How to Make Money with Google My Business

Your Google My Business profile is more than just a map pin, it's one of the most powerful and free tools you have for attracting local, ready-to-buy customers. When optimized correctly, it acts as a mini-website, a social proof engine, and a direct line to people actively searching for your services. This guide will show you precisely how to transform your GMB profile from a static listing into a consistent source of revenue for your business.

Stop Treating It Like a Listing, Start Treating It Like a Sales Funnel

Most businesses set up their GMB profile once and forget about it. This is the biggest mistake you can make. Your profile isn't a digital phonebook entry, it's the first impression you make on nearly all of your local customers. An incomplete or outdated profile tells customers you might not be open, professional, or trustworthy. A rich, active, and helpful profile, on the other hand, builds instant credibility and guides customers toward a purchase.

Think of it as your digital storefront. You wouldn't leave your physical shop with peeling paint and an "Opening Soon" sign in the window for years, so don't do it with your most important online asset.

Step 1: Get the Foundational Details Flawless

Accuracy here is non-negotiable. Conflicting information across the web can hurt your local search ranking. Go through your profile with a fine-toothed comb.

• NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number): This must be exactly the same everywhere online, from your website to your social media profiles. No variations like "St." vs "Street" or "(555)" vs "555-". Consistency is king for local SEO.
• Categories: Choose the most specific primary category for your business. Don't be a generic "Restaurant" if you're a "Pizza Restaurant." Then, add all relevant secondary categories. Think like a customer: what terms would they search for to find you?
• Hours of Operation: Keep these updated religiously. Nothing infuriates a potential customer more than driving to your business only to find it closed. Use the "special hours" feature for holidays and events.
• Service Area: If you're a service-based business that travels to customers (like a plumber or landscaper), clearly define your service area. This helps you show up in searches for "plumber near me" even if the searcher isn't in your exact city.

Step 2: Visually Merchandise with Photos and Videos

People buy with their eyes. An empty photo section is a massive red flag. Your goal is to give customers a virtual tour and proof of your quality before they ever contact you.

• High-Quality is Standard: Grainy, dark photos won't cut it. Use a modern smartphone or a professional camera to showcase your work, your space, and your team.
• Cover Photo and Logo: These are your most important images. Your logo establishes brand identity, and the cover photo should be a compelling, wide-shot that best represents your business. A restaurant might use a beautiful shot of their dining room, a salon might show their stylish interior.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Add photos to different categories: interior, exterior, team at work, products, and finished projects. A contractor should have a steady stream of before-and-after photos. A cafe should post pictures of their latte art and fresh pastries daily.
• Embrace Short-Form Video: Upload short (under 30 seconds) videos. Think a quick tour of your new office, a hair stylist showing a finished look, a personal trainer demonstrating an exercise, or a mechanic showing a clean engine bay. Video stands out and builds a personal connection.

Step 3: Directly Sell with the Products &, Services Sections

This is where you directly turn your profile into a sales tool. Instead of making users guess what you offer, display your best-sellers front and center.

• Services: List every single service you offer with a brief, benefit-oriented description and a price or price range. A marketing agency shouldn't just list "SEO," they should add "Local SEO Package" with a description like "We'll get your business ranked on the first page of Google Maps" and a starting price.
• Products: For e-commerce or retail businesses, this is huge. You can create product collections, upload beautiful images, write descriptions, and add a price. Most importantly, you can add a "Buy Now" button that links directly to the product page on your website, shortening the path to purchase dramatically.

Active Strategies to Drive Sales Directly From Your Profile

A perfectly optimized profile is just the beginning. To truly make money with GMB, you need to use its interactive features consistently. Google rewards activity.

Strategy 1: Use Google Posts to Promote an Active Business

Google Posts are like mini-social media updates or free ads that appear directly on your profile. Ignoring them is like leaving money on the table. They show customers that your business is active and engaged.

Types of Posts That Drive Revenue:

• Offer Posts: This is a direct sales driver. Promote a "15% Off Your First Visit" or "Free Estimate This Week" with a clear call-to-action (CTA) button like "Redeem Offer." Create a sense of urgency with a start and end date.
• What's New Posts: Did you get a new product in stock? Just completed a big project you're proud of? Share a high-quality photo and a brief story about it.
• Event Posts: Hosting a webinar, a live music night, or a holiday sale? Create an Event Post with the date, time, and a link to register or learn more.

Pro Tip: Posts expire after 7 days, so aim to post at least once a week to keep your profile looking fresh and active.

Strategy 2: Systematize Review Collection and Management

Reviews are the single most powerful form of social proof on your profile. A steady stream of recent, positive reviews is often the deciding factor for a customer choosing you over a competitor. More stars equals more money.

• Make It Easy to Leave a Review: Google provides a direct link for customers to leave a review. Put this link everywhere: in your email signature, on your receipts, in post-service follow-up messages, and on your website.
• Ask at the Right Time: Ask for a review immediately after a successful transaction or project completion, when the customer's positive feelings are at their peak. For example: "It was a pleasure working with you today! We'd be grateful if you could share your experience with a quick review."
• Respond to EVERY Review: This is critical. Thank customers for positive reviews to show appreciation. For negative reviews, respond professionally and calmly. Offer to take the conversation offline to resolve their issue. How you handle criticism shows other potential customers that you care and are trustworthy.

Strategy 3: Leverage the Questions &, Answers Section

The Q&A section is your public FAQ. Customers post questions, and anyone can answer. If you don't control the narrative here, someone else will.

• Proactively Answer Common Questions: Don't wait for people to ask. Seed the section yourself by asking and answering your own most common questions. Examples: "Do you offer free parking?" "Are you pet-friendly?" "What are your warranty terms?" "How do I book an appointment?"
• Monitor for New Questions: Set up alerts so you know when a new question is posted. Answering quickly shows you're attentive and helpful. This can pre-emptively overcome sales objections before a customer even contacts you.

Strategy 4: Turn On and Use the Messaging Feature

GMB Messaging allows customers to send you a direct message from your profile. This is as close as it gets to a walk-in lead. Treat it like a hot lead pipeline.

• Turn It On: It's disabled by default. Turn it on in your profile settings. Add a welcome message to automatically greet people.
• Respond Immediately: Google tracks your response time and displays it to users. A fast response time ("Typically responds in minutes") encourages more people to reach out. Slow responses will kill a potential sale. A speedy reply puts you ahead of slower competitors.

Final Thoughts

An optimized Google My Business profile isn't a passive directory listing, it's a dynamic and powerful sales tool. By combining a perfectly detailed foundation with active strategies like using Posts, managing reviews, and engaging with customers, you can transform your profile into a consistent engine for attracting new business and generating real revenue.

Managing your weekly Google Posts, a crucial part of the strategy, right alongside your marketing plans for Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook can get chaotic quickly. We felt this ourselves when juggling multiple platforms, which is precisely why we created Postbase. We designed a simple visual calendar where you can plan all of your content in one place - from a Reel for Instagram to an Offer post for GMB. It simplifies your entire workflow, letting you focus on engaging customers and growing your business.