What is Google Business Profile

Why a business needs GBP

1. Makes it easy for people to discover your business on Google Search and Maps
2. Displays all your key contact details so customers can reach you quickly
3. Builds credibility through customer reviews and ratings
4. Improves your visibility and ranking in local search results
5. Helps you stand out from nearby competitors
6. Shows that your business is active and trustworthy

Feature availability

1. Posting to Google Business Profile from Zoho Social is available in all editions.
2. Creating a Google Business Profile account within Zoho Social is supported in the Standard, Professional, Premium, Agency, and Agency Plus editions.

Google Business Profile in Zoho Social

How to create a Google Business Profile in Zoho Social

1. Go to Settings -> Brand Settings -> Social Channels
2. Select Create a new Google Business Profile next to the GBP icon. This will redirect you to the Google sign-in page. Learn how to create a Google account
3. Choose the Google account you want to use for your business profile, or create a new Google account if needed.
4. Click Continue.

Adding your business details

Business information

1. Enter the name of your business.
2. Select your business location from the dropdown.
3. Choose the category that best describes your business from the dropdown.
4. Select or create a business group to help organize and manage multiple profiles.

Location and contact details

1. Enter your business address and pin the location on the map.
2. Provide your city and PIN code.
3. Select your state from the dropdown.
4. Enter your contact number.
5. Add your website URL (This is an option field).

Other optional details

1. Select the days your business operates.
2. Set the opening and closing hours for each day.

Note:

1. You won’t be able to post from your Google Business Profile until the verification process is complete.
   

Verification

1. Choose your verification method, either call or SMS.
2. Click Get OTP.
3. Enter the OTP you received via call or text message, based on the option you selected.
4. Click Verify.

Editing your profile details

1. Go to Settings under the Social Channels section.
2. Click Edit next to the GBP icon.
3. Make the required changes to your profile details.
4. Click Update to save your changes.

Publishing your GBP

1. Click New Post in the top-right corner of your Zoho Social dashboard.
2. Select the channels you want to publish to. Choose Google Business Profile alone or along with other social networks.
3. Click to  attach images. You can upload media from your desktop, Media Library, Cloud Pickers, or design visuals directly in Canva and attach them instantly.
4. Write a suitable caption for your post. You can use Compose with Zia to generate a caption by entering a simple prompt.
5. Add a CTA button, event, or offer to your Google Business Profile post. Learn more about CTA button, event, and offer 
6. Click the Hashtag Groups icon to insert relevant hashtags.
7. Use the Add Emojis icon to include emojis in your caption.
8. Choose how you want to publish:
1.  Click Post Now to publish immediately, or
2. Use scheduling options like Schedule for a Specific Date, Add to Queue, or Choose a SmartQ slot.

Publishing on Google Business Profile from Zoho Social

Limitations

1. You can publish only one image per post on Google Business Profile.