If someone searched for your business on Google right now, what would they find?
If the answer is “not much” — you’re invisible to customers who are actively looking for exactly what you do. And the fix is free.
It’s called Google Business Profile. It’s the box that appears when someone searches your business name, or types “accountant in Fermoy” or “electrician near me.” It shows your phone number, opening hours, photos, reviews, and your website.
When it’s set up properly, Google shows you to local customers. When it’s not — they find your competitor instead.
Three things most Irish businesses get wrong:
- They set it up once and never touch it again. Google rewards active listings. Update your hours, respond to reviews, post occasionally. A listing untouched for two years tells Google the business might not still be open.
- They ignore reviews. Respond to every one — good and bad. One sentence is enough. It shows you’re paying attention and it builds trust with people who haven’t met you yet. Put keywords into your response – it all helps.
- They pick the wrong business category. This is one of the main things Google uses to decide when to show your listing. Think about what your customer actually types — and make sure your category matches that.
If your Google Business Profile isn’t set up yet — or you’re not sure if it’s set up properly — go to google.com/business today. It takes less than an hour and it’s the single most overlooked free marketing tool I see with Irish small businesses.
