Can locals find you?

If someone searches for a community centre like yours online, how likely are they to find you?

When someone performs a search for an organisation in Google, they’ll often be presented with a map listing at the top of their search results. Underneath the map, there will be around 3 close matches listed.

Each of the listed organisations will have options for the seacrcher to contact or to click and find out more information. There may also be review stars, showing reviews left by clients.

Take a moment to fire up your favourite web browser and search for your own community centre. Use a search term that represents something a person might want from your community centre. For example, if you’re based in Corio, Geelong, then you might search “art classes corio”.

Is your community centre currently showing up at the top of the search results, next to the map? If you’re not visible there, you’re potentially losing out on visitors and attendees to your programs and activities.

These listings are controlled by a free service that Google offers called Google Business Profile.

To create a listing, head over to google.com.au/intl/en_in/business/. Click the large blue “Manage now” button to begin.

The first thing you’ll need to do is login to Google. If you don’t have a Google account for your community centre, just click on the “Create account” link and follow the online instructions. You’ll need access to your work email to complete the verification process.

If your community centre does appear, then you already have a Google Business Profile page. The message on the page will let you know how you can reset your login details. Alternatively, if someone else set up the page for you, then you’re able to request access.

If the search doesn’t find your community centre, you’ll be given the option to create a Google Business Profile page.

As part of the setup process, Google will ask you to verify your community centre. The verification process works via post, telephone, or email. One of the most usual forms of verification is for Google to send a postcard to your business address, but go for whatever is easiest and most convenient for you.

Once your page is verified, you can then add in your community centre details and information. This includes opening hours, categories, photos and more.

Try and be as detailed as possible with the content that you add to your Google Business Profile page. Good quality content, photos and information, will help Google to see what your community centre is about. The information also helps potential customers who are looking for an organisation like yours.

One thing to mention – reviews are really important. The more reviews you have, the better the chance of showing up as one of the three organisations listed next to the map in the search results.

Your customers are able to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile page. So make sure you take a moment to ask them to leave you a review.

This could be something you do at the point of sale in your centre, for example you might have some business-cards printed with a link and/or QR code to your Google Business Profile. You could also add a note to your invoices or email your clients after a service has been delivered, activity started, or course finished.

Because you serve customers in your local area, it’s crucial that you have a Google Business Profile page set up. It can mean the difference between being visible to potential customers and losing them. Best of all? It’s free publicity!