Would you like a free and easy way to attract customers to your website? Set up a Google Business Profile.
Google Business Profiles and Maps are key to gaining local customers. If we designed your website, we likely told search engines your location, even if you serve customers in other states or countries through search engine optimization (SEO). Adding a Google Business Profile to your marketing tools helps Google know more about what you do and who you serve, and helps them to do it faster than your website alone.
If you have a physical store, restaurant, or local service business, a Google Business Profile is essential! Service businesses without a building highly benefit from these profiles, too. (Google’s policies require that you meet customers in person.)
Why are we still talking about Google when people are using other search engines? Regardless of the fact that there are other search engines gaining traction, Google is still the most popular search engine. According to SEMRUSH, 91.54% of internet users use Google to search.
Setting up your Google Business Profile is easy!
By following these step by step directions, you’ll be on your way to getting more customers.
2024 Google search statistics from Semrush
Gather what you need in advance for a smooth process
- Your logo (720 x 720 pixels is ideal,no smaller than 250 x 250 px)
- A blurb about your business – maximum 750 words. I use the blurb we’ve created in the footer of your website and add some content from your about page. This shouldn’t be hard. Template: [business name] helps [ideal clients] through [services] to [resolve their problems]. Google wants to know how your business is unique. Don’t skimp on words. This is your chance to tell Google what you do.
- Some images of your building, employees, products (square 720 x 720 px.)
- Your business hours
- Locations you serve – Include only locations where you have an actual presence. Although you may serve other areas, the Google Business Listing is really a local tool – and who doesn’t want to make sure they’re getting local business, too?
Note: You will need a Gmail or Google email account to access Google Business Profiles.
Steps to creating your Google Business Profile
Once you’ve gathered your information, you can just follow the prompts. Make sure you follow through to the end and complete the verification process.
- First, check to see if there is already a listing for your business. If you have a brand new business, you don’t need to do this step.
If you’re reading this because you have a brand new business with a brand new website, you’ll be starting from scratch with your listing. But if your business has been around awhile, even if you didn’t create the listing yourself, you may have a listing already. - If your business has been around for a while, go to Google maps. Type in your business name and enter. If a Google business listing has already been established, you’ll see it here.
If you see a listing for your business, click the business name and then Claim this business > Manage Now. Fill out the information and wait for the response in order to complete the following tasks. - If you don’t see a listing for your business, create one. Either click the 3 lines in the top left corner and Add your business or create your listing here: https://www.google.com/business/.
Follow the prompts to complete your Google Business Profile
I recommend that you fill in as much information as you are able to. Here are a few tips:
- Add several photos
Local businesses should upload photos of their building, employees, and products. - Address and service areas
If you serve customers at your location, use your address. If you serve customers at their addresses and don’t want your address listed, you can enter service areas instead. Businesses that do both should fill in both their address and service areas. You can have up to 20 service areas. The boundaries of your overall area should not extend farther than about 2 hours of driving time from where your business is based. - Logo
Your logo should be the same as you use everywhere to provide consistency and make sure your listing is accepted. - Business category
This must be from Google’s established categories list. Once you start typing, you’ll see some categories appear that you can select from. - Services
Here you can add some categories not from the official list, but you’ll have a better chance of having your profile approved if you use fewer services.
Verify your Profile
Once you’ve completed your profile, Google will want to verify it before they show it to the world. You will have entered an email address when you started setting up your profile. Now Google will take up to 5 days to approve your listing.
In a few days, check to see if your profile is showing by entering your business name in the Google search bar. If for some reason your profile is denied, you’ll see a message. You need to be logged into the same Google/Gmail account that you set up your profile with to see whether you’ve been verified. If your profile is denied, you can appeal. Just make sure that you’ve followed Google’s guidelines.
Good luck!
I wrote this article to make it easier for my customers to set up this free and easy tool to boost their search engine optimization. I hope creating your Google Business Profile was easy. Please reach out if you need help!
