Google Business Profile Deep Dive

Your digital front door — open 24/7

For many people, Google is their first interaction with your farmers’ market.

Before they follow you on social media, before they visit your website, before they ask a friend, they search:

“farmers market near me”

What they see next determines whether they come… or keep scrolling.

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is not optional.
It’s your first impression, trust-builder, and directions desk.

Think of it as the digital version of your market sign at the road.

Google Business Profile helps:

• new visitors find you
• people trust that you’re open
• tourists and new residents discover your market
• reduce confusion about hours, location, and parking
• reinforce that your market is active and well-run

Unlike social media, Google posts reach people who are already looking for you.

This is high-intent visibility.

For example, when someone searches “farmers market near me” on a Saturday morning, you want them to immediately see:

Derry Farmers Market • 10–2 • 13 Castle Rock Rd

Clear. Confident. Open.

Think of Google Business as:

• factual
• clear
• confidence-building

It is not:

• conversational
• trendy
• emotional

Your goal here is simple:  clarity over creativity.

If Facebook feels like a friendly conversation and Instagram feels like a stroll through the market, Google is the answer desk.

1️⃣ Updates (Posts)

Updates keep your listing active and visible.

Use updates for:

• weekly market reminders
• season opening announcements
• changes to hours
• weather-related updates
• “We’re open today!” reminders

Post length: short and clear (2–4 sentences)

Example (Derry Farmers Market):

Open today from 10 AM–2 PM at Derry Farmers Market, 13 Castle Rock Rd. Fresh produce, baked goods, live music, and SNAP/EBT accepted. We’ll see you soon.

That’s all you need.

2️⃣ Events

Google Events appear prominently on your listing and reinforce routine.

Use events for:

• weekly market dates
• festivals and theme days
• special guests
• cooking demos
• fundraisers

Tip:
Even if your market happens every week, creating an Event helps Google (and customers) understand that this is an active, ongoing experience.

Example:

Derry Farmers Market — Saturdays, 10–2 • 13 Castle Rock Rd

Recurring events = consistency = trust.

3️⃣ Photos (Extremely Important)

Photos are one of the strongest trust and ranking signals on Google.

Best photos to upload:

• wide shots of the market
• vendor tables
• produce close-ups
• people shopping
• kids activities
• music or demos

People want to see:

• what it looks like
• how busy it is
• who it’s for

A photo of families walking through Derry Farmers Market says more than a paragraph ever could.

4️⃣ Reviews & Responses

Reviews strongly influence whether someone decides to visit.

Best practice:

• respond to every review when possible
• thank people
• keep replies short and warm

Example response:

Thanks so much for visiting Derry Farmers Market! We’re glad you enjoyed the atmosphere and hope to see you again soon.

This shows your market is:

• active
• responsive
• cared for

Minimum (Do This)

• Update hours at the start of the season
• Add 2–4 photos per month
• Post 1 update or event per month

Even this basic maintenance improves visibility and trust.

Recommended (Peak Season)

• 1 post per week
• 5+ photos per week
• Events for every market date or major event

Markets that post consistently appear:

• more active
• more trustworthy
• more established

How Google Business Profile Helps You (Behind the Scenes)

Regular updates help:

• improve visibility in local search results
• increase clicks for directions
• increase website visits
• reassure first-time visitors

You don’t need viral content here.You need accuracy and consistency.

Image Sizes & Best Practices

Photo Guidelines

• Orientation: horizontal or vertical (both work)
• Resolution: at least 720px wide
• Clear, well-lit images
• No heavy filters or text overlays

Video Guidelines

• Short clips (under 30 seconds)
• Vertical or horizontal
• Real moments > polished edits

What to Avoid

• flyers with tiny text
• overly designed graphics
• blurry or dark photos
• outdated images

Google favors real photos of real places, like an actual Saturday at Derry Farmers Market.

What NOT to Overthink

• captions (keep them short)
• hashtags (not needed)
• emojis (optional, minimal)

Google is about:function > flair.

• Not updating hours seasonally
• Leaving old photos up
• Never responding to reviews
• Posting only once a year
• Treating it like social media

How Google Fits Into Your Bigger Marketing Picture

• Facebook builds routine
• Instagram builds emotion
• Google builds confidence

All three work together.

Google Business Profile quietly does the work of:

• making your market easy to find
• making your market easy to trust

If your market:

• exists in a physical place
• happens at a set time
• welcomes the public

Then, Google Business Profile is essential.

You don’t need to do a lot.
You just need to show up consistently.

When people search for you, your market should look open, active, and welcoming. 

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