Google has recently introduced a new “Profile Strength” label system for Google Business Profiles (GBPs) that holds significance for local businesses like HVAC and appliance repair businesses. This system, inspired by traffic lights, employs different colors to signify the completion level of a profile. A green label indicates a fully completed profile, orange denotes partial completion, and red indicates an incomplete profile.
Google is introducing the new label on GBP NMX (New Merchant Experience), making it visible to all managers on Google Business Profiles. The New Merchant Experience (NMX) is a feature that allows Google Business Profile (GBP) managers to conveniently access and edit profile details, as well as monitor performance, directly within the Google SERP by searching for their business name.
Elevating Engagement: Unveiling the Increased Prominence of Enhanced Profile Metrics in the New 'Profile Strength' Label on GBP NMX
While this data was previously accessible within a different section of the profile, what’s especially noteworthy is its increased prominence in the new ‘Profile Strength’ label on Google Business Profiles. This includes important information like ‘customer interactions’ and ‘views’, which are now being highlighted more prominently in the label. This update aims to encourage greater engagement with the platform, presenting an opportunity for HVAC and appliance repair businesses to leverage these metrics for improved visibility and customer interaction.
What is the ‘profile strength’ label?
The ‘profile strength’ label in GBP is a traffic-light-based label that shows managers how complete their Google Business Profile is. It is a circular icon with three colors: red, orange, and green.
The new label is intended to help local businesses such as HVAC and appliance repair businesses improve their GBPs and make them more visible in Google Search and Maps. Businesses with complete profiles are more likely to appear higher in search results and to be included in Google Maps listings.
To get a green label, businesses need to complete all of the required information on their GBPs. This includes information such as the business name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation, and categories. Businesses can also improve their profile strength by adding photos, videos, and reviews.
The new label is a valuable tool for businesses that want to improve their online presence. By completing their GBPs and getting a green label, businesses can make themselves more visible to potential customers and attract more business.
Here are some tips for HVAC and appliance repair businesses to improve their Google Business Profiles:
- Complete all of the required information. This includes your business name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation, and categories.
- Add photos and videos. Photos and videos can help you to tell your story and connect with customers in a more engaging way.
- Get reviews. Reviews are a great way to build trust with customers and show potential customers that you are a reputable business.
- Respond to reviews. When you respond to reviews, it shows that you care about your customers and their feedback.
- Keep your information up-to-date. Make sure to update your business information regularly, especially if you move or change your hours of operation.
By following these tips, HVAC and appliance repair businesses can improve their Google Business Profiles and get a green label. This will help them to make themselves more visible to potential customers and attract more business.
Here are some additional benefits of having a complete and up-to-date Google Business Profile for HVAC and appliance repair businesses:
- Increased visibility in Google Search and Maps
- More calls and appointments
- Improved customer trust
- Enhanced brand reputation
- Increased sales and revenue
For HVAC and appliance repair businesses, it is encouraged to complete their Google Business Profile and obtain a green label. This simple and cost-free step can significantly enhance their online presence and effectively attract a larger customer base.
Google Fixes Issue: Complete Listings Without Google Ads Now Marked as "Complete”
In June of last year, Google began testing a widget or status icon called "profile strength" that indicates whether you need to do more with your Google Business Profile. The feature was fully rolled out on Friday, but many local SEO experts are unhappy with it. pic.twitter.com/LCNOL4vrbx
— Platinum Reputations (@platreputations) February 23, 2023
The ‘profile strength’ label is a feature that uses a traffic-light-based system to indicate the completeness of a Google Business Profile. When accessing the NMX (New Merchant Experience), managers can find a circular label in the top right-hand corner, colored either orange for a partially complete profile or green for a fully complete profile.
Google has recently resolved an issue where complete listings without Google Ads were not marked as “complete.” This meant that businesses that had completed all of the required information on their Google Business Profiles were not receiving the green label, which indicates a complete profile.
The issue was caused by a change that Google made to their algorithm for determining the completeness of a Google Business Profile. The change was intended to improve the accuracy of the label, but it had the unintended consequence of preventing some businesses from receiving the green label even though they had completed all of the required information.
Google has since reverted the change and the green label is now being correctly awarded to businesses with complete profiles. This is good news for businesses that want to improve their online presence without having to use Google Ads.
What is Google trying to do with this more prominent label?
The profile strength label is a valuable tool for profile managers to ensure their new Google Business Profiles (GBPs) are set up to their fullest potential. It’s important to note that local businesses like yours no longer require signing up for Google Ads or opting in for Google Messaging in order to obtain the complete profile label.
Google’s intention with the more prominent label initially appeared as if it was another trick to get business owners and profile managers to sign up for Google Ads if they hadn’t already done so. Initially, when the profile strength level was introduced, this became a significant hurdle for local businesses, including HVAC and appliance repair companies, in achieving a “complete” profile.
The introduction of the profile strength label led to frustration and concern among many HVAC and appliance repair businesses. They couldn’t understand as to why their profiles still appeared incomplete despite their efforts to complete them. The prompt to sign up for Google Ads and opt in for Messages seemed to be the main roadblock. However, expert local SEO professionals understand that functionalities like Google Ads or Messages are not essential for ensuring a complete GBP profile. They have the knowledge to disregard the label if it suggests completing the profile when they know it is already as comprehensive as needed. Fortunately, Google resolved this issue, eliminating the requirement for businesses to use Google Ads or messages in order to have their GBP profiles marked as complete based on the profile strength label.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to remember that you shouldn’t simply set it and forget it. Your Google Business Profile requires regular monitoring and optimization. It is an ever-evolving platform with frequent feature updates. As a local HVAC or appliance repair business owner, it is important to periodically assess the progress and quality of your business profile, ensuring you’re not missing out on key features that can impact your ranking and conversions.
The Profile Strength widget isn’t anything brand new?
The Profile Strength label widget serves as an updated version of the previous profile completeness checker, providing you with insights into the completeness of your profile according to Google’s standards.
In the past, the older version of this feature was plagued with bugs, making it impossible for profiles to achieve a 100% completion status. However, with the rollout of the new Profile Strength label widget, it is presumed that these issues have been resolved. Nevertheless, due to its recent implementation, it is difficult to test and confirm the effectiveness of this updated feature at present.
Is reaching 100% completion on the Profile Strength widget beneficial for local businesses?
The short answer is that it can be beneficial, although it is not confirmed as a direct ranking factor by Google. While Google has not explicitly stated that achieving 100% on the Profile Strength widget influences rankings, there are indications that it may have an impact. Research conducted by BrightLocal suggests that businesses with a fully optimized Google Business Profile (GBP) tend to appear higher in search results compared to those with incomplete profiles.
Google considers various factors when determining the ranking of businesses in search results, including the quality and completeness of their GBP. While reaching 100% completion does not guarantee an improved ranking, it is still recommended for HVAC and appliance repair businesses to fully optimize their GBP.
By completing your GBP as comprehensively as possible, you can enhance your chances of attracting more customers and improving your online presence. A complete and well-optimized profile provides potential customers with valuable information about your services, which can help drive visibility and trust in your HVAC and appliance repair business.
Don't Worry Too Much About the Profile Strength Label
While Google’s new Profile Strength label can offer valuable insights into the completeness of your Google Business Profile, it’s essential to maintain perspective and not overly fixate on this particular metric. The label is just one of many factors that may be considered by Google when determining search rankings. In fact, there are other more significant factors that should take precedence for local businesses such as HVAC companies and appliance repair businesses, especially the quality of your content, the number and positivity of customer reviews, and the overall reputation and popularity of your business.
If you genuinely want to enhance your Google Business Profile, it’s crucial not to become overly concerned about the Profile Strength label alone. Instead, prioritize providing accurate and compelling information about your services, actively encouraging satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, and engaging in promotional activities to increase visibility among your target audience. By focusing on these important aspects, you’ll make substantial progress in improving your search rankings and attracting more potential customers to your HVAC and appliance repair business.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, HVAC and Appliance Repair business owners should embrace the new “Profile Strength” label on GBP NMX as a valuable tool for assessing and enhancing their Google Business Profiles. By paying attention to the traffic-light system and striving for a complete profile (green label), businesses can ensure they provide comprehensive information to potential customers and improve their local search rankings. By leveraging the “Profile Strength” label, businesses can increase their visibility and attract more customers in the competitive landscape of HVAC and Appliance Repair services.
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