Hi {{first_name}},
Your most valuable digital asset
Last week, we talked about why backlinks matter: especially now that AI tools like ChatGPT use them to decide which businesses to recommend.
This week, we're looking at the single most valuable piece of digital real estate you own as a local business: your Google Business Profile.
Here's what most local businesses get wrong: they think their GBP is just a listing. A place to put your hours, your phone number, maybe a few photos if you're feeling ambitious.
Wrong.
Your Google Business Profile is a high-authority page that Google already trusts.
It ranks in local search. It shows up in Maps. It appears in AI recommendations. And when you fill it out completely (really completely), it becomes a backlink and citation machine that works for you 24/7.
Here's the kicker: Google gives you multiple places to add links within your GBP. Links to your website. Links to specific service pages. Links to landing pages for your best offers. Most businesses leave these blank or just slap their homepage URL everywhere.
That's like owning prime real estate on Main Street and using it as a storage shed.
When you optimize your GBP correctly, you're not just making it easier for customers to find you: you're telling Google and AI exactly what you do and why you matter. You're creating citations, building authority, and driving traffic to the pages that actually convert.
And most of your competitors aren't doing it.
One Practical Move (Under 30 Minutes)
If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile yet: Stop everything and do that first. Go to business.google.com, search for your business, and start the verification process. Google will mail you a postcard with a code; it takes 1-2 weeks, sometimes longer. Do this today. Everything else waits until you're verified.
If you've already claimed your profile: Log in at business.google.com and fill out these two critical sections:
Step 1: Services
Add your top 3-5 services. For each one, write a short description (2-3 sentences) and include a link to the specific page on your website that covers that service. Don't just link to your homepage: link to the page where someone can actually learn more or book that service.
Step 2: Website Link
Check what URL is listed as your main "Website" link. If it's just your homepage, consider changing it to your highest-converting landing page: your main service page, your contact page, wherever you want people to land first.
That's it for this week. You're building the foundation.
If you want to go the extra mile…
Once you've knocked out Steps 1 and 2, keep the momentum going:
Create 2-3 posts this week. Each post should highlight a service, share a tip, or showcase recent work. Include a photo and a link to a relevant page on your site. Posts expire after 7 days, so treat this as an ongoing habit, not a one-time thing.
Go to the Questions section. If customers haven't asked questions yet, ask and answer your own. Example: "Do you offer same-day service?" Answer: "Yes, we offer same-day appointments for most services. Contact us here: [link]."
Add fresh photos. Upload at least 5 new images: your team, your work, your storefront, happy customers (with permission). Google rewards active profiles with more visibility.
Double-check that every section is complete. Business description, categories, attributes, hours. If it's empty, fill it. The more complete your profile, the more Google and AI trust you.
Automate It - One Tool to Save Time
Use Max for Google Business Profiles to automate updates for your Google Business Profiles. It helps you schedule posts, monitor reviews, see what's working, and make sure you're staying active without logging in manually every week.
If you're managing your GBP like it's 2018 (sporadically, when you remember), this tool will save you hours and actually get results.
Next week: The Chamber of Commerce backlink hack (and why it's one of the easiest, highest-value links you can get).
Talk soon,
Fungai
Your Owwtreach Guy
Grow with Owwtreach
www.owwtreach.com