Google recently announced an upcoming integration of its advanced AI model, Gemini, into Google Maps, which is set to transform how customers find and interact with local businesses. This new feature, highlighted in Google’s latest announcement, could significantly benefit Australian tradies and small business owners by increasing visibility and accessibility to potential customers.
How Gemini Will Impact Google Maps
Gemini, Google’s next-generation AI, is designed to understand and respond to complex, conversational queries. Soon, customers can ask detailed questions on Google Maps, such as “Which electricians nearby have the best reviews?” or “Are there plumbers in my area available for emergency calls?”
This enhanced understanding of user intent allows Gemini to recommend businesses based on more specific criteria. For small businesses, this represents a unique opportunity: with an optimised Google Business Profile (GBP), your business is more likely to appear in these AI-driven suggestions, especially if it has up-to-date and comprehensive information.
Preparing Your Google Business Profile for Gemini
To capitalise on Gemini’s launch and improve your business’s local ranking, take the following steps to optimise your GBP:
1. Claim and Verify Your Profile
Claiming and verifying your Google Business Profile is the first essential step. Verified profiles are more likely to appear in local search results across Google’s products, including Maps and Search, increasing your visibility to potential customers.
2. Enter Complete and Accurate Data
Ensure your profile details are current, including your business address, phone number, category, and relevant attributes that describe your services. Google favours businesses with comprehensive profiles, as it helps them match search queries more accurately.
3. Keep Your Hours Updated
Regularly update your operating hours, including any special hours for holidays or one-off events. Accurate hours reassure potential customers that your business will be open when they arrive, building confidence and reducing missed opportunities.
4. Manage and Respond to Reviews
Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews, and make sure to respond to all feedback—both positive and negative. Reviews are a powerful factor in Google’s local ranking, with high-quality, positive reviews helping to boost your business’s visibility. Engaging with customers through reviews also shows you value their feedback.
5. Add High-Quality Photos
Photos create a visual impression of your business and services, making it more appealing and engaging to potential customers. High-resolution images of your products, services, or premises can increase your profile’s appeal and help you stand out from the competition.
6. Ensure Relevance and Prominence with Complete Information
Google’s local ranking system is based on relevance, distance, and prominence. Detailed, complete business information helps Google match your profile with relevant searches, improving your local ranking. Building prominence by encouraging positive reviews and engaging with customers strengthens your position in local search results.
Why It’s Important to Act Now
With Gemini’s AI-powered capabilities coming soon, optimising your Google Business Profile now is critical to ensure your business is well-positioned to benefit. Maintaining an accurate and engaging profile increases the likelihood that your business will appear in Gemini’s recommendations and meet potential customers’ needs.
In an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape, keeping your online presence updated and relevant could make all the difference in attracting new customers and staying competitive. Act now to take full advantage of Google’s upcoming AI integration—your future customers are searching.
Want to get your business ready for Google’s new AI-powered features? Don’t wait—position your business for success before the update goes live. Over 500 tradies already trust Tradius to manage and optimise their profiles. Book a 15-minute discovery call today!