If you’re a local business trying to show up at the top your neighborhood’s search results, your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the place to start. But just claiming your listing and tossing up a few photos isn’t enough. To really move the needle with local SEO, you need to post the right kind of content – the stuff customers actually find useful while making Google happy.
OLI Digital Consulting has helped small businesses fine-tune their Google Business Profile optimization to drive more clicks, calls, and in-person visits. Here’s what to post if you want your GBP to work overtime for your SEO.
Post Regular Updates
Think of your GBP like social media for Google, it wants to see you active. Regular posts signal to Google that your business is alive, relevant, and worth ranking higher in local search results. The sweet spot? One to two posts per week.
Here’s what you can post:
- Business updates: New hours, new menu items, new services.
- Events: Hosting a sale, workshop, or open house? Post it.
- Milestones: Celebrating 10 years in business or hitting 1,000 happy customers.
Every post should include a clear CTA (like “Call Now” or “Book an Appointment”) and a link back to your website. That helps with both engagement and SEO signals.
Highlight Your Services and Use Local Keywords
Your GBP lets you list and describe your services, but most businesses either skip this or use generic descriptions. Big mistake.
Instead, load up your service descriptions with localized keywords like “emergency plumbing in Denver” or “organic coffee in Austin.”
Share Photos and Videos That Actually Matter
Google rewards visual activity. Businesses with more photos tend to appear in more map views and search results. But not all visuals are created equal.
Here’s what works best:
- Before & after photos: perfect for contractors, salons, and cleaners.
- Team photos: builds trust and authenticity.
- Behind-the-scenes videos: great for restaurants, gyms, or local shops.
- Customer photos: social proof.
Don’t just post stock images; Google knows. Use real, geo-tagged photos taken from your actual location for an extra SEO bump.
Post Offers and Promotions
Google loves engagement, and nothing gets clicks like a good deal. When you post special offers — even short-term ones — you increase both user interaction and visibility in search results.
Examples:
- “20% off all services this weekend!”
- “Free consultation for new clients.”
- “Buy one, get one free this month.”
Each of these encourages action, which Google interprets as a strong relevance signal. Plus, these posts often appear in the “From the Business” section — a high-visibility area on your profile.
Answer FAQs Right in Your Profile
The Q&A section of your GBP is criminally underused. You can actually add your own questions and answers, which helps you target long-tail keywords and preempt customer confusion.
For example:
- Q: “Do you offer local SEO services for e-commerce stores?”
- A: “Yes! At OLI Digital Consulting, we provide tailored local SEO strategies that help online shops appear in local map results and drive regional sales.”
That’s a mini SEO opportunity right there — no extra blog post required.
Share Blog Snippets or Educational Tips
If you’re already creating blog content (and you should be), repurpose it into bite-sized Google Posts. For instance, if you write about “5 Mistakes Businesses Make with Local SEO,” share a summary with a “Read More” link to your website.
This tactic not only drives traffic but reinforces your expertise in your niche. Google notices when you consistently provide valuable, keyword-rich info.
Encourage and Feature Reviews
While reviews technically aren’t “posts,” they’re still content that appears prominently on your profile — and they’re a major ranking factor for local SEO.
Encourage happy customers to leave reviews mentioning your services and location. Then, respond to every review — even the negative ones — to show activity and engagement.
Share screenshots or snippets of glowing reviews in your posts to double down on that social proof.
Keep It Local, Always
When you post, tie everything back to your community. Google prioritizes relevance, and mentioning your city, neighborhood, or landmarks makes your profile hyper-local.
Example:
“Proud to help small businesses in [Your City] crush it with local SEO services that actually convert.”
That one sentence can make a measurable difference in how you appear for “near me” searches.
Monitor What Works (Because Google Gives You Data)
Don’t post blindly. GBP offers insights showing which posts get views, clicks, and interactions. Use this data to tweak your strategy — maybe your video posts crush it while event posts flop.
Over time, this data-driven approach will sharpen your Google Business Profile optimization and strengthen your entire local SEO presence.
OLI Digital Consulting: Local SEO Services & GBP Optimization
By consistently posting updates, photos, offers, and answers, you’ll send powerful signals to Google (and your future customers) that your business deserves the spotlight.
If all this sounds like a lot to juggle, don’t worry — that’s what we’re here for. OLI Digital Consulting offers professional local SEO services that handle every detail of your Google Business Profile optimization, so you can focus on running your business while we make sure your community finds it.
Contact us at OLI Digital Consulting today to find out more about how we can help your business thrive.