button to add a new service.
4. Enable the “Request a Quote” option for services you want to offer quotes.
5. Specify pricing details.
6. Save your changes.