Stand Out on Google: Optimising Your Business Profile

Outline:

Make Google work for your local business, starting with your Business Profile.

For most local businesses, a Google Business Profile is the first thing a potential customer sees. This session shows you how to set it up properly, and the small changes that make a big difference to how often it's found.

We'll cover

•     Why a Google Business Profile is critical for local SMEs

•     Setting up or auditing your profile

•     Photos, categories, services and posts that boost visibility

•     Reviews: how to encourage and respond to them

•     Linking your Google Business Profile to your website and socials

•     Key analytics inside your Google Business Profile

•     Quick wins to improve your ranking

Who is this for?

Sole traders, SMEs, small charities and local service businesses.

What will you learn?

How to improve your local visibility; how to make Google work for your business; the role reviews play in your reputation.

Quick win

Make one live improvement to your Google Business Profile during the workshop.

Dates, times and venues: 

• 3rd November: 10am - 12.30 Freedom Works, 1-3 Robertson St, Hastings TN34 1HN

• 19th November: 10am - 12.30 Welcome Building, 14 Compton St, Eastbourne BN21 4BP

• 25th November: 10am - 12.30 Civic Centre, Uckfield, TN22 1AE

About the trainers

Greg Thomas and David Taylor have between them over 50 years’ experience in online marketing, communications and business support.

With over 15 years’ experience supporting startups and SMEs, Greg Thomas is a business adviser, mentor and innovation lead known for helping organisations gain clarity, improve performance and manage change with confidence.

He has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs across financial planning, marketing strategy, digital transformation and business growth, offering practical, results-focused support grounded in real-world challenges.

Since 2019, he has worked independently across the UK, developing business plans, funding proposals, budgets and forecasts, and providing tailored advice on sales, risk and digital presence.

His work has earned national recognition for innovation, including commendation from Her Majesty the Queen.

With more than 30 years’ experience across journalism, media relations, marketing, digital strategy and business consultancy, David Taylor specialises in guiding organisations through today’s fast-changing business and communications landscape.

His broad, cross-sector background - from early days as a newspaper journalist to advising SMEs on digital transformation - gives him a unique, practical perspective that resonates with leaders and teams alike.

David has co-authored books on digital marketing, delivered national and international talks on digital change, and appeared regularly on BBC TV and radio as a commentator on the evolving digital world.

His business support methods have been used by enterprise organisations across the South and East of England to help hundreds of SMEs build stronger digital skills and more resilient businesses.

Venue and transport arrangements

Freedom Works is just a short walk from Hastings mainline train station.

There are also a number of accessible car parks under five minutes's walk from the venue.

FAQs

Why does my business need a Google Business Profile?

It's usually the first result a potential customer sees when they search for your business or your service nearby - and local ranking depends heavily on how complete and active your profile is.

How often should I update my Google Business Profile?

Regularly. Profiles that post updates, add photos and respond to reviews consistently tend to be shown more - aim for at least weekly activity.

Do photos really make a difference to how many people find my business?

Yes - businesses with a strong library of photos are shown to significantly more searchers than those with few or no images. We'll cover what to prioritise.

How do I get more (and better) Google reviews?

The workshop covers simple, ethical ways to prompt happy customers to leave reviews, and how to respond to both positive and negative feedback.