How to Set Up a Google Business Profile

How To Operations

Your website is important. It’s your little corner of the internet. It’s where clients learn about you and your services.

Your social media profiles matter too. They humanize your company. They enable you to connect directly with your customers and showcase your know-how.

There’s another critical part of the digital puzzle—your Google Business Profile. Without one, your business is far less visible on the world’s most popular search engine.

Boost your digital footprint and learn how to set up a Google Business Profile now. This guide will walk you through it step-by-step.

First, we’ll explain what Google Business is and why you need a profile. Then, we’ll share easy-to-follow instructions that’ll get you set up.

Next, we’ll share some strategies you can use to optimize your profile. And finally, we’ll wrap up with 4 quick tips for success.

A Google Business Profile puts you in front of more eyes. More visibility means more leads. More leads mean more business. More business means more revenue and growth. The rest is history!

What Is a Google Business Profile and Why It Matters

Google Business is essentially Google’s business directory. Your Google Business Profile is your listing in that directory.

When someone searches for a contractor or home renovator in your area, your business comes up. If they search your company name, your Google Business Profile shows up on the right-hand side of the search results (on desktop).

If they look for a contractor “near me,” you’ll show up too. And if they search on maps, well, you guessed it. There’s your Google Business Profile again.

That’s a lot of ifs. But chances are, your target audience is using Google. How can we be so sure? Consider these stats:

A huge 92% of global internet traffic comes from Google.

Six in 10 people contact businesses directly through local search results.

People value your Google Business Profile more than your website. The three most trusted platforms for researching local businesses are Google (66%), Google Maps (45%), and the business’s own website (36%).

So when you have a Google Business Profile, you get the following benefits:

Greater visibility

More leads from local search results

The opportunity to be found on maps

And then there are reviews. Google reviews are testimonials and star ratings that customers leave on your Google Business Profile. They are hugely powerful.

Reviews inspire trust and win over unsure prospects. They are social proof and vouch for the quality of your service.

But to get Google reviews and all the business-winning advantages that come with them, you need a Google Business Profile.

Getting Started: How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile

No digital marketing effort is complete without a Google Business Profile. You need one to compete—it’s that simple.

Luckily, it’s quick, easy, and totally free to set up your listing. Just follow the steps below. We’ve included a few troubleshooting tips, too, in case you run into any troubles along the way.

Step 1: Create Your Google Account

Do you have a Google Account? If so, you can skip this step.

If you don’t, now is the time to make one.

These days, you can use your business email domain to set up a Google Account. This wasn’t always the case, but it certainly makes life easier.

You can create your account here.

Step 2: Claim Your Google Business Profile

Google Account? Check. You’re all signed in and ready? Check.

Now, head to create a profile.

On this page, you’ll see a space to type in the name of your business. Do this now.

As you type, Google will suggest businesses. If you see yours pop up, click on it.

Troubleshooting tip: If you see a message that someone else has already claimed your profile, don’t panic. It could be a simple misunderstanding. You can ask Google to give you ownership of the Business Profile.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: How to See My Google Reviews

Step 3: Search for the Right Category

You’ll then be prompted to assign your business a category. Start typing in the type of business you run—like “general contractor.”

It’s important to get categories right because they help Google connect you to the customers searching for your services.

Some categories are broader, like “cleaner.” Others are more niche. Choose the one that best describes what you do.

And don’t worry too much. You can edit your category later if you need to.

Click next to continue.

Step 4: Set a Location

Do you have an office that’s staffed during your business hours? If so, click yes at this stage. And if not, click no.

If you do click yes, you’ll be prompted to enter your address. This is where your business will show up on Maps.

Step 5: Decide on Your Service Area

You can set up a service area using a:

City name

Suburb

Postcode

Region

You can choose up to 20 service areas, so it’s worth spending some time on this step. You want to make sure you’ve selected every area you service. That way, no potential customers will slip through the cracks.

Step 6: Add Your Information

Now, it’s time to add your details. You’ll be asked to share your contact number and website URL.

Make sure the information you share is complete and accurate. A typo in your phone number could result in lost business.

Step 7: Verify Your Business Ownership

Google wants to make sure you are the legitimate owner of your business. So you’ll need to verify your ownership.

There are a couple of ways to do this:

Phone

Text

Video

Sometimes, Google asks business owners to use more than one method.

Follow the steps to verify. You’ll get a notification when Google gives you the green light. You are now the official owner of your Google Business Profile.

Troubleshooting tip: Google sometimes manually reviews verifications. This can take a while—up to 5 business days. Once you’re verified, it can still take a couple of weeks for your updated information to show up in search results.

Optimizing Your Google Business Profile

Setting up your Google Business Profile is most of the work. But you can squeeze extra value out of your listing by optimizing it.

Below are some strategies to try.

You don’t have to do everything at once. You could try adding one per week to your to-do list. That way, in a month or two, you’ll have achieved profile perfection!

Add a Business Description

The business description is a section where you tell people what your business does. Keep it clear and direct. Use keywords that your customers might type into Google.

Include what makes your business unique too. Do you offer something no one else does?

Upload Genuine Photos

Add high-quality photos that showcase your best work.

And don’t forget to show your team. Customers like knowing who they’ll be working with. Group photos or pictures of employees in action can help build trust.

Avoid using stock photos or low-quality images. Make sure everything you upload is real and represents your business.

Publish Posts

Taking time off over the holidays? Share an update. Introducing a new service? Write a post about it.

Adding fresh content shows Google you’re an active business. It also equips searchers with the latest information about your company.

Respond to All Your Reviews

According to one survey, 98% of people read reviews for local businesses. But here’s something even more telling: 97% of people who read reviews also read how businesses respond to them.

When you respond to reviews, you show customers that you care. According to Business News Daily:

“Responding to reviews allows businesses to go beyond countering the effects of negative reviews. Active responses can actually lead to more positive reviews and higher customer ratings.”

Make sure to reply to both positive and negative reviews. Thank customers for positive feedback. For negative reviews, apologize if needed and offer solutions. Always be professional and polite.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: Online Reviews for Businesses

Optimize for SEO

SEO (search engine optimization) is about making your business more visible online. It helps your website or business listing show up higher in search results.

Use the right keywords in your description, posts, and replies to reviews. This makes it easier for people to find you when searching.

You should also encourage customers to leave reviews. The more reviews you have, the higher you’ll rank in search results. Higher rankings mean more potential customers.

4 Tips to Set Up Your Google Business Profile for Success

Success starts here. Follow these 4 tips today:

Make sure your information is accurate. Did you type a 0 instead of a 9? Did you misspell your business name? These small mistakes have big ramifications.

Use keywords throughout. There are many different opportunities to do this. Select the right category. Add keywords naturally in your business description. Even include one or two in your review responses.

Check your service areas. Remember, you can pick up to 20. Make the most of this to capture the full area you work in.

Ask happy clients to leave reviews. You can do this even if you served them some time ago. A brief email explaining that you’ve just set up your profile is a great way to start building a collection of reviews. Make it easy for your customers by including a link to your profile. Or, make it even easier on yourself by using contractor software that collects reviews for you.