Your Google Business Profile, formerly called Google My Business, controls how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. A fully completed profile helps you rank higher in local results and gives customers the details they need to choose you. Follow these steps in order.
Step 1: Claim and verify your profile
Search for your business on Google. If a listing already exists, claim it. If not, create one. Google will ask you to verify that you are the owner, usually by phone, email, text, video or postcard, depending on your business. Do not skip this step, because unverified profiles have limited visibility and cannot be fully managed.
Step 2: Use your real business name
Your name should match what appears on your signage, your website and your stationery. Do not add keywords, locations or taglines. Google can suspend profiles that stuff names, and fixing a suspension takes time.
Step 3: Choose the right categories
Your primary category is one of the strongest relevance signals. Pick the one that describes your main business as specifically as possible. For example, "Italian restaurant" is better than "Restaurant." Add secondary categories for other things you do, but keep them truthful and related. Look at the categories used by the top-ranking businesses in your area for ideas.
Step 4: Fill in contact details and hours
Add your address, or your service area if you travel to customers, along with your phone number, website and opening hours. Add special hours for holidays so customers do not arrive at a closed door. Use the same details that appear on your website.
Step 5: List your services and products
Add each service you offer with a short description. If you sell products, add them with photos and prices. These sections help Google match you to specific searches, and they answer questions before a customer has to call.
Step 6: Write a clear business description
You have up to 750 characters. Describe what you do, who you serve and what makes you different. Put the most important information first, because the opening lines are what most people read. Write for customers, not for search engines. Avoid links, promotional offers and all caps.
Step 7: Add photos and short videos
Upload a logo, a cover photo and real images of your location, team, work and products. Use clear, well-lit photos that show what a customer can expect. Add new images regularly. Skip stock photos, because they reduce trust.
Step 8: Turn on attributes and booking links
Attributes such as wheelchair accessibility, online appointments or free Wi-Fi help people decide. Add an appointment or ordering link if you take bookings or orders online.
Step 9: Publish posts regularly
Posts let you share offers, events and news directly on your profile. They show customers that your business is active. Keep them short, add a clear photo and include a call to action such as "Call now" or "Book."
Step 10: Ask for reviews and reply to them
Send customers a direct link to your review form after a completed job or purchase. Do not offer rewards for reviews. Reply to each review within a few days. Thank people who leave praise, and respond to criticism politely, with facts and an offer to resolve the problem offline.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Keyword stuffing the business name.
- Using a virtual office or a P.O. box as your address.
- Creating multiple profiles for the same location.
- Leaving hours out of date.
- Ignoring negative reviews.
Measure the results
Your profile shows how many people found you, how they searched, and how many called, visited your website or asked for directions. Review those numbers every month and note which changes move them.
If you would like help, our Google Business Profile optimization service covers setup, optimization and ongoing management. It works well alongside local SEO.