A Google Business Profile is free, appears in Google Search and Maps, and lets people call you or get directions in one tap. So why pay for a website as well? Because the two do different jobs — and they’re strongest when they point to each other.
What a Google Business Profile provides
- Your name, address, phone number and opening hours in Search and Maps
- Directions and a call button
- Customer reviews and your replies
- Photos, short updates and basic information about your services
- A link to your website
For local businesses it’s essential. If you haven’t claimed and verified yours, that’s the first job — and it costs nothing.
What a standalone website provides
- Your full menu, services and prices, laid out the way you want
- Your own design, photos and story — not a standard template
- Space to answer the questions people actually ask, so they don’t have to ring
- Clear buttons to book, order, call or enquire, sending people where you choose
- A place you control, independent of any one platform
Side by side
| Compared | Google Business Profile | Your website |
|---|---|---|
| Appears in Google Maps | Yes | Through your profile’s link |
| Hours, address, call button | Yes | Yes |
| Reviews | Yes | Can link to them |
| Full menu or service details | Limited | Yes |
| Your own design and story | No | Yes |
| Layout and content you control | Partly | Yes |
| Cost | Free | A build cost and hosting |
Why they complement each other
Someone finds you on Maps, sees good reviews, and taps through to your website to look at the menu, the prices or what’s on — then calls, books or turns up. Your profile gets you noticed; your website helps them decide. Keeping the details identical on both (especially hours) builds trust.
Common misconceptions
- “My Google listing is my website.” It’s a listing in Google’s format. It’s very useful, but it isn’t the same as a site you control.
- “A website will get me to the top of Google.” Nobody can honestly promise that. A well-built site helps Google understand your business; reviews, relevance and distance matter too.
- “Facebook covers it.” Social pages are great for news, but posts get buried and not everyone uses them — see website vs social media.
Practical recommendations
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile, and keep the hours accurate.
- Add good, real photos and reply to reviews.
- Have a simple, fast website with your full menu or services, and link to it from your profile.
- Make sure your name, address, phone number and hours match everywhere.
If you need the website part, see web design or, for pubs, pub website design.
Need a hand?
UWRH Digital builds custom websites for Irish businesses: €800 one-time, with managed hosting & care at €30/month.