There's a section of your Google listing that almost nobody uses and that can win you (or lose you) clients: Questions and Answers. Anyone can ask a public question about your business... and anyone can answer it, even someone who has no idea. If you don't control it, you're letting others speak for you. In this guide we explain what Google's Questions and Answers are and how to use them in your favour.
What Google's Questions and Answers are
It's a section of your Google Business Profile (what appears when someone searches for your business) where users can ask public questions: hours, prices, whether you have parking, whether you take walk-ins... What's both important and dangerous is that any user can answer, not just you. Those questions and answers are shown to everyone who finds your business, so they weigh on the decision to contact you or not.
Why you should control them (and not ignore them)
If you ignore this section, two bad things can happen: an important question goes unanswered (and the client leaves with the doubt) or, worse, someone answers wrongly or with incorrect information. As the business, you're the most reliable source: you should watch for new questions and answer them yourself, quickly and well. Google even values activity on your listing, so answering also helps your local visibility.
The trick: seed your own frequently asked questions
Here's the move almost nobody makes: you can post your clients' most frequent questions yourself and answer them. It's completely legitimate and highly recommended. This way you control the information, resolve doubts before they're asked and fill your listing with useful content. Think about what you get asked most (prices, hours, services, how to book) and turn it into clear questions and answers.
How to write good questions and answers
Write the questions the way a real client would (Do you take walk-ins?, Do you have parking?) and naturally include words people search for on Google, like your service and your city. Answer clearly, briefly and kindly, and take the chance to add a useful detail or a call to action (...you can book on our website). Every answer is an opportunity to inform and to convince.
Monitor and update: it's not a one-off
Questions and Answers aren't something you do once and forget. Turn on notifications so you find out about new questions and answer them as soon as possible. Check from time to time that the information is still correct (especially hours and prices) and delete or report incorrect answers from third parties. A well-kept listing conveys professionalism and helps you stand out from the competition.
Common mistakes with Questions and Answers
The most frequent ones: ignoring the section completely, leaving questions unanswered, not seeding your own frequent questions, and not checking that the information is up to date. Many businesses don't even know this section exists, which gives you an easy advantage: with a little attention, you already stand out above most of your local competition.
The Questions and Answers on your Google listing are a free, powerful tool that almost nobody takes advantage of. Take control: answer quickly, seed your own frequent questions and keep everything up to date. It's a simple way to build trust, resolve doubts and improve your local visibility. And if you want your whole online presence (website + Google listing) to work together, at WebAutonomos we help you for 15 euros per month, with no setup fee and no commitment.