Google shows your business in two different spots on search results – your Google Business Profile AND your website. Smart Gympie businesses show up in both. Everyone else is leaving money on the table.
Here’s something that genuinely blows my mind: Google hands every local business a FREE tool that can put them on page 1 of search results, yet most Gympie businesses either haven’t claimed it, have set it up incorrectly, or don’t understand how it works with their website.
Meanwhile, they’re wondering why competitors are getting all the calls.
Let me clear up the confusion once and for all.
What’s the Difference Between Google Business Profile and a Website?
This is where most business owners get confused – they think these are the same thing, or that one replaces the other. They don’t, and here’s why both matter.
Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Your Google Business Profile is your free listing that appears in Google’s “Map Pack” – those three businesses with maps that show up when someone searches for local services.
It shows:
- Your business name, address, phone number
- Hours of operation
- Photos of your business
- Customer reviews and ratings
- Services you offer
- Direct “Call” and “Directions” buttons
Think of it as: Your digital business card that Google shows to people searching right now
Your Website
Your website is your own digital property – your online shopfront where you control everything.
It shows:
- Detailed information about your services
- Your expertise and credentials
- Portfolio of past work
- In-depth blog content
- Pricing information (if you choose)
- Detailed contact forms
Think of it as: Your 24/7 sales representative that educates and converts
Why You Need BOTH (Not One or The Other)
Here’s the critical part that most Gympie business owners miss: 86% of Google Business Profile views come from category-based searches like “plumber Gympie” or “electrician near me.”
This means the majority of people aren’t searching for your business; they’re searching for the services you offer. This is why it is so important to be among the top search results for those relevant keywords.
When someone searches for your services, Google typically shows:
- 3 Google Business Profiles in the Map Pack (top of page)
- 10 website listings in the organic results (below the map)
That’s 13 opportunities to appear on page 1.
If you only have a Google Business Profile, you’re missing out on the 10 website positions. If you only have a website, you’re missing the highly visible Map Pack that 46% of all Google searches are looking for.
You need both to dominate your local market.
The Shocking Reality About Google Business Profiles
Let me hit you with some statistics that prove why ignoring your Google Business Profile is costing you customers:
Customer Behaviour:
- 97% of people look for local businesses on the internet
- 64% of people have used Google My Business to find a local business’s contact information
- 88% of consumers who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit or call a store within a day
Business Results:
- Businesses get about 595 calls annually from their verified Google Business Profiles – that’s roughly 50 calls per month
- 34% of local businesses are found in over 1,000 “discovery searches” each month
- Businesses that have a Google Business Profile are 2.7x more likely to be trusted by customers
Yet here’s the wild part: many Gympie businesses still haven’t even claimed their free Google Business Profile.
How They Work Together to Dominate Local Search
Think of your Google Business Profile and website as a one-two punch for local visibility:
Stage 1: Discovery (Google Business Profile) Someone searches “electrician Gympie” on their phone. Your optimised Google Business Profile appears in the Map Pack with your phone number, reviews, and a “Call Now” button. They can contact you immediately.
Stage 2: Research (Website) That same person wants more information before deciding. They click through to your website to see your credentials, past work, detailed services, and pricing. Your professional website convinces them you’re the right choice.
Stage 3: Conversion (Both Working Together) They’ve seen your Google reviews (trust), your proximity on the map (convenient), and your professional website (credible). They call or book. You win the job.
Without both? You lose at one of these critical stages.
Common Google Business Profile Mistakes Costing You Customers
After auditing hundreds of local business profiles, here are the mistakes I see constantly:
❌ Incomplete Information – 75% of businesses who land in the top three positions have filled in the description section of their Google Business Profile. Most Gympie businesses leave it blank.
❌ No Photos – Businesses in the top three positions have 250+ images on their Google Business Profile. Most local businesses have 5-10 photos (or none).
❌ Ignoring Reviews – Google reviews accounted for 81% of all online review volume in 2024, yet many businesses never respond to them. Businesses who respond to reviews with an average of 140 words tend to rank in the top three positions.
❌ Wrong or Inconsistent Information – Your business name, address, and phone number must be identical on your Google Business Profile and website. Inconsistencies confuse Google and hurt your rankings.
❌ Not Choosing the Right Categories – The primary category you assign to your Google Business Profile is the #1 local ranking factor. Getting this wrong means you won’t show up for the searches that matter.
Quick Wins: Optimise Your Google Business Profile Today
If you haven’t claimed or optimised your Google Business Profile yet, here are immediate actions you can take:
1. Claim Your Profile
- (if you haven’t) Go to google.com/business and claim your listing. Google will verify your business (usually by postcard).
2. Complete Every Section
- Write a detailed business description (use your main keywords naturally)
- Add all relevant service categories
- List your products or services
- Fill in your business hours (including special hours for holidays)
3. Add Quality Photos
- Upload at least 10-20 photos to start
- Include: shopfront, interior, team, work examples, products
- Add new photos monthly to stay fresh
4. Collect and Respond to Reviews
- Ask happy customers to leave Google reviews
- Respond to every review (good and bad) professionally
- 83% of consumers read Google reviews before making a decision
5. Post Regular Updates
- Use Google Posts to share news, offers, or updates. It shows Google (and customers) you’re active.
6. Ensure NAP Consistency
Your Name, Address, and Phone number must match exactly on:
- Google Business Profile
- Your website
- All online directories
The Complete Local Domination Strategy
Here’s how Gympie businesses should approach local visibility:
Step 1: Get Both Set Up Properly
- Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile
- Build or redesign your website with SEO in mind
Step 2: Make Them Work Together
- Ensure consistent information across both
- Link from your website to your Google Business Profile
- Use the same keywords in both places
Step 3: Feed Them Regularly
- Add new photos to your Google Business Profile monthly
- Publish blog posts on your website regularly
- Collect reviews consistently
- Update both when services or hours change
Step 4: Monitor and Improve
- Check your Google Business Profile insights monthly
- Monitor your website rankings
- Respond to reviews promptly
- Adjust based on what’s working
What This Means for Your Gympie Business
Let’s bring this home with a real-world scenario:
Scenario: Someone’s hot water system breaks at 6am on a Sunday.
They grab their phone and search “emergency plumber Gympie.”
Business A (GBP Only): Appears in the Map Pack. They see your phone number and reviews. Great! But they want to check if you do emergency work and what your rates are. No website to check. They move to the next result.
Business B (Website Only): Appears in position 7 of organic results. But the searcher never scrolls that far because they found three businesses in the Map Pack and called one of them. You never had a chance.
Business C (Both Optimised): Appears in position 2 of the Map Pack AND position 4 in organic results. The searcher sees you twice, clicks your website to confirm you do emergency work, sees your professional credentials, and calls immediately. You win the $3,000 job.
That’s the power of appearing in both places.
The Bottom Line
Your Google Business Profile gets you discovered. Your website gets you chosen. Together, they get you hired.
46% of Google searches have a local focus. That’s billions of searches every single day for local businesses. Gympie is no different; customers are looking for businesses exactly like yours.
Every day you’re not showing up in both the Map Pack and organic results, you’re handing potential customers to competitors who understand this strategy.
Ready to Dominate Local Search?
At Gympie Web Design, we don’t just build websites or set up Google Business Profiles – we create complete local visibility strategies that get Gympie businesses found and chosen.
We’ll help you:
✓ Optimise your Google Business Profile properly
✓ Build an SEO-optimised website that is designed to rank on page 1
✓ Ensure perfect consistency across both platforms
✓ Implement ongoing strategies to dominate your local market
Want to see where your business currently stands?
We’ll check your visibility for your main keywords and show you exactly where you appear in both the Map Pack and organic results – and more importantly, how to improve it.
Get Your Free Local Visibility Check
Because showing up once on Google is good. Showing up twice is unstoppable.
Ready to stop leaving money on the table? Contact Rhys at Gympie Web Design today for honest advice about dominating local search with both your Google Business Profile and website working together.