Google Posts: Show Your Offers Right on Profile

When someone searches for your business by name, or finds you on Google Maps, they see your profile: your hours, your phone number, your reviews. Google Posts let you add a fresh message right there — a weekend offer, a new opening time, an event you're running. It shows up when people are already looking at you, which is exactly the moment they're deciding whether to walk in or call.

Think of it like a little noticeboard on your shop window, except the window is the profile people see on their phone. Best of all, it costs nothing and takes a few minutes.

What a Google Post actually is

A Google Post is a short update you attach to your Google Business Profile. It can include a photo, a line or two of text, and often a button like "Call now" or "Learn more". Once published, it appears in the section of your profile people scroll through when they've searched for you.

You don't need a new account for this. If you already manage your Google Business Profile, you can post from the same place. If you haven't set that up yet, do that first — posts sit on top of an existing profile, they don't replace one.

A few everyday examples of what's worth posting:

• A bakery: "Fresh cinnamon buns every Saturday from 8am — usually gone by 11."
• A two-van electrician: "Booking now for July — call to reserve a morning slot for smaller jobs."
• A local sports club: "Beginners' session this Thursday at 7pm, no experience needed, just turn up."

How to write a post people actually act on

The trick is to be specific and give one clear next step. A post that says "We have great deals" does nothing. A post that says "Two-course lunch this week, served until 2pm" tells someone exactly what they get and when.

Keep it to a few short sentences. People read these on a phone, often in a hurry. Put the most important thing first — the offer, the date, the change — because the text may be shortened until they tap to expand it.

Some practical rules that work well:

1. Lead with the payoff. Start with what's in it for them, not with "We're excited to announce".
2. Add a real photo. A photo of your actual food, your team, or your workshop beats a stock image every time. People trust what looks real.
3. Give one action. Choose a single button — call, book, or learn more — and point everything at that.
4. Say when it ends. "This weekend only" or "until Friday" gives a reason to act now instead of later.

Posting a step at a time

You manage posts through your Google Business Profile, either on the Google app on your phone or by searching for your own business name while signed in to the Google account that owns the profile. Look for the option to add an update or offer.

Then, in plain terms:

• Choose what kind of post it is — a general update, an offer, or an event.
• Write your short text and pick a photo from your phone.
• If there's an offer, add the details and, if you can, an end date.
• Add a button and the link or phone number it should use.
• Preview it, check for typos, and publish.

Because Google's layout changes from time to time, the exact wording of the buttons may look slightly different when you get there. The general idea stays the same: pick a type, add text and a photo, publish.

Keep them fresh, don't let them go stale

An old post makes you look closed or forgotten. If your profile still shows "Christmas hours" in March, it quietly tells people you're not paying attention. Set yourself a simple rhythm instead.

A good habit: post something once a week, even if it's small. A dish of the day, a job you just finished, a reminder about your Saturday hours.

You don't need grand announcements. The restaurant that posts "Today's soup: leek and potato" is showing it's open and active, which is exactly what a nervous new customer wants to see. Rotate through offers, small news, and events so it never feels repetitive.

Treat posts as one small piece of your profile, alongside good photos, honest hours, and replies to reviews. Together they tell someone "this business is open, cared for, and worth a visit".

If keeping all of this tidy in one place feels like a lot, that's the sort of thing tools like Foliovo are built to help with — but the posting itself is free and yours to start today.