Google Business Profile vs Website: Do You Need Both?

If you're a small business owner, you've probably asked yourself:

"Do I really need a website if I already have a Google Business Profile?"

After all, your Google Business Profile already shows:

Your business name

Phone number

Opening hours

Reviews

Directions

Photos

So why spend money on a website as well?

The short answer is simple:

Your Google Business Profile and your website serve different purposes. The most successful businesses use both together.

Let's look at why.

What Is a Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the listing that appears when someone searches for your business on Google.

It can display:

Business name

Address

Phone number

Reviews

Photos

Service areas

Opening hours

For local businesses, it is one of the most powerful free marketing tools available.

If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile yet, that should be one of the first things you do.

What Is a Website?

Your website is your business's online home.

Unlike social media platforms or Google listings, you own and control your website completely.

A website can include:

Service pages

Portfolio examples

Pricing information

Contact forms

Testimonials

Blog articles

Frequently asked questions

Most importantly, your website gives customers a place to learn more about your business before making a decision.

Why Google Business Profile Alone Isn't Enough

A Google Business Profile is great for visibility.

A website is great for conversion.

Imagine a potential customer finds your business on Google.

They want answers to questions like:

What services do you offer?

How much does it cost?

Have you done similar work before?

Why should they choose you?

Your Google Business Profile has limited space to answer these questions.

A website gives you unlimited space to build trust and educate potential customers.

Google Wants To See Both

Many business owners are surprised to learn that Google actually prefers businesses that have both.

Your website helps Google understand:

What you do

Where you operate

What services you provide

Which keywords you should rank for

The stronger your website is, the more it can support your local search visibility.

A website and Google Business Profile work together as part of your overall online presence.

What Happens When You Have Both?

When someone searches for your business:

They find your Google Business Profile.

They read your reviews.

They click through to your website.

They learn about your services.

They contact you.

This creates a much smoother customer journey.

Without a website, customers often have unanswered questions and may move on to a competitor.

Real Example

Imagine two plumbers in Sydney.

Plumber A

Google Business Profile

Reviews

Phone number

No website

Plumber B

Google Business Profile

Reviews

Professional website

Service pages

Pricing information

Project examples

Online enquiry form

Which business looks more established?

Which business is more likely to receive the enquiry?

For most customers, the answer is obvious.

What Should Come First?

If you're starting from scratch:

Step 1

Set up and optimise your Google Business Profile.

Step 2

Launch a professional website.

Step 3

Use both together to attract and convert customers.

This combination gives small businesses the best chance of generating consistent enquiries online.

The Ideal Setup

For most Australian small businesses, the ideal setup looks like this:

✅ Google Business Profile

✅ Professional Website

✅ Facebook Page

✅ Instagram Account

Each platform plays a different role.

Google helps people find you.

Social media helps people engage with you.

Your website helps people choose you.

Final Thoughts

Google Business Profile and a website are not competitors.

They are partners.

A Google Business Profile helps your business appear in local searches.

A website helps turn visitors into paying customers.

If you want to build trust, generate enquiries and grow your business online, having both is one of the smartest investments you can make.