Your business needs one thing more than anything else, new customers. Whether you are dreaming of a global empire or happy to be the best in town, local customers provide the platform you need to achieve your goals. But you can’t rely on luck to find that constant stream of new buyers, you need your name where they are, and that means online.
With research showing over 70% of local consumers use Google searches to find businesses near them, if you are not in the mix online, you are missing out. Your Google Business Profile is a free tool to help you capture the attention of shoppers actively searching for your product or services in your location. Providing all contact details, photos, blogs and more, it has everything in one place in the searches and right on Google Maps to help those consumers find your business.
So, if you don’t have a Google Business Profile for your business, you need one, fast. Here’s how to create your Google Business Profile today.
9 Steps to Create Your Google Business Profile
Just follow these steps to set up your own Google Business Profile and start seeing more local customers to power your sales growth.
Step 1: Start by going to google.com/business
Head to google.com/business, the home page for Google Business Profile to get started. You may see this described as Google My Business in some places, this is the old brand name, which was replaced in 2022. They are the same thing though, so if you see either name, this is what is meant.
Step 2: Log in with your Google Account
If you already have Gmail or an account to use any Google service, just those details to log in by clicking the ‘Sign In’ button at the top right.
If you don’t have an account, you can create one at this point, just click to open a New Account. If you are going to be using your Google account to manage your Google Business Profile, consider adding in some form of security such as 2-factor authorization to protect your data.
Step 3: Enter your business name
Now you will be at the start of the Google Business Profile creation process. The first entry is the business name. Ensure you enter everything accurately here as it is crucial for getting the right listing in the right location.
Step 4: Enter your business address
This should be the address your business operates from, that is your shop address or office for instance. If you have a business with several locations, such as a chain of restaurants, you can set up a separate Google Business Profile for each location and manage them under a single account using the group feature.
Step 5: Choose whether you’re a storefront or service provider
Google wants to provide as much information as possible to its users, so being accurate here matters. If you operate a store, or any business with a physical location where customers can purchase products, then choose storefront.
If you provide services at a location or for something like a carpenter business, on-site, then choose a service provider.
Step 6: Choose your primary business category
Getting your primary business category right is crucial, it helps Google determine the kind of searches that your business matches, so make sure you choose the right option here.
Step 7: Add your phone number and website
Accuracy is essential with this, if Google sees a mismatch between phone numbers on your profile and a website, for instance, they will not rank your site as highly. If you are just starting out with a business and don’t have a website yet, link to a Facebook page or Instagram account rather than leave it blank.
Step 8: Verify your local listing (most likely with a postcard)
Google can’t just let anyone set up an account and claim to own a specific business of course. Before you can make edits to the Business Profile, add content and so on, you will need to verify yourself as the owner or operator of the business.
Verification is straightforward, on your profile you will see a blue ‘Verify’ button, just click that to get started. There are several options to choose from, including:
- A postcard sent in the mail
- Live video call
- Phone
- Text
- Video recording
In each case, you will receive a verification code. As an example, if you choose a postcard, Google will send a postcard to the business address, with a verification code printed on it. However you get the code, you go to the verify button on your profile, and enter the code provided. This completes the process. Allow a week or so for verification, a little longer if you use the postcard option, as it has to arrive via mail.
Step 9: Finish populating your Google Business Profile listing
Once verified, you gain full editing access to your Google Business Profile. Now you can add more detail such as business hours, images of your products or your business in action, blog posts and more. Think of your Google Business Profile as a window into what you do, so potential customers can have a good idea of what to expect when they visit.
Why You Need a Verified Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile puts your business name in front of potential customers looking for your product or service at your location, making it an incredibly powerful tool for boosting awareness and growing sales. But as with most online marketing, to get the full benefit of a Google Business Profile, it needs to be optimized to rank highly in searches and make the Local 3-pack on Google Maps.
You can only add content if you are verified, and you can only get to the high rankings by adding and optimizing your profile content. That makes a verified Google Business profile essential for ensuring your business gains those new customers.
A Google Business Checklist for New Listings
While the process is straightforward, there are a lot of things to remember when setting up your Google Business Profile. You can avoid mistakes by making use of a Google Business Checklist, and our article explains how to do that in more detail.
Conclusion
A Google Business Profile is a powerful, free tool that helps you reach out to potential customers local to your business. If you don’t have one, you are missing out and allowing your competitors to take advantage.
Setting up your Google Business Profile is straightforward, but it is important to cover every option and be accurate at all times. A Google Business Checklist can be useful here, and getting verified is essential. Verification not only proves your connection to the business but is required for you to be able to edit and add to the profile. To optimize the profile and rank highly, you need verification.
While a straightforward process, Google Business profile optimization can be time-consuming, especially for busy business owners. Our comprehensive Google Business Profile optimization solutions deliver effective, efficient and sustainable results to put your business in front of more local consumers. Talk to our team today to find out more.
FAQs
Why do I need a Google Business Profile?
A key element of local marketing, a Google Business Profile puts you on the map – literally! It appears on Google Maps and in local searches, increasing your visibility with local consumers and generating leads, all without any cost from Google.
What are the benefits of being verified on Google?
Verification is essential to ensure Google knows that you are connected to that business to prevent others from claiming it. In addition, you must be verified to be able to edit and add content to the profile, which is essential if you want to rank high enough in the searches to get more clicks.
How do I change the ownership of Google My Business?
Google My Business, or as it is now known Google Business Profile, has a built-in claim system. If you find a profile for your business, you can claim ownership of the profile when signed into a Google account. You will need to add in the correct business details, and then verify your connection to the business to claim it for yourself.