The 3 Google Business Questions You Should Answer Today

Most businesses ignore the Google Business Questions (or Q&A) section completely. But customers are asking questions there right now, and if you don’t answer them, someone else will.

I met a restaurant owner in Centurion who checked his Q&A for the first time in months. There were eight unanswered questions about parking, whether they took cards, and if they had vegan options. His competitors had jumped in and answered some of them, directing people to their own restaurants instead.

Why Google Business Questions Matter

The Q&A section sits right on your profile. Customers see it before they call you or visit your website. If questions go unanswered, you look closed or uninterested.

Worse, anyone can answer questions on your profile. Not just you. Your competitors, random people, even customers who got things wrong. I heard about a salon in Cape Town that had incorrect pricing information posted by someone who’d never even been there.

The 3 Google Business Profile Q&A You Need to Answer

Don’t wait for customers to ask. Answer these three questions yourself, right now. Google lets you post questions and answers on your own profile.

Do You Accept Card Payments?

This is the most common Google Business question in South Africa. More businesses are going cashless now, and customers want to know their payment options before they arrive.

Post the question yourself: “Do you accept card payments?” Then answer it clearly. If you only accept cards and don’t take cash at all, say that directly. “We only accept card payments, no cash.” If you accept both, mention it. Nothing frustrates customers more than finding out they can’t pay when they get to the till.

What Are Your Parking Options?

Parking stresses people out. They want to know before they drive to you. A hardware store in Johannesburg added this to their GBP questions and answers and noticed customers mentioned it when they called. “I saw you have parking, so I’m coming through now.”

Answer with specifics. “We have 10 parking bays in front of the shop” is better than “Yes, we have parking.” Tell them if it’s street parking, if there’s a cost, or if there’s disabled access.

Do You Offer Delivery or Collection?

Post-Covid, everyone wants to know their options. A butchery in Pretoria told me they were getting the same question five times a day on the phone. They added it to their Google Business Profile Q&A and the calls dropped. Customers found the answer themselves.

Be specific about delivery areas, costs, and minimum orders. Don’t just say “Yes, we deliver.” That creates more questions than it answers.

How to Add Google Business Questions Yourself

Open your Google Business Profile on your phone. Scroll to the Q&A section. Tap “Ask a question” and type your question. Then immediately answer it yourself.

This isn’t cheating. Google built this feature so businesses can be proactive. You’re helping customers find information faster.

What Happens After You Answer GBP Questions

Check your Q&A section every week. New questions appear all the time. Answer them within 24 hours if you can. Quick responses show you’re active and care about customers.

Delete wrong answers if you see them. You can flag incorrect information and ask Google to remove it. There’s a gym in Durban that checks their Q&A every Monday morning. They’ve caught three wrong answers about their membership fees before customers saw them.

Other Google Business Questions to Consider

Think about what customers ask on the phone. Those same questions probably belong in your Q&A section. Do you cater for special diets? Are you pet-friendly? Do you do repairs? Can people book appointments?

Answer five to ten questions on your profile. It makes you look thorough and helpful. Customers trust businesses that provide clear information upfront.