Boost Your Small Business by Using Google Business Profile and Social Media Together
- Hookle
- 1 day ago
- 16 min read
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If you’ve ever searched for a business on Google and seen a box pop up with the address, photos, hours, and reviews, then you’ve seen a Google Business Profile in action.
What is Google Business Profile (GBP) and Why Should You Care?
Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly known as Google My Business, is a free business listing on Google that lets you display key information right on Google Search and Maps. It’s incredibly useful for helping customers find you - yet many entrepreneurs still don’t know about it or haven’t claimed theirs.
In fact, according to the Media Captain, over half of retailers haven’t even claimed their free Google Business Profile! That means a lot of small businesses are missing out on a huge opportunity to get found more easily online.
Google Business Profile puts your business on the map – literally!
So why is GBP so useful? For starters, it puts your business on the map - literally. When someone searches for “coffee shop near me” or looks up your store’s name, your GBP listing can appear with your location, contact info, and even a button for directions. It’s like a mini-website that Google shows to potential customers before they even click through to your actual site.
You can publish updates (posts are called updates in Google, as featured by Rising Dragon Tattoos above), list your products or services, and showcase customer reviews. For a busy entrepreneur, it’s one of the most cost-effective marketing tools out there (it’s free!) and can hugely boost your local SEO. The bottom line is that a well-maintained GBP helps people discover and trust your business. And when combined with an active social media presence, it can do wonders for your brand’s visibility.
Why Combine Google Business Profile with Social Media?
You might be thinking, “I already have Facebook and Instagram pages, and maybe a LinkedIn or TikTok - isn’t that enough?” Social media is fantastic for engaging with your community and attracting followers, but Google Business Profile serves a different (and complementary) purpose.
Google helps new customers find you, and social media helps you connect
GBP catches people who are actively searching for what you offer (often with buying intent), while social media engages people who follow or stumble upon your content. By using them together, you create a one-two punch in your online marketing: Google helps new customers find you, and social media helps you connect and deepen those relationships.
Another big reason to link your GBP and social media efforts is consistency. When folks find your business on Google, they often check out your social media, and vice versa. If they see the same branding, latest news, and promos across both, it reinforces that your business is active and trustworthy.
On the flip side, if your Google listing says one thing (e.g. outdated hours or an old menu) and your Facebook page says another, or if one is frequently updated while the other looks abandoned, it can confuse customers or turn them away. Consistency = trust. According to a study by Cube Creative Design, customers see up-to-date information and recent activity as signs of a reliable business.
Keeping your GBP and social channels in sync with current info, fresh posts, and matching visuals builds confidence with your audience.
Add your social media links to your Google listing, and Google features your social updates directly on GBP for free!
Cross-promotion is the magic word here. By syncing what you do on social media with GBP (and vice versa), each platform can boost the other. For example, a promo you announce on Instagram can reach even more people when you also post it on Google for searchers to see. Likewise, a great Google review or Q&A can be shared on your social to build credibility. In fact, Google has been blurring the lines between search and social lately - they now allow you to add your social media links to your Google listing, and Google even features social media updates directly on your Business Profile!
This means if you connect your socials to GBP, someone searching your business on Google might see your recent Facebook or Instagram posts right in your profile. How cool is that? It’s Google’s way of saying “your customers want to see your social vibes on our platform too”.
In short, combining GBP with social media helps you reach more people (those searching and those scrolling), maintain a consistent brand presence, and turn curious searchers into loyal followers (or vice versa). Now, let’s dive into some practical tips on how to do this, tailored for two common business types: those with a physical location and those that operate online only.
For Brick-and-Mortar Businesses (Physical Locations)
Do you run a car service, coffee shop, retail boutique, restaurant, vet clinic, salon, or any business with a physical location? Then GBP is your best friend for local discovery, and social media is your tool for community building.
Here’s how you can use them together:
1. Keep Your Basic Info in Sync
Make sure your address, phone number, business hours, and other details are identical on Google and on all your social media profiles. If you update holiday hours or move locations, update GBP and Facebook/Instagram/Twitter bios accordingly. Consistency helps avoid customer confusion (no one likes showing up at a store that Google said was open, only to find it closed!). It also improves your local SEO.
2. Repurpose Your Social Content as Google Posts
Google Business Profile has a feature called Google Updates where you can publish short posts, offers, or events that show up on your listing. Whenever you create a nice post for Facebook or an eye-catching photo for Instagram, consider re-posting it on your GBP.
For example, if you run a boutique and just posted a “New Spring Collection Now In!” with fab photos on Instagram, hop over to GBP and post an update about it too (you can reuse the photos and a trimmed caption). This way, people who find you via Google search will see that update as well.
3. Sync Your Promotions and Events
When you have a sale, event, or special offer, make it a rule to promote it in both places. Post about that weekend sale or charity event on your social media channels to get your followers excited, and also create a Google Post labeled “Offer” or “Event” on your Business Profile so that anyone searching locally will know about it.
When you have a sale, event, or special offer, make it a rule to promote it in both places
For instance, a vet clinic could advertise “20% off first pet exam this month” on Facebook and as a Google offer post. A café could create a Facebook event for an open mic night and also post it on Google with the date/time so it shows up in searches and on Google Maps.
By syncing these announcements, you ensure no audience misses out - whether they found you by scrolling social feeds or via a Google search.
4. Drive Traffic Between GBP and Socials
Encourage people to go from one to the other. On your Google profile, take advantage of the new “Social profiles” links section to add your Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. This way, someone who discovered you on Google can easily click through to follow your socials for more updates (and hopefully become a long-term fan).
Cross-traffic builds both your review count on Google and follower count on socials
Conversely, use your social media to occasionally prompt followers to check out your Google presence. For example, you might tweet “Find us on Google Maps for quick directions and see our latest pics there too!”. You can even add a call-to-action on Facebook like an info section or a pinned post saying “Love our shop? Leave us a review on Google!” to nudge your happy social followers to contribute to your Google reviews.
This cross-traffic builds both your review count on Google and your follower count on social.
5. Leverage Reviews and Testimonials
Speaking of reviews, your GBP is a hub for customer feedback. A steady flow of good reviews on Google will boost your local search ranking and give you great content to share on social.
A steady flow of good reviews on Google will boost your local search ranking
You could post a thankful shoutout on Facebook highlighting a glowing Google review of the week. “Big thanks to Jane Doe for the wonderful Google review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - we’re so happy you loved our coffee cake! 👉 Check out our Google page for more customer love or to drop us a review”. This not only fills your social feed with authentic, trust-building content, but also reminds your followers that your business is highly rated on Google.
On the flip side, if someone leaves a nice comment on your social page, you might politely ask them to share the same feedback as a Google review (perhaps via direct message or when they’re in store). Many customers are happy to help if you make it easy, and those Google reviews will help bring in new folks who trust the ratings.
6. Consistent Branding = Professional Look
Make sure the images and style you use on social media carry over to Google. Set your Google Business Profile logo and cover photo to match or complement your Facebook profile picture and cover. If you post a great set of interior photos on social, add them to your Google listing’s photo gallery too.
When a customer finds you on Google and then clicks to your Instagram, it should feel like they’re visiting the same company - same logo, similar tone of voice, and recognizable visuals. This cohesion makes your brand look polished and reliable.
It’s especially important for physical businesses where someone might be deciding “Does this place look inviting and legit?” based on pictures and vibes from both Google and social platforms.
7. Engage with the Community on Both
Don’t forget that GBP has interactive features too. People can book a table, place an order, call or leave reviews. Treat those interactions with the same care as you would comments or messages on your social media. Respond promptly and helpfully.
If you notice people often ask a certain question on Google (say, “Do I need an appointment?” for a salon), you might make a Facebook post clarifying that, or vice versa. The idea is to cover all bases: some people will reach out on Messenger or Instagram DMs, others will use Google call or just read your posts. Being responsive and proactive in both places shows you’re on the ball. It also humanizes your business, which is a big win for customer trust.
To summarize: By cross-pollinating your content and engagement between Google and social media, your physical-location business can dominate the local scene. Each channel feeds the other - people find your Instagram through Google, and find your Google listing through Instagram - creating a virtuous cycle of more traffic and credibility.
For Online-Only Businesses (E-Commerce, Online Services, etc.)
Photographer Fiona Mills on Google
What if your business doesn’t have a storefront or office that customers visit - just like Fiona the photographer above from the Bognor Regis area in the UK?
Maybe you run an e-commerce store, offer online consulting or coaching services, have a SaaS product, or work as a freelancer or virtual photographer. You might think Google Business Profile doesn’t apply since you are not "local" or don't have a physical location. While GBP is traditionally a local search tool, even online-only businesses can benefit from it - and will definitely benefit from integrating it with social media.
Here’s how you can use them together:
1. Yes, You Can Still Have a Google Business Profile
If you offer services or products to customers (even if you deliver digitally or by mail), you generally qualify for a GBP. You might not list a physical address (you can set it as a “service area” business or use your home base and hide the address), but you can still verify a profile for your business name.
This way, when someone Googles your brand or something related, they get that nice info box about your business. For an online shop, that GBP could show “Online retailer” or for an online consultant it might show your website and note “Provides service online”. The benefit? Credibility.
Presence on Google makes your venture look established, not just an obscure website
People are comforted to see a presence on Google - it makes your venture look more established, not just an obscure website. Plus, you get a place for Google reviews which are like gold for convincing new customers to trust you.
2. Cross-Post Your News and Content
As an online business, you probably rely heavily on social media and content marketing to drive traffic. Whenever you have news, don’t just blast it on social - put it on your Google Business Profile too.
Whenever you have news, put it on your Google Business Profile too
For example, if you’re an ecommerce store launching a new product line, you’ll of course post on Instagram, Facebook, maybe LinkedIn. Also create a Google Post about the launch with a call-to-action like “Shop now” linking to your site.
If you wrote a blog post or got featured in an article, share the link on Twitter and also use Google Posts to highlight “In the news: We were featured on [web] - check it out!” with a link. Google Posts allow links and calls to action, so use them as another channel for content distribution. It’s about meeting your audience wherever they might find you.
3. Unified Promotions and Offers
Just like with physical businesses, ensure any sales or special offers are mirrored on GBP and social. If you’re running a Black Friday discount code for your online store, someone who hears about your brand from a friend might search Google and see your profile - if you have that offer posted on Google, you might catch a sale you’d otherwise miss.
Ensure any sales or special offers are mirrored on GBP and social
Conversely, someone following you on social might not realize you’re on Google; if you mention “Find details on our Google Business page too”, it reinforces that you’re present on multiple channels (and maybe they’ll drop a review there after purchasing!).
Keep the timing aligned: schedule your Google post to go live when your sale starts, just like your social posts, so no matter where a customer comes from, they get the same info. This consistency in promotions can prevent confusion like “I saw on Facebook it was 20% off, but Google says nothing about it - is it legit?” Cover all bases to instill confidence.
4. Leverage Google Reviews for Trust (and Share Them)
Trust is even more crucial online since customers can’t see you in person. If you have happy customers, ask them to leave a review on your Google Business Profile. These reviews will show up whenever people search your name. A solid star rating can be the deciding factor for someone who finds you on Google.
Solid star rating can be the deciding factor for someone who finds you on Google
Now, tie that back to social media: you can share screenshots or testimonials from Google reviews on your socials as proof points. For instance, if you’re an online consultant and someone leaves a 5-star review saying you changed their business for the better, turn that into a nice graphic for Instagram or a quote tweet. It not only creates content for social, but also subtly tells your social audience, “Hey, we’re reviewed on Google – check it out”.
Likewise, you could create a highlight on Instagram for “Customer Reviews” including some from Google, or post an Instagram Story once a month saying “Thanks for the love on Google reviews!” This might also encourage more social followers to drop by your Google listing to read or write reviews, which in turn boosts your credibility for new searchers. It’s a virtuous cycle of trust-building.
5. Consistent Branding and Info (No Surprises)
Ensure your Google profile description matches your social media bios or “About” info. An online business might pivot or add services often, so make sure if your Facebook says “We help small businesses with email marketing” but you’ve expanded to SEO, your Google listing reflects that too.
Any key links (like to your website, appointment scheduler, etc.) should be up to date in both places. Use the same logo everywhere. Essentially, a person should not get different impressions of what your company does depending on where they look. Keep it tight and on-message. This also includes using similar visuals if possible.
For instance, if you have a brand intro video on your Facebook page, you might upload it to your Google profile photos or as a YouTube link that you then feature on GBP. The more cohesive you appear, the more legitimate and professional your online-only business will seem to potential clients.
6. Use Social Media to Humanize, Google to Validate
As an online business, you might use social channels to show behind-the-scenes, founder stories, or daily tips - that’s your “human” side to engage people. Google Business Profile will be more about “just the facts” when someone is verifying if you are a real business.
By maintaining both, you cover the full journey of a customer. Example: Someone discovers you via an Instagram ad for your artisanal craft store, then Googles your brand name to see if you’re trustworthy. They find your GBP, see you have a five-star rating and recent posts (maybe the same sale you advertised on Insta is mentioned on Google - good sign you’re active!), and maybe they also see your linked social profiles there. They click to your Facebook and see you post regularly and respond to people. That might seal the deal for them to purchase.
The informative Google listing plus lively social media convince that your online business is real
The combination of an informative Google listing plus lively social media can convince even the skeptics that your online business is the real deal.
7. Don’t Forget SEO Benefits
While social media can indirectly send signals or drive traffic, Google Business Profile directly influences local search results. Even if you’re not targeting a local area, having a GBP can sometimes make you appear for certain searches (especially branded searches or if someone near your “service area” searches for a service you offer).
It’s another web property of yours that Google indexes. Plus, if you ever decide to run Google Ads, having a verified Business Profile can make your ads show a location or additional info, even if online. Backing that up with rich social media content (which Google now pull into your listing’s “Social Media Updates” feed) only strengthens your overall online presence.
Keeping Everything Active and Trustworthy (Consistency is Key!)
By now you might think, “Okay, this sounds great in theory, but managing all this… that’s a lot of work!” You’re not wrong - maintaining consistency across multiple social media platforms and your Google Business Profile can feel like a juggling act.
It’s easy to let one of the channels slide (we’ve all seen businesses whose Facebook hasn’t been updated in months, or whose Google listing still shows last year’s info). The problem is, inactivity or outdated info can silently hurt your reputation. Remember, customers are checking these things.
If a potential client finds your Instagram full of life but your Google profile hasn’t been touched in a year (or vice versa), they might wonder if you’re still open or serious.
The key is making updating your GBP and social media a routine part of your marketing
The key is making updating your GBP and social media a routine part of your marketing. Just like Hookle did in the picture above - sharing a blog article across social channels, Google, and even in their email campaign.
Consistency in posting doesn’t mean you have to post daily; it just means that whatever schedule you choose (whether it's weekly, bi-weekly, etc.), you stick to it across all platforms, including Google. Plus, there are affordable tools that make cross-posting much easier for small businesses! Let's dive into these next!
Simplify Your Life with the Right Tools
Now, let’s talk about making this whole process easier. One of the best ways to keep everything active without losing your mind is to use a social media management tool. There are many tools out there, but only a few have been specifically made for businesses like yours - small business owners, solopreneurs, and entrepreneurs. One of the best-known tools, operating in the market since 2017, is Hookle.
Hookle is an app designed specifically for busy entrepreneurs and small business owners to manage their social media channels and Google Business Profile all in one place. Instead of logging into Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google separately and crafting posts one by one, Hookle lets you do it from a single dashboard on your phone.
Hookle is built for small businesses, so it’s simple yet powerful
What does this mean for you in practice? Say you want to announce a new product launch. You can create the post in Hookle, and with one click, publish it to your Facebook page, your Instagram, and yes, your Google Business Profile’s updates feed, all at the same time. By consolidating the work, you’re saving time and also reducing the chance of forgetting to update one of your profiles.
Another cool thing is that Hookle can help you plan and schedule content ahead of time. Maybe you want to prepare a week’s or month’s worth of social posts and Google updates in one sitting - with a tool like this, you can! It will then automatically post on the dates/times you set, keeping your accounts active even on days when you’re too busy to hit “post.” This is a lifesaver for consistency.
Hookle also gives you a unified view of your engagement, allowing you to monitor how your posts are performing across different channels, all in one app. This is great for small business owners because you can quickly see what’s working (maybe a Google update led to a lot of calls, or your Facebook post got tons of likes) and adjust your strategy accordingly - without having to check five different apps.
The seamless integration of AI is so efficient that users hardly notice it - everything just works effortlessly
The best part? Hookle is built for small businesses, so it’s simple yet powerful - intuitive and not bogged down by unnecessary, complex features. And while Hookle has been a pioneer of AI-powered apps since 2017, the seamless integration of AI within the platform is so efficient that users hardly notice it - everything just works effortlessly.
In summary, Hookle helps you keep your GBP and social media active and in sync effortlessly, which in turn keeps your audience engaged and confident in your brand. It’s a handy solution to the multi-platform challenge we’ve been talking about.
Bringing It All Together
No matter what kind of small business you run - whether it's a cozy shop on Main Street or a vibrant online store from your home office - using Google Business Profile and social media together can amplify your success. By cross-promoting these platforms, you create a cohesive online presence that significantly boosts your reach and credibility.
Remember, the goal is to make it easy for customers to find you, learn about you, and feel confident choosing you. An active Google listing assures them that you’re legitimate and open for business; active social media shows you’re engaged, authentic, and customer-friendly. By keeping both in harmony, you’re covering all your bases.
Start with the basics: if you haven’t yet, set up or claim your Google Business Profile (it’s free and takes only a little effort to set up). Then, make it a habit to update it alongside your social media.
For small business owners juggling multiple platforms, keeping everything active and consistent can feel overwhelming. That’s where tools like Hookle come in handy. By allowing you to manage both your Google Business Profile and social media accounts in one place, Hookle saves you time and helps you maintain an active online presence across platforms. With Hookle, you can effortlessly create & schedule posts, monitor engagement, and keep your business information up to date, so you can focus on what matters most: running your business!
Don’t just take our word for it - try it yourself. Download Hookle for free today and enjoy worry-free social media management alongside your Google profile to drive sales.
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