Did you know you can create posts on your Google Business Profile (GBP) listing — formerly Google My Business — as you do for social media?
Posting updates to your GBP listing on a regular basis is an easy and effective way to boost your apartment’s visibility on Google. It doesn’t just help you with regular search, it also increases your chance of getting into the coveted 3-pack of Google.
The Google 3-pack, also called the map pack, is what shows up when a person uses Google to perform a local search. Usually, the searcher will include the phrase “near me” or something similar in their search.
When your business is in the top three results for local searches, the people who are looking for an apartment community nearby will see your property front and center.
Want to learn more? Read on to learn all the benefits and get an arsenal of tips and tricks to prepare you to not just use GBP, but to become a GBP apartment community superstar.
To begin, you might be wondering…
Are Google Business Profile posts effective?
You may think that the answer to this is no, because GBP posts have a low level of visibility. If someone is searching for apartments in your city, they will not see your updates.
But if someone searches “apartments near me,” or your specific community on Google, your updates will appear as a part of the Business Profile that shows up on the right-hand side of the search screen.
Google Business Profile posts are a super-effective way to give future residents a glimpse into your community without having to look you up on social media. You can use them to stand out in search and showcase what life is like in your buildings.
So when asking yourself…
Should I post about my Property on Google Business Profile?
The answer is a solid YES! In fact, not posting to your GBP means losing out on an opportunity to showcase your property to potential residents. These posts for your apartment communities are going to be the first impression many future residents have of your property.
Not every social media platform will be right for every apartment, but GBP posts are essential, and should be part of your apartment marketing strategy. Listing your available units on GBP also means more leads (we can help you automate this).
How often should I post about my apartment on Google Business Profile?
At least once a week. But if you can post more often – even as often as daily – you will reap the benefits.
Google Business Profile posts don’t just showcase your community to future residents when they search for you – it also helps your apartment SEO!
Posting about your community and optimizing those posts by using targeted keywords will increase your chances of showing up in the 3-pack, as well as boost the SEO on your apartment’s website. Updating regularly will also help your local SEO by showing Google that you are active and engaged.
Ultimately, how often you post is going to depend on your overall strategy and what sorts of updates you decide to share. But this is one of those “more is better” situations.
What should I post on Google Business Profile?
Think of your Google Business Profile as another social media newsfeed. You can share what you post on Facebook on your GBP listing, however it is always a best practice to create unique posts for each platform.
Remember that the people viewing these posts may be prospective residents who are considering moving into your community. So your updates should showcase the things you want them to see.
Consider these kinds of posts for your Apartment’s Google Business Profile:
- Specials
Anytime you are running a special on rentals, you should list it on Google Business Profile as an Offer post. You can include details such as what the offer is and how long it lasts.
If a future resident finds you on Google, the special may be just what they need to choose your community over another one. - Images of the property
Images that showcase how clean your property is, or what amenities you provide are great post ideas that will attract the type of resident you are looking for.
Remember, this is going to be the first point of contact for many of them. - Information on what makes your property unique
Do you have a state-of-the-art fitness center? Or maybe you have a great indoor/outdoor pool that is open year-round. Perhaps you maintain a beautifully manicured walking path. Show it off to future residents with images and descriptions.
Anything that makes your property stand out should be showcased on posts on GBP.
- Images of sample apartments
Your Google Business Profile allows you to post floorplans in your listing, but it’s also a good idea to include regular posts about newly available floorplans.
Images of sample apartments will give residents the ability to imagine themselves living in the available space. Mental imagery is always a great seller for apartments.
- Events that you host for the community
Whether you host a barbeque pool party for residents on Memorial Day Weekend, or a Christmas party with a secret Santa gift exchange, you should share your events on your Google Business Profile.
Sharing these events will help future residents determine whether the community is a right fit for them.
- Posts using keywords to boost your SEO
Including the keywords you are targeting with your SEO strategy is an essential part of GBP posting for your apartment community. Bots crawl your Google Business posts looking for keywords just like they do for your blog. Since you are using a Google product, keywords will only improve your ranking.
Your Google Business Profile can be a one-stop shop for future residents to learn about your community – and why they would want to live there – without ever having to leave Google.
When should I post on Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profiles are unique from social media in that it doesn’t matter what time you post – (yet)!
However, you do need to have a schedule and be consistent with your posts. If a potential resident looks up your property and sees you haven’t posted in six months, it could be seen as a red flag.
Ideally, one post a week should be the minimum. This lets Google and future residents know that you have active and involved staff and ensures you remain relevant.
Should I use hashtags on Google Business Profile?
Not at this time.
A hashtag strategy will not offer any benefits on Google Business Profile.
There is no way to search for or follow posts, with or without hashtags. But you can always use our old friend – SEO.
Can I use Google Business Profile in my Local SEO strategy?
Absolutely! Let’s say you want to target, “pet-friendly apartments in New York City.”
You could boost your SEO by posting a picture of residents walking their dogs in the community dog park provided for them. When crafting the text for the post, make sure to include your keywords.
Check out the example below of an SEO-optimized Google Business Profile post:
Your Google Business Profile post should include an image of your buildings, property, or residents (with permission) along with a keyword-focused description and a call-to-action.
But no hashtags.
How do you post on Google Business Profile?
1. Sign in to your Google Business Profile and click Create a Post
2. Choose from the list of options at the top menu. Note, these options are subject to change.
- COVID-19 update
- Offer
- What’s New
- Event
- Product
3. At this point you have the option to add a photo or video, and fill out the boxes relevant to your post. You can edit your post later if needed, but it’s always a good practice to check for errors and typos beforehand.
4. Finally, you can choose to add a call-to-action button at the end to encourage viewers to apply or schedule a tour.
5. When you are finished you can preview and publish the post.
Can you schedule posts to Google Business Profile?
Unfortunately you cannot schedule posts using the Google Business Profile Manager, or save and edit posts later. However, there are tools available that will allow you to schedule content ahead of time, or in batches.
Some of the scheduling tools available include:
- Respage
- Loomly
- ContentCal
- Sendible
- SocialPilot
- e-clincher
Scheduling content is a great no-hassle option for busy apartment managers, but you will have more options for buttons and different functions by posting directly through your Google Business Profile.
Google Business Profile is the ultimate tool for free apartment marketing
Now that you know why, when, what and how you should post to your Google Business Profile, adding this strategy into your content marketing efforts is a no-lose decision!
Respage can help get you started. We post your available apartment listings, community events, and your property’s unique selling points. Click below to speak with an expert today about our GBP solution!
