The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.

573 – Google Business Profile

17 snips

Jul 14, 2025

In this engaging dialogue, Marco Silva, VP of Growth at Oostas and an expert in digital marketing, unveils how to supercharge your Google Business Profile for maximum visibility. He explains the crucial elements of relevance, distance, and prominence that influence online searches. Learn practical tips for optimizing your profile, including how to effectively manage user reviews and updates. Marco emphasizes the importance of treating your profile like an inviting storefront and warns about the vulnerabilities of neglecting it. Get ready to boost your local SEO!

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INSIGHT

GBP Often Is The First Impression

Google Business Profile is a free directory-like tool that shows your business on Search and Maps.
It often becomes the first impression customers see before visiting your website.

INSIGHT

Three Signals Drive Local Rankings

Google ranks profiles based on relevance, distance, and prominence.
Filling out your profile and being known elsewhere online improves local visibility.

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Maximize your Google Business Profile to improve local SEO, generate more leads, and protect your online presence.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/573-marco-silva-google-business-profile/

For small local businesses, visibility online can make or break your customer acquisition efforts. In this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by Marco Silva with Oostas to break down why your Google Business Profile (GBP) may be your single most important marketing asset, and how to use it to your full advantage.

Google Business Profile is a free tool that helps your business appear on Google Search and Maps.

Marco explains the three key factors that influence visibility - relevance, distance, and prominence - and outlines how to optimize your profile for each.

From accurate hours to high-quality photos, and from managing user edits to strategically collecting reviews, every element of your profile impacts whether or not potential customers find you.

"Think of your Google Business Profile like your storefront window—it needs to be clean, fresh, and inviting if you want people to walk in." - Marco Silva

He walks listeners through the modern verification process, which now often includes submitting a video or documentation, instead of the old postcard method. Henry emphasizes that failing to claim and maintain your GBP can leave your business vulnerable and invisible.

They also dive into review strategies, how to ask for them tactfully, why the quality and quantity of reviews matters, and what role keywords play in visibility. Marco explains how reviews written by customers (not replies) help with local ranking and how to handle both positive and negative feedback publicly.

To tie it all together, Marco introduces a $99 GBP Pulse Check from Oostas, a trusted partner of The How of Business. The GBP Pulse Check is an in-depth audit with personalized video feedback and actionable tips for improvement. As a bonus, Henry encourages listeners to download a free resource: “5 Ways to Supercharge Your Google Business Profile” from the show notes page.

Marco Silva is a local SEO expert and digital marketing strategist at Oostas who helps small businesses get found online.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com