Google Business Profile Questions and Answers keeps you connected and can improve user engagement.
Your practice and team are constantly fielding patient and prospect inquiries from a variety of sources — questions asked on Google, over the phone, via your website forms, when a patient checks in, and during appointments.
You know to make sure you’re answering these questions in a timely manner and with the correct information. But are you aware of this one other place that prospects and patients might be asking questions?
It’s your Google Business Profile.
Understanding Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is one of the most important digital marketing tools for any local business. It offers a multitude of ways for a business to communicate with prospects and differentiate itself from competitors.
You can:
- Gather online reviews from patients
- Highlight your products and services
- Post pictures and videos of your practice
- Post upcoming events and specials
The program also boasts myriad ways for patients and prospects to engage and contact your practice: calling, visiting your website, asking questions, and more.
This last feature, Question and Answers, is woefully underused. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits the program can provide your business and key steps to making the most of its offerings.
Making the Most of Google Questions and Answers
Simply put, Google Questions and Answers is a feature located within your Google Business Profile that allows people to post a question to your business or provide an answer to a question that’s been posted to your business.
Users can access your practice’s questions and answers within your Google Business Profile. A couple of important items to consider regarding the Google Questions and Answers feature:
- Anyone can post a question, and anyone can answer a currently posted question.
- These questions and answers are visible to anyone.
The program provides an opportunity to further differentiate your practice as the go-to expert, but caution is critical. The public nature of this feature can cause prospects to see incorrect information about your practice.
You certainly wouldn’t want incorrect answers (or responses that redirect prospects to a competitor) posted to your business profile. Addressing these questions is similar to online reviews — you want to ensure you’re aware of them and are responsive.
Don’t let answers like this go unaddressed:
Navigating Google Questions and Answers Step by Step
With these steps to using Google Questions and Answers, you’ll become familiar with it in no time.
Step 1: Have access to your listing.
Ensure that your Google Business Profile is claimed and that you have access as the owner to that listing. You can check to see if your profile is claimed by visiting here. If you’re an Audigy Member and on the Digital Marketing Program, your team will have claimed and optimized your listing.
Step 2: See if any questions have already been posted to your business.
Once you’ve confirmed your Google Business Profile is claimed and you have access, check to determine whether any questions have already been posted to your business. Be sure to respond to them even if someone else has already posted an answer.
As the owner, you want to show you’re engaged with prospects and patients. You also want to make sure the most accurate answer is posted to any question. Again, anyone can answer questions posted to your business, and answers by other people might not be correct.
Step 3: Post and answer your own questions.
As an owner, you can post your own questions to your business listing. We highly recommend creating a list of common inquiries received by phone or in person from prospects, new patients, existing patients, and patients’ loved ones.
Some examples of questions you might post:
- Do you accept Medicare?
- Do you provide hearing care services for children?
- Do you offer tinnitus treatment?
- What insurances do you accept?
Once you’ve posted your own questions on your Google Business Profile, don’t forget to answer them as the business owner. By posting your own questions and answers, you’re providing relevant and helpful information to your prospects and patients.
It also shows Google that your profile is being updated with new information, helping people find what they’re seeking. Remember, there aren’t many businesses taking advantage of this feature — especially in the hearing care industry.
Going Beyond Controlling Your Brand’s Messaging
Having a Google Business Profile that’s constantly updated with new information and reviews will help you increase engagement and local search rankings. This overview gives you some ideas on how you can use the Google Question and Answer feature within your profile, including standing apart with your own added inquiries and answers.
Google frequently changes the features offered within your Google Business Profile, making it important as a practice owner to stay atop updates — what they are, how to use them, and what the benefits may be. At Audigy, our experts can help you not only stay in the know but also maximize every aspect of the platform.
If you have questions about Google Business Profile, the Google Q&A feature, or any other digital marketing tactic, don’t wait. Reach out to the Audigy team today.