Q: Does my business even need a GBP?

A: If you serve local customers, and they discover you online, then yes. You can set a service area instead of publishing a physical location. Using a service area instead of a physical location is great if you:

• Work out of a home office & want to keep that address private

• Have a service based business where you go to your customers

• Are in a band that performs at weddings

Q: Can I set up a GBP for my Etsy shop?

A: If you regularly sell locally from the same physical location, like at a weekly market or you also rent space in a retail shop, then yes you absolutely can. Use the physical location where customers can buy your items. If you have to ship everything to your customers, who live all over the place, then no. GBPs are designed to help customers find local businesses in their area.

Q: I have a B2B business. Should I set up a GBP?

A: Possibly. If your current customers find you by searching online, then yes. Examples of this are professional services, print shops, tech repair & troubleshooting, graphic designers, photographers, web designers, marketing agencies, consultants, AV services, etc.

If you have a very niche business and your customers find you through word of mouth, networking, LinkedIn, or industry-specific sites, then probably not.

An easy way to find out is to look at your website analytics to see where your traffic is coming from. If at least 25% of your customers are coming from Google, then a GBP will help them find you and can definitely help you stand out.

Another way to find out is to Google your business category. If you see your competitors have a GBP, then you absolutely need one. Google gives you your GBP for free, so as long as you have local customers, then it can't hurt. And chances are you already have one and it's waiting for you to claim it.

Q: I have a GBP but have no idea how to log in to it. I either forgot the login or someone else set it up but I don't know who and have no way of finding out. What do I do?

A: This happens and it's actually an easy fix. Reach out to Pam through our Contact Us page and she’ll help you get back into your GBP login.

Q: Somebody set up a 2nd GBP for my business at the wrong location and it confuses my customers. Help!

A: No problem. This is a very easy thing to fix. Reach out to Pam through our Contact Us page and she’ll help you fix this in less than 5 minutes.

Q: How do I know if my GBP is helping or hurting my business?

A: Great question. The fastest way to find out is to Google your business name and see what shows up. If your GBP isn’t the first thing, or what shows up makes you cringe (wrong info, bad photos, old reviews), it’s time to fix it. You can also check your GBP dashboard for insights on how people find you, what they click, and how often. Don’t have access to your dashboard? Reach out to Pam through our Contact Us page and she can help with that.

Q: I claimed my GBP a while ago but haven’t touched it since. Is that bad?

A: Not bad, but definitely not helping you as much as it could. Google favors fresh, active listings — just like a social platform. If you're not posting updates, responding to reviews, or adding new photos, Google assumes you’re closed, stale, or irrelevant. A few tiny monthly actions can make a huge difference. (That’s where we can help you shine.)

Q: Do I really need to post photos and updates regularly?

A: Yes — but don’t worry, you don’t need to become a full-time photographer or content creator. Google wants to see signs of life on your profile, and photos + short updates are the easiest way to show you're active, relevant, and trustworthy. Bonus: customers trust businesses that look alive.

Q: I’ve heard horror stories about fake reviews. What if someone leaves a 1-star review just to mess with me?

A: It happens. But you’re not powerless. You can flag reviews that violate Google’s policies, and more importantly, respond in a way that builds trust with future customers. We even have templates that help you respond professionally without sounding defensive or robotic.

Q: I don’t want to ask my customers for reviews — it feels awkward.

A: Totally get it. But not asking is costing you visibility and sales. The trick is to make it easy, natural, and non-pushy — for both you and your customers. We’ll show you how to ask without sounding desperate and get reviews that sell for you 24/7.

Q: I don't have time to deal with any of this. Can I just pay you to do it?

A: Yup — we’d love to! We specialize in doing this stuff for business owners who are already maxed out. We’ll show you what needs fixing, explain why it matters, and if you give us the green light, we’ll just handle it. You don’t have to lift a finger (except maybe to say "yes, please").

Q: What’s the difference between what you do and a marketing agency?

A: We’re not an agency. We’re specialists. We don’t offer generic social media fluff or expensive retainers. Instead, we focus on what moves the needle fast for small local businesses — starting with your Google Business Profile and the reviews that power it. Our job is to help you stand out, get found, and make more money — fast, easy, and without BS.

Q: I have an odd business model — can you still help?

A: Probably. If you’re not sure whether your business “qualifies” for a GBP or whether it makes sense to invest time in it, just reach out. We’ve worked with everyone from food trucks to traveling estheticians, touring bands, artsy side hustlers, and part-time pop-up vendors. If local customers need to find you, we’ve got you covered.