Quick Takeaways
- Your Google Business Profile is your ticket to appearing on Google Maps and local search.
- Easy to create, even if you’re not a geek.
- With good optimization—correct NAP details, review maintenance, and ranking monitoring—you’ll acquire more local customers.
Why You Can’t Afford to Be Missing from Google Maps
More than one billion active users log into Google Maps each month. If your customer is searching for “cafés near me” or “car repair shop,” your Google Business Profile determines if and when you’ll show up in that highly coveted “Local 3-Pack” at the top of the search results page. Without an owner-claimed and verified listing, you’re invisible to most of your target traffic. Claiming and maximizing your profile gives you a better chance of being chosen by ready-to-buy customers—today.
How to Start Your Google Business Profile
1. Log in to Google
Use the Google account that you plan to connect with your business. In case you don’t have a Google account, sign up for a free one.
2. Open the Business Profile Dashboard
Visit google.com/business and select “Manage now.” It will redirect you to the setup wizard.
3. Enter Your Business Name & Category
- Business Name: Since it’ll be on your storefront, site, and sign.
- Primary Category: Choose the word that best describes your primary product or service (e.g., “Italian Restaurant,” “Plumber,” “Hair Salon”).
4. Add Your Location or Service Area
- Brick & Mortar Businesses: Add your address so you will show up on the map.
- Service-Area Businesses: Remove the address and enter areas or postal codes you serve.
5. Provide Contact Information
- Phone Number and/or Web URL.
- Use a call-tracking phone number and UTM-tagged web URL if you are monitoring traffic and conversions.
6. Claim Your Ownership
Google has two other verification processes
- Mail postcard (typically 5–14 days).
- Phone call or SMS to the business phone.
- Email (if available).
- Live video or video recording of your business at that location.
Complete at least one verification process to update complete profiles.
Claiming an Existing Profile
Google also sometimes automatically generates a profile based on web data or user reporting. To intervene:
1. Search Your Business on Google Maps
Enter your business name precisely in Search or Maps.
2. Click “Own this business?”
You can visit this link at the contact details of the profile.
3. Complete Verification Process
Google will take you to the same verification process that you’ll complete when you’re creating a new profile.
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4. Request Access If Owned By Somebody Else
If the listing is owned by another person, Google will show the first two digits of their email.”
If they are someone within your company, have them add you.
Otherwise, request formal access—Google provides the current owner three days to respond.
Next-Level Optimization for Max Visibility
Listing isn’t enough to show up in the Local 3-Pack. Here’s how to make your profile a local lead-generation machine:
1. Keep NAP Consistent
Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone number are all the same everywhere: Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, industry directories, and on your website.
2. Ask & Answer Reviews
- Encourage good customers to leave a Google review-more stars, top rank.
- Respond promptly to compliments and complaints. Being responsive shows potential clients that you value your client’s feedback.
3. Add Rich Media & Posts
- Post good photos of your business, products, or employees.
- Use Google Posts to share timely offers, events, and announcements. They show up immediately on your Business Profile.
4. Remove & Remove Duplicates
Duplicate citations mislead consumers and dilute your rank signals. Monitor top citation sources regularly, and eliminate or combine extras.
5. Monitor Your Local Rankings
Rather than employing the same time-consuming approach of Googling your keywords yourself, employ a rank-tracking tool to:
- Monitor rank for as many as five target phrases.
- Compare with target competitors.
- Generate “heat maps” of visibility across your service area.
Getting your Google Business Profile live only takes a brief moment in time and doesn’t cost you a thing. Getting your listing verified, maintaining consistency, and stimulating consumer behavior every now and then with posts and reviews will increase your chance of showing up within the Local 3-Pack. Over time, ongoing checking and optimisation will eventually get its rewards with additional traffic, additional calls, and eventually additional revenue. Start now—your next customer is waiting for what you have to say!
