If you’re a Hills District business owner, you’ve probably set up your Google Business Profile. But here’s what most Western Sydney businesses miss: the Questions & Answers section is sitting there empty, while your competitors who do use it are getting 40% more phone calls.
I saw this firsthand with a Castle Hill plumber we work with. After implementing a simple Q&A strategy in January 2026, his call volume jumped from 15 to 21 calls per week. No extra ad spend. No website changes. Just a well-managed Google Business Profile Q&A section.
Here’s the thing: Google’s February 2026 algorithm update increased the weight of Q&A engagement in local search rankings by 35%. That means the Q&A section on your Google Business Profile now matters more than ever for showing up in “near me” searches across Parramatta, Bella Vista, and throughout Western Sydney.
Most local businesses are ignoring this feature. That’s your opportunity.
Why Google Q&A is Your Secret Weapon for Local Search
Think about how customers search for local businesses in 2026. They’re not just looking at your star rating anymore. They’re:
- Reading your Q&A section to see if you handle specific situations
- Using voice search to ask questions like “Does [business name] have wheelchair access?”
- Looking for immediate answers without having to call during business hours
When you have a well-managed Q&A section, you’re showing up in more searches and building trust before the customer even contacts you.
The Castle Hill Plumber Case Study
Let me show you real numbers from a client we’ve been tracking since January 2026:
Before Q&A Strategy (December 2025):
- Average 15 calls per week
- 89 Google Business Profile views per week
- Ranked #4 for “emergency plumber Castle Hill”
After Q&A Strategy (January 2026):
- Average 21 calls per week (+40%)
- 134 Google Business Profile views per week (+51%)
- Ranked #2 for “emergency plumber Castle Hill”
What changed? He implemented the exact 3-step strategy I’m about to share with you.
The best part? His competitors in Castle Hill still have empty Q&A sections. He’s getting customers simply because he answers questions that others ignore.
3-Step Q&A Strategy That Actually Works
Here’s the strategy that’s working for Western Sydney businesses right now in 2026:
Step 1: Seed Questions That Match Local Searches
Don’t wait for customers to ask questions. Seed your profile with the questions your customers are already asking—either on the phone, via email, or in person.
How to do this:
- Open your Google Business Profile dashboard
- Click on “Messages and questions”
- Click “Ask a question” (yes, you can ask questions on your own profile)
- Write questions that target local search terms
Example questions for a Hills District dental practice:
- “Do you offer emergency dental appointments in Castle Hill on weekends?”
- “Is parking available at your Baulkham Hills location?”
- “Do you accept health insurance like HCF and Medibank?”
- “What’s your after-hours emergency number for Bella Vista residents?”
Notice how each question includes a location (Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Bella Vista)? That’s deliberate. Google’s algorithm picks up on these geographic terms.
Pro tip: Seed 8-12 questions covering your most common customer queries. Update them every quarter as new questions come in.
Step 2: Respond Within 2 Hours (With Keywords)
Google tracks how quickly you respond to questions. Businesses that respond within 2 hours rank higher in local search than those who take days or ignore questions entirely.
But here’s the crucial part: your answers need to include your target keywords naturally.
Bad Answer:
“Yes, we do!”
Good Answer:
“Yes, our Castle Hill dental practice offers emergency appointments 7 days a week. We understand dental emergencies don’t wait for Monday morning, so we’ve got an on-call dentist available for Hills District residents even on weekends. You can reach our emergency line at [phone number] or book directly through our website.”
See the difference? The good answer includes:
- Location keywords (Castle Hill, Hills District)
- Service keywords (emergency appointments, dental practice)
- Helpful information (7 days a week, phone number)
- Trust signals (on-call dentist, weekend availability)
Set up mobile alerts: Both iPhone and Android let you enable Google Business Profile notifications. Set them up so you see new questions immediately.
Step 3: Optimize for Voice Search
Voice search is huge in Western Sydney. People are literally asking their phones: “Hey Google, does [business name] have wheelchair access?”
Your Q&A section needs to answer questions the way people actually speak, not the way they type.
How people TYPE:
- “hours”
- “parking”
- “accepts credit cards”
How people SPEAK:
- “What time does [business name] open on Saturday?”
- “Is there parking at [business name] in Parramatta?”
- “Does [business name] accept credit cards or just cash?”
Write your Q&A in conversational language that matches voice search patterns.
Voice search optimization checklist:
- Use complete sentences in questions and answers
- Include “who, what, where, when, why, how” questions
- Answer with natural language (how you’d speak, not formal writing)
- Include your business name in answers occasionally
- Mention specific locations (suburbs, landmarks, shopping centers)
Common Mistakes Hills District Businesses Make
I’ve audited over 50 Google Business Profiles for Western Sydney businesses in the past 6 months. Here are the mistakes I see constantly:
Mistake #1: Letting Competitor Spam Your Q&A
Yes, competitors can post questions on YOUR Google Business Profile. And they do.
A Blacktown restaurant we work with had a fake question posted: “Why did I see a health inspector here last week?” (The health inspector was never there.)
How to fix this:
- Monitor your Q&A section weekly
- Flag inappropriate questions using the three-dot menu
- Respond professionally to address any concerns, even if the question is fake
Google gives more weight to your answers (as the business owner) than to answers from random users.
Mistake #2: Generic, Short Answers
One-word answers don’t help your local SEO. Neither do generic responses.
Bad: “Yes.” Good: “Yes, our Parramatta location has a dedicated customer parking lot with 20 spaces, including 2 accessible parking spots near the entrance. Street parking is also available on [Street Name].”
The detailed answer ranks for more search terms and provides better customer service.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Questions from Customers
I see this all the time: a customer asks a legitimate question, and the business never responds. Meanwhile, a random Google user posts a half-accurate answer.
Why this hurts you:
- Google sees your profile as “unmanaged”
- Potential customers see unanswered questions and lose trust
- You miss the chance to include keywords in your official response
Even if someone else answered the question, you should still post your official response as the business owner.
Mistake #4: Not Updating Seasonal Information
Your Q&A from December 2025 says you’re closed on New Year’s Day. It’s now February 2026, and that information is no longer relevant but still shows up in search results.
Update quarterly:
- Holiday hours
- Seasonal services (pool cleaning, air conditioning, etc.)
- Special offers mentioned in older Q&A
- Contact information if it’s changed
Tracking Your Q&A Impact on Local Rankings
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Here’s how to track whether your Q&A strategy is actually working:
Key Metrics to Monitor
1. Google Business Profile Views
- Log into your Google Business Profile dashboard
- Check “Performance” → “Profile views”
- Track week-over-week growth
2. Customer Actions
- Website clicks
- Phone calls
- Direction requests
- Message sends
Compare the 30 days before you started your Q&A strategy to 30 days after. You should see a 25-40% increase if you’re doing it right.
3. Search Query Data
- Check “Performance” → “Search queries”
- Look for new long-tail keywords appearing
- Verify you’re ranking for question-based searches
4. Local Pack Rankings
- Use a tool like BrightLocal or simply search manually
- Track your position for key terms like “[service] Hills District”
- Check rankings from different Western Sydney locations
Expected Timeline
Don’t expect overnight results. Here’s what we typically see:
- Week 1-2: Minimal change (Google is indexing your new Q&A content)
- Week 3-4: Small increase in profile views (10-15%)
- Week 5-8: Noticeable increase in calls and clicks (25-35%)
- Week 9-12: Sustained improvement, better local pack rankings
The Castle Hill plumber I mentioned earlier? His results kicked in around week 5.
Your Action Plan for This Week
Don’t overthink this. Here’s what to do this week:
Monday:
- Audit your current Q&A section
- Flag any inappropriate questions
- List 10 common questions customers ask you
Tuesday-Wednesday:
- Seed 8-10 questions on your Google Business Profile
- Write detailed answers (100-150 words each) with location keywords
Thursday:
- Enable mobile notifications for new questions
- Set a recurring calendar reminder to check Q&A every Monday and Thursday
Friday:
- Take a screenshot of your current Google Business Profile metrics
- Set a reminder for 8 weeks from now to compare results
That’s it. 5 days of work, maybe 3-4 hours total, and you’ll have a Q&A section that’s working for you 24/7.
Why This Works in Western Sydney Right Now
The Western Sydney market is unique. Most of your competitors—especially in suburbs like Castle Hill, Bella Vista, Blacktown, and Parramatta—are small businesses that don’t have dedicated marketing teams.
They set up their Google Business Profile once and forget about it. They’re not managing reviews, they’re not updating posts, and they’re definitely not optimizing their Q&A section.
That means when you implement even a basic Q&A strategy, you stand out. You show up in more searches. You rank higher in the local pack. You get more calls.
The opportunity window is right now in 2026, while most Western Sydney businesses are still ignoring this feature.
Moving Forward
Google Business Profile Q&A isn’t going away. In fact, with Google’s increased focus on helpful, people-first content, the Q&A section will only become more important for local search rankings.
The businesses that start building robust Q&A sections now will have a significant advantage over competitors who wait until 2027 when everyone else catches on.
Start with the 3-step strategy: seed relevant questions, respond quickly with keywords, and optimize for voice search. Track your metrics monthly. Adjust based on what questions customers are actually asking.
And if you need help implementing this strategy for your Hills District or Western Sydney business, get in touch with Cosmos Web Tech. We’ve helped dozens of local businesses improve their Google Business Profile presence, and we can do the same for you.
Ready to dominate local search in the Hills District? Cosmos Web Tech specializes in local SEO for Western Sydney businesses. From Google Business Profile optimization to complete digital marketing strategies, we help SMBs compete and win in their local markets. Contact us for a free local SEO audit.
An online store performs even better with a dedicated shopping app. Awesome Apps builds e-commerce apps that complement your Shopify or WooCommerce site.
Cosmos Web Tech is the web development division of Ganda Tech Services, specialising in website design, SEO, and e-commerce for Australian businesses.