Google Business Profile FAQs
During our recent Masterclass with The Private Practice Startup on “How to Create a Google Business Profile That Attracts New Clients,” we received numerous questions from our attendees that were answered live during the webinar. We wanted to compile and share those answers with you for reference going forward as you create and manage your private practices Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business).
FAQs – Google Business Profile
What if I share an office with another business?
If you run your private practice out of shared office space, you are still eligible for a Google Business Profile (GBP) as long as you follow Google’s guidelines. However, keep in mind that creating a GBP from a co-working or shared office space isn’t as straightforward as having a dedicated office space or brick-and-mortar location. Google is more suspicious of these types of listings, making your business more susceptible to suspension. The only thing that Google specifically mentions on creating a Business Profile for co-working or shared office spaces is that “businesses can’t list an office at a co-working space unless that office maintains clear signage, receives customers at the location during business hours, and is staffed during business hours by your business staff.”
So, to successfully create a GBP for your private practice using a co-working or shared office space address, do the following:
- Always be present, or have staff present, at the designated location during stated business hours.
- Ensure clients can visit the business in person during your stated business hours.
- Have clear signage with your practice name visible.
- Ensure you can receive mail addressed to your practice at the co-working space.
- Have a separate, unique phone number for your practice that’s different from the main co-working space.
If I’m licensed/practicing in two locations, how do I manage a Google Business Profile for both places with the same name?
You should create a new Google Business Profile page for each location, one after the other, under the same name. You will notice the steps to set up your second profile are practically identical to opening up your first page.
Step 1: Go to – https://business.google.com/
- Make sure you’re logged in with the Gmail account associated with your original Google My Business page. This will make for better organization as you’ll want both of your businesses underneath the same account.
Step 2: Select “Add Location” > “Add a Single Location”
- Once you are logged into your Google Business Profile account with your first location, you’ll want to click “Add Location” and then “Add Single Location.” The second Google Business Profile page should be treated as a separate entity, so you want to add it as a single location to move forward.
Step 3: Add Your Business Name
- A lot of businesses don’t know how to treat the name of their second location. The best practice is to keep the brand name consistent for your second Google Business Profile page.
- For instance, imagine Tanya’s Total Therapy’s original location is in Boston, MA. When Tanya opens her second location in Denver, CO, she considers naming her Google Business Profile “Tanya’s Total Therapy – Denver.” This isn’t best practice; she should keep it “Tanya’s Total Therapy.”
What if you don’t have a physical location for your practice, but travel to clients or offer only telehealth services?
You do not need a physical office or a brick-and-mortar office to have a Google Business Profile. However, even when your business doesn’t want to display an address in the listing, Google requires a mailing address for the business. This verifies that the business exists and is registered in the area where the listing will appear.
In this case, you can still establish a Google Profile page by receiving a postcard to your home or office, even if patients don’t visit you there. You would then set your profile as a “Service Area” business page (a business that visits or delivers to customers directly but doesn’t serve customers at their business address) so your physical address is not displayed.
If I am fully virtual, is it better to list specific service areas vs. the entire state in terms of SEO and getting traffic to your business?
Do I need a Google account before creating a Google Business Profile?
Yes. In order to create a Google Business Profile, you first need to create a Google account. If you’ve already signed up for any other Google product – i.e. Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Gmail, etc. – then you already have a Google account. If you’re creating a new Google Account, you can sign up here with your business email domain.
Note: If you do already have an existing Google account, it is best to use the same account so that all of your business accounts are connected This helps Google better understand your business as a whole and will, therefore, help your SEO
How do I remove a Google Business Profile listing?
To remove an individual Business Profile, on your computer, sign in to Business Profile Manager with the same account you used to sign up for Business Profile.
- To remove a single profile, click on it
- In the menu on the left, click Info
- Click Close or remove this profile > Remove profile > Remove
More helpful information on removing your business profile can be found here.
How do I post blogs to my Google Business Profile?
You can publish your posts (offers, events, products, and services) directly to Google Search and Maps through posts on Business Profile Manager.
- Log in to your Google Business Profile
- Click “Create Post”
- Choose your post type–the information that you’ll need to enter will change based on the type of post you’re creating
- Fill out all the fields
- Preview your post
These text, photo, or video posts will appear in mobile view in the “Updates” or “Overview” sections of your profile in Google Search and Maps, the “From the Owner” section of your profile in the desktop view of Google Search and Maps, and in Google My Business websites.
For example, if you add photos to your business’s profile, they’ll automatically show as posts to viewers.
How can I find out what keywords get the most hits for my practice?
Keyword research is the process of finding the words (or phrases) people are using in online searches that best describe your practice. When done correctly, keyword research yields an extensive list of keywords you want your website to rank for on a search engine results page. Read this blog to learn how to do keyword research yourself!
There are also plenty of free tools out there that can help you optimize keyword search for your private practice’s website and Google Business Profile. Every Brighter Vision client receives free SEO for their website, which includes keyword search. Check out our Free Therapist Keyword Cheatsheet for some ideas!
Additional Resources – Google Business Profile for Therapists
- FREE SEO TOOL: Therapist Keyword Cheatsheet
- How to Get a Google Business Profile for Your Private Practice
- How To Effectively Optimize Google My Business
- Show Off Your Services with Google My Business
Still not finding the answers you’re looking for? Schedule a quick appointment with one of our dedicated team members to answer any additional questions you may have.
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