You ever look at a competitor’s Google listing and wonder why they’re getting slammed with calls while your phone barely buzzes? Think they’re just being lucky, and maybe their luck will rub off on you? Not a chance!
A single well-timed Offer Post can make the difference between a slow Tuesday and a record-breaking night. One of our LocalSEO partners watched a pizza joint double its weeknight orders using nothing more than a simple “Two-for-Tuesday” deal.
No paid ads. No algorithm drama. Just a Google Business Profile doing exactly what it’s supposed to: pulling in ready-to-buy locals with an offer that makes them act. These posts live right inside your listing, where customers are already checking your hours, reading your reviews, and deciding if you’re worth their time.
Offer Posts aren’t fluff. They’re built to convert. They give you the tools to promote a deal, drop a deadline, and send traffic straight to your site or phone line. Most businesses ignore them. That’s your advantage. Use this feature right, and it becomes a low-effort, high-impact way to steal attention away from everyone still treating their profile like an online phone book.
What Are Google Business Profile Posts
Google Business Profile posts are like having a billboard directly on your Google listing – except this billboard updates instantly, costs nothing, and shows up right when people are searching for businesses like yours.
Think of them as mini-advertisements that live on your Google Business Profile. When someone searches for “dentist near me” or “best coffee shop in [your city],” these posts appear alongside your business info, reviews, and photos. They’re your chance to grab attention before potential customers even visit your website.
Offer posts specifically? They’re the heavy hitters. While other post types share news or events, Offer posts are built for one thing: driving immediate action with promotions, discounts, and special deals.
Why Your Business Needs to Master GBP Posts Yesterday
Don’t treat your Google Business Profile like a “set it and forget it” yellow pages listing. Use posts to:
- Claim more visual real estate in search results
- Show Google their business is active and engaged
- Give customers a reason to choose them RIGHT NOW
- Build trust by demonstrating they’re current and operational
When you post regularly, Google sees an active business. Customers see fresh content. And that combination? That’s what pushes you higher in local search results.
The Four Types of Google Business Profile Posts
Let’s quickly cover what should be in your posting toolkit:
- Offer Posts – Your sales and promotions (our focus today)
- What’s New/Update Posts – General announcements, new services, seasonal hours
- Event Posts – Workshops, grand openings, special gatherings
- Product Posts – Showcase specific items or services with pricing
There used to be COVID-19 update posts, too, but thankfully, those days are behind us.
The Anatomy of a Killer Offer Post
Offer posts come with special features that other post types don’t have. Here’s what makes them unique:
Required Elements:
Offer Title: This is your hook. Make it count. “20% Off Oil Changes” beats “Special Promotion” every time.
Post Description: You get up to 1,500 characters, but here’s my advice – if you can’t explain your offer in 150 characters, it’s too complicated. People scanning Google aren’t reading novels.
Visual Content: This isn’t optional in my book. A post without an image is like a storefront with the lights off.
The Secret Sauce – Optional Fields:
Start and End Dates: Creates urgency. “Ends Friday” moves people to action.
Promo Code: Perfect for tracking. Use something memorable like “GOOGLE20” so customers remember it, and you can track where sales come from.
Redemption Link: This is gold. Send people directly to your booking page, online store, or special landing page. LocalSEO’s experts always recommend using trackable links here.
Creating Offer Posts That Actually Convert
Visual Excellence
Your image is doing 80% of the heavy lifting. Here’s what works:
Image Specifications:
- Size: 1200 x 900 pixels (4:3 ratio) for best results
- Format: JPG or PNG
- File size: Between 10KB and 5MB
- Quality: Sharp, well-lit, professional (your nephew’s blurry iPhone photo won’t cut it)
Video Specs (if you’re feeling fancy):
- Length: Up to 30 seconds
- Size: Maximum 75MB
- Resolution: 720p minimum
Pro tip from my LocalSEO partners: Add text overlay to your images. A photo of your restaurant’s burger special is good. That same photo with “50% OFF TUESDAYS” in bold text? That’s what drives foot traffic.
Writing Copy That Sells
Forget everything you learned in English class. This isn’t the place for flowery prose. Your offer post needs to:
- State the offer clearly – “$10 haircuts,” not “special pricing available.”
- Include relevant local keywords naturally – “Best pizza deal in downtown Portland”
- Create urgency – “This week only” or “Limited spots available”
- Tell them what to do – “Book now” or “Order online”
One LocalSEO client, a dental practice, changed their offer post from “New patient special available” to “Free teeth whitening with cleaning – $300 value – Book by Friday.” Guess which one generated more calls?
The Call-to-Action That Closes
Every offer post needs a clear next step. Google gives you built-in CTA buttons – use them:
- Learn more
- Order online
- Buy
- Get offer
- Call now
Match your CTA to your business type. Restaurant? “Order online.” Service business? “Book now.” Retail? “Get offer.”
Posting Frequency That Keeps You Top of Mind
Here’s where most businesses drop the ball. They post once, see some results, then ghost their profile for months.
My recommendation? Post 1-2 times per week minimum. Can you post daily? Sure, but quality beats quantity. Better to have two solid posts per week than seven rushed ones.
Best times to post offers:
- Tuesday through Thursday (people are planning their weekends)
- 2-5 PM (catching the “what’s for dinner” crowd)
- Avoid Mondays (everyone’s catching up) and Sundays (lower search volume)
How to Create Your Offer Post
Creating a post takes about 3 minutes once you know the process:
- Search for your business name on Google
- Click “Add update” on your Business Profile
- Select “Add offer”
- Fill in your title, description, dates
- Upload your killer image
- Add your promo code and link
- Preview everything (seriously, check for typos)
- Hit publish
Note: Your business needs to be verified before you can post. If you haven’t verified yet, that’s step zero.
The Scheduling Question Everyone Asks
“Can I schedule these posts in advance?”
Not through Google directly. But here’s the workaround – third-party tools like LocalSEO’s recommended platforms can handle scheduling. Set up your posts for the month, then focus on running your business.
Do GBP Posts Help Your SEO?
Short answer: Yes, but not how you think.
Posts don’t directly boost your rankings like backlinks do. Instead, they:
- Signal to Google that your business is active
- Increase engagement with your listing
- Give you more opportunities to include relevant keywords
- Keep your profile fresh with new content
Think of posts as one ingredient in your local SEO recipe. They won’t save a poorly optimized profile, but they can give a good profile the edge over competitors.
Where Your Posts Show Up
Your carefully crafted posts appear in several places:
- Your Business Profile on Google Search
- Your listing on Google Maps
- The “Updates” tab on your profile
- Sometimes as snippets in search results
Mobile users see them prominently, which matters since 76% of people who search for something nearby visit a business within a day.
Tracking What Works
Google doesn’t give you detailed analytics for individual posts (thanks, Google). But you can track:
- Overall profile views before and after posting
- Website clicks from your profile
- Phone calls from your listing
- Direction requests
LocalSEO’s experts recommend using UTM parameters on your redemption links to track conversions in Google Analytics.
Avoiding the Rejection Zone
Nothing kills momentum like having your post rejected. Common reasons posts get flagged:
- Phone numbers in the description (use the Call button instead)
- Low-quality or irrelevant images
- Misleading information
- Duplicate content across multiple posts
- Prohibited content (alcohol, tobacco, healthcare claims)
Stick to the guidelines and you’ll rarely see rejections.
Real Examples That Drive Results
The Good: A local gym posted: “New Year Special: First Month FREE – No contracts, no catch. Join by Jan 31st.” Clear offer, specific deadline, simple terms. They included a bright image with the offer overlaid in text.
The Not-So-Good: A restaurant posted: “Come try our food!” with a dark, blurry photo of their dining room. No specific offer, no urgency, no reason to act now.
See the difference?
Your Most Pressing Questions Answered
Q: What types of businesses can use offer posts? A: Any verified business. From dentists to dog groomers, if you have a Google Business Profile, you can post offers.
Q: How long do posts stay visible? A: Posts remain active for 6 months before being archived. But honestly, if your offer is 6 months old, it’s not much of an offer anymore.
Q: Can I edit posts after publishing? A: No, but you can delete and repost if needed. Check everything before hitting publish.
Q: Should I use the same offer on multiple posts? A: Vary your offers. Customers get bored seeing the same “10% off” message every week.
Time to Take Action
Google Business Profile Offer posts are sitting there, waiting for you to use them. They’re free, they work, and your competitors might not be using them yet.
Start simple. Create one offer post this week. Use a clear photo, write a specific offer, set an end date, and include a strong call-to-action. Track what happens.
LocalSEO’s directory of verified experts can help you develop a comprehensive posting strategy that goes beyond one-off promotions. But you don’t need to wait for expert help to start. Your first post could be live in the next 10 minutes.
The businesses winning at local search aren’t necessarily the biggest or the ones with the deepest pockets. They’re the ones consistently showing up, staying fresh, and giving customers reasons to choose them.
Your Google Business Profile is prime real estate. Offer posts are your chance to build something valuable on that land. What are you waiting for?