It’s July. You’re halfway through 2024. When was the last time you looked at your Google Business Profile? Not posted to it…actually looked at it the way a customer would?
If you run a retail shop in San Antonio, your Google Business Profile is probably the first thing new customers see. And if it’s outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate, you’re making a bad first impression without even knowing it.
Here’s a quick mid-year audit you can do in 30 minutes.
Check Your Basic Information
Pull up your profile and verify:
- Business name…matches your signage and other listings exactly
- Address…correct and clickable for navigation
- Phone number…goes to a line someone actually answers
- Hours…current, including any summer hour changes
- Website link…works and goes to the right page
You’d be surprised how often this information drifts. Maybe you changed your phone number in February and forgot to update Google. Maybe your summer hours are different. Fix it now. Our 2023 mid-year GBP audit guide for retail has a complete checklist you can follow step by step.
Review Your Photos
Scroll through your photos. Are they current? Do they represent what your shop looks like today? If your most recent photos are from the holidays and your store has been rearranged since then, add fresh ones.
For retail shops near the Pearl, in Southtown, or along Broadway, photos of your storefront and neighborhood help customers find you. Interior shots showing your current inventory help them decide to visit.
Aim for at least 15-20 quality photos. Delete anything blurry, dark, or outdated.
Read Your Recent Reviews
Check your last 20 reviews. Are there unanswered ones? Any patterns in complaints? Reviews you received in the first half of 2024 are shaping how people perceive your shop right now. Respond to every one…even a simple “Thank you for visiting!” shows you’re engaged.
If you notice recurring themes…“always friendly,” “hard to find parking,” “wish they had more sizes”…use that feedback to improve your business and your profile. Turning that feedback into action is also a customer retention strategy that keeps shoppers loyal through Q4.
Update Your Products and Services
Google Business Profile lets retail shops add products directly to their profile. If you added inventory six months ago and haven’t touched it since, update it. Remove sold-out seasonal items and add what’s currently in stock. This feature is underused by most shops and can give you an edge over competitors who ignore it.
Post at Least Once This Week
If you haven’t posted to your profile recently, fix that today. Share a new arrival, announce a summer sale, or highlight a staff pick. One post takes five minutes and keeps your profile active in Google’s eyes.
Make This Audit a Habit
Don’t wait another six months. Set a monthly reminder to review your profile. Fifteen minutes a month keeps your Google presence polished and working for you. When the holiday season hits, our year-end retail website guide helps you prepare your entire online presence for the rush. We covered the full mid-year audit process in our 2023 GBP audit for retail, and for building customer loyalty, our Q4 retention playbook turns profile views into repeat buyers.
Need help keeping your Google Business Profile optimized? Visit gift.growmysmallbusiness.com and let us handle it.