Why Every Evansville Business Needs a Google Business Profile in 2025

If you run a business in Evansville, Indiana, there's a good chance your next customer is going to find you on Google before they ever walk through your door. In fact, nearly 87% of consumers used Google to evaluate a local business in the past year. That means your Google Business Profile (GBP) isn't just a nice-to-have — it's one of the most important digital assets your business owns.

Whether you're a restaurant on Franklin Street, a plumber serving Newburgh, or a boutique in Haynie's Corner, your Google Business Profile is working for you around the clock. Or at least, it should be.

Let's break down exactly why your GBP matters so much in 2025 and what you can do to make the most of it.

What Is a Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free tool that lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. When someone searches for "best coffee shop in Evansville" or "HVAC repair near me," the businesses that show up in the map pack — that prominent box of three local results — are powered by their Google Business Profiles.

Your profile includes your business name, address, phone number, hours, photos, reviews, and more. It's essentially your digital storefront on the world's largest search engine.

Why It Matters More Than Ever for Evansville Businesses

1. Local Search Is How Customers Find You

Think about your own behavior. When you need a service — a dentist, a mechanic, a place for dinner — where do you go first? Google. Your customers in Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro, and across the tri-state area are doing the same thing.

Google reports that searches containing "near me" have grown consistently year over year. If your business doesn't have an optimized Google Business Profile, you're invisible to a huge portion of potential customers actively looking for what you offer.

2. The Map Pack Gets More Clicks Than You Think

Studies show that the local map pack (the top three local results on Google) captures around 42% of clicks for local searches. That's a massive share of traffic going to just three businesses. If you're not one of them, your competitors are getting those calls, those visits, and those sales instead.

For Evansville businesses competing in a tight local market, showing up in the map pack can be the difference between a slow month and a record one.

3. Reviews Build Trust Before You Say a Word

Your Google reviews are often the first impression a customer gets of your business. A strong review profile — plenty of reviews, a high average rating, and thoughtful responses from you — signals to potential customers that you're trustworthy and established.

Businesses in the Evansville area that actively manage their reviews consistently outperform those that don't. It's one of the simplest, most effective forms of social proof available.

4. It's Free (and Powerful)

Unlike paid advertising, your Google Business Profile costs nothing to set up and maintain. For small businesses in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois that are watching their marketing budgets, GBP offers an incredible return on investment. You're getting visibility on the most-used search engine in the world without spending a dime on ad placement.

Of course, optimizing your profile well takes time and know-how — but the platform itself is completely free.

How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Having a profile is step one. Making it work for you is where the real value comes in. Here are the essentials:

Complete Every Section

Google rewards completeness. Fill out every available field: business category, service area, attributes, business description, products, and services. The more information you provide, the more signals Google has to match your business with relevant searches.

Don't skip the business description. Use it to naturally include keywords your customers are searching for, like "Evansville plumbing services" or "tri-state area landscaping."

Add High-Quality Photos

Businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for driving directions and 35% more click-throughs to their websites. Upload quality images of your storefront, your team, your products, and your work. Update them regularly — a profile with photos from 2019 doesn't inspire confidence in 2026.

Post Regular Updates

Google Business Profile has a Posts feature that lets you share updates, promotions, events, and news directly on your profile. Think of it like a mini social media feed that shows up right in search results. Posting regularly tells Google (and customers) that your business is active and engaged.

Manage Your Reviews

Respond to every review — positive and negative. Thank happy customers, and address concerns from unhappy ones professionally. This shows potential customers that you care about the experience you provide. It also sends positive signals to Google's algorithm.

Keep Your Information Accurate

This sounds basic, but it's one of the most common mistakes we see with Evansville businesses. If your hours change for a holiday, update them. If you move locations, update your address immediately. Inconsistent information frustrates customers and hurts your local search rankings.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing the wrong business category. Your primary category has a big impact on which searches you appear for. Be specific — "Italian Restaurant" performs better than just "Restaurant."
• Ignoring questions. The Q&A section on your profile is public. Unanswered questions look bad and represent missed opportunities.
• Setting it and forgetting it. Your GBP needs regular attention. Treat it like a living part of your marketing strategy, not a one-time setup task.
• Duplicate listings. Multiple listings for the same business confuse Google and can hurt your visibility. Consolidate and verify your single, accurate listing.

The Bottom Line

Your Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful tools available to local businesses in Evansville and the surrounding tri-state area. It connects you with customers who are actively searching for your services, builds trust through reviews, and puts you on the map — literally.

But like any tool, it only works if you use it well. An incomplete, outdated, or neglected profile can actually hurt your business more than having no profile at all.

Ready to Get More Customers From Google?

At Riverbend Growth, we help businesses across Evansville, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois optimize their Google Business Profiles and dominate local search results. Whether you need help setting up your profile for the first time or want to take your existing presence to the next level, we're here to help.

Contact Riverbend Growth today for a free consultation and find out how we can help your business get found by more local customers.