Download the Google Business Profile Guidebook
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Welcome to our video series on setting up your Google Business Profile properly. My name is Jake with Blue Market, and through this 5-video series, I’ll show you how your business can be found by as many potential customers as possible by simply using Google’s free online business resources.
These tools are highly effective, easy to set up, and completely free to use.
In this first video, listen and learn as you follow along in the Google Business Profile Guidebook that was included in the email with this video. If you haven’t already, download the ebook and follow along. I can promise you that if you implement the steps I share with you today, your Google Business Profile will not only be set up correctly, it will deliver more customers than ever before and make a real difference in your business. Let’s get started.
First, let’s discuss how to claim or create a Google Business Profile. You have probably seen a few Google Business Profiles in the past. They likely looked similar to the one you see here on the screen, or you can view a detailed labeled version on page 6 of the guidebook. This profile displays the business name, a map, a photo, and other important information.
Claiming ownership of your business listing, or setting up a new business with Google, is the first step to establishing your own Google Business Profile so your business will show up in local Google searches and on Google Maps.
To get started, turn to page 7, Step 1 of the guidebook to have the checklist available, and open your favorite browser on your computer or phone. It can be Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox—any of those will work.
First, navigate to maps.google.com to see if your business is already listed, as shown on page 7 of the guidebook. If you see your business listed, simply click the “Claim this business” link to get started. If you can’t find your business on the map, navigate to google.com/business and click on the blue “Get Started” button.
A login screen will appear where you can log in using your business email account. If you don’t have a Google account for your business, let’s get one set up. It’s a quick process. Just go to myaccount.google.com and click the “Create an account” link at the top of the page.
Here’s a quick tip: we recommend keeping your personal email account separate and setting up your Google Business Profile with a business-related email. Using the same email address for both personal and business communication can create unnecessary complications.
Once you have created your Google account, head back to google.com/business and sign in using your new credentials. After logging in, start by typing your business name into the “Business name” search field to see if a listing already exists.
If there are businesses with similar names, you’ll see them in a dropdown list. If you find your business, click it and then select “Claim this business” to continue. If your business isn’t listed, click “Add your business to Google” to move forward.
Here’s another quick tip: make sure the business name and address you use for your Google Business Profile exactly match what appears on your website, your Yelp profile, and your social media accounts. This consistency helps you avoid major issues down the road.
Next, you’ll select your business type. There are three options: Online retail, Local store or Service business. You can select more than one if needed. For example, if you run a clothing store with a physical location and also sell online, you should select both Online retail and Local store. If you operate a mobile HVAC service, select only “Service business.” Once you’ve chosen the correct type or types, click Next.
On the next page, select the business categories that best describe what you do. This is an important step, so take your time reviewing the options before making your selection. Start by entering a general category, which will generate more specific options in a dropdown menu.
As mentioned in the ebook on page 10, if your business is an Italian restaurant, choosing “Italian restaurant” is far more effective than selecting the general term “restaurant.” The more specific and relevant your category, the better your chances of being found by motivated customers.
Don’t worry about making the perfect choice right now. You can always come back and update your categories later. For now, choose what best fits your business today, then click Next.
The next step is verifying your business. This is critical because it ensures that businesses listed on Google are legitimate and trustworthy, helping prevent scams and impersonation.
You may be able to choose from several verification methods, although Google may require a specific method depending on your business type and other factors. Available options can include phone or text verification, email, uploading a video, completing a live video call, or receiving a postcard at your business address.
Some businesses that are already recognized by Google through other directories may be able to skip verification altogether. Google will let you know if that applies to you.
Once you begin the verification process, you can still log into your account and start adding additional business information. However, this information will not be publicly visible until verification is complete.
These additional details include your business hours, special holiday hours, business attributes, products and services, a 750-word business description, your business start date, and links to your social media accounts. You can see how these appear on page 6 of the guidebook, and find more details on page 11, Step 6.
And that’s it.
Congratulations! You’ve completed the steps to claim, register, verify, and publicly display your business on Google Search and Maps with a complete and polished Google Business Profile. Nice work!
In the next video, we’ll walk through how to optimize your Google Business Profile so your business consistently generates the maximum number of leads possible. I’ll see you in the next video.