Does your farm have a Google Business Profile?
In a world where local food is not just a preference, but a movement, how do you make your farm stand out on Google?
Imagine you can turn every search into an opportunity, every click into a connection, and every review into a referral. Google Business Profiles allow you to do just that. The best part is that once you claim and optimize your profile, there’s minimal maintenance, setting the stage for you to find new customers and nurture repeat business long into the future.
It’s important to note that your Google Business Profile likely exists whether you claim it or not. If you haven’t taken ownership of it though, your profile might not display the most accurate information and definitely won’t work as effectively to engage your customers. This is especially important considering that your profile shows up on the search results page — before a potential customer has even clicked through to your site.
Here, we’ll dive into what Google Business Profiles are all about, including their benefits, what an optimized profile looks like, and what can happen if you don’t manage your listing.
What’s a Google Business Profile?
If you’ve gotten directions to a restaurant, searched “local farm near me,” or found exactly what you were looking for on Google from a business you didn’t know existed, you’ve probably clicked on a Google Business Profile.
Here’s what they look like on Google Search and Google Maps:
Google Business Profile is a powerful tool that puts your farm on the map — literally! It allows you to manage your online presence across Google, including Search and Google Maps, making sure that potential customers can easily find accurate information about your location, hours, and products.
You can also feature popular products on your profile. This means that when people search for specific items near your farm, your business can appear in Google Search or Google Maps. This feature helps attract new customers who are looking for what you offer, even if they haven’t heard of your farm before.
A well-optimized profile can also attract local customers and showcase your business practices. Plus, in a visual-first world, customers can get a peek into your business, seeing photos of what your farm looks like and what to expect from your products.
But Google Business Profiles are not just about visibility — customers can actively engage by sharing reviews, uploading photos, and asking questions directly through your profile. Without claiming your profile, these interactions remain in the public domain, shaping perceptions of your business without your input.
What does an optimized Google Business Profile for a farm look like?
Together Farms, a Wisconsin family farm with a seasonal restaurant, store, and special events, is a great example of what an optimized profile should look like. The profile, optimized by Grapevine, includes eye-catching photos, a Q&A section with commonly asked questions, ongoing updates (posts), featured products, and an accurate description and business hours.
Their Business Profile generates an average of:
1,282 interactions per month, including people calling or messaging the farm
475 people getting directions to the farm per month
784 website clicks per month
A key benefit of their Google Business Profile is that it helps them show up in search results for important phrases, like “restaurants” and “farm to table.” These searches bring in new customers who may not know about Together Farms.
But it’s not just about attracting new customers. Their profile makes sure they rank for branded searches, like when someone searches directly for “Together Farms” on Google Maps or Google Search. Showing up for these branded searches is crucial for maintaining visibility and making sure that existing customers can easily find them.
Why having an optimized Google Business Profile for your farm matters
Google Business Profiles enhance your farm’s online visibility by making your business more discoverable on Google Maps and to local folks searching for products that you offer. This increased exposure helps attract new website and in-person visitors, builds trust, and ultimately drives more traffic and engagement.
Let’s dive deeper into the impacts and benefits of claiming your Google Business Profile:
Local discoverability: Make sure your farm is easy for local customers to find through Search and Google Maps, bringing more people to your door and boosting website visits.
Control over your images: When you upload your own photos, you can show off your farm in its best light, keeping your online presence looking authentic and inviting.
Building credibility and trust: Accurate business information and positive reviews help potential customers trust you and existing customers feel confident about coming back.
Search engine optimization (SEO) benefits: Optimizing your profile can improve how often you appear in search results, driving more potential customers to your farm or website. This can include optimizing your description, products listed on your profile, Q&A section, and more based on search data.
Reputation management: You can respond to questions promptly and respond to both positive and negative reviews professionally.
Easy maintenance: Once your profile is set up and optimized, there’s minimal upkeep, while it continues to spread the word about your farm.
Having a Google Business Profile is the first step, but if you haven’t taken the next steps to claim, optimize, and actively manage it, you’re letting current or potential customers shape your farm’s online presence without your input.
Here’s what can go wrong if you ignore your profile:
Reduced local visibility: You’ll miss out on opportunities to reach nearby customers and may not appear in Google Maps searches (or may appear in the wrong location).
Missed customer connections: Potential customers may overlook your business if your profile is incomplete and they can’t find accurate information like your farm’s hours, location, website, and contact details.
Negative customer perception: An outdated or unclaimed profile can create a negative impression, signaling to customers that you might not be attentive to detail or customer needs.
Lack of communication: If you have special hours for an upcoming holiday or are hosting events that change your usual operating hours, updating your profile is the easiest and most effective path forward to communicate these types of updates.
By actively managing your Google Business Profile, you make sure your farm stands out, remains easily accessible, and continues to foster trust and engagement with your customers. Don’t leave your online presence to chance — take control and watch your farm thrive both online and off.
We’re here to help!
Whether you need to set up your farm’s Google Business Profile from scratch or would like to optimize your existing profile, we’re here to help. Here at Grapevine, we’ll make sure you get the most benefit from this free tool, potentially resulting in hundreds of new interactions per month.
Request an info packet to learn more about our Google services and beyond:
