Mastering Local SEO: A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Google Business Profile for Small Businesses

List your business on Google with a free Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). Turn people who find you on Search and Maps into new customers.

A Google Business Profile allows people who search for your business on Google Search and Maps to see a Business Profile for your storefront or service area, free of charge. Along with having a good website, Google Business is key to local SEO and making sure your business shows up in local search. Once registered with a profile you can control Google reviews, add photos of your business and products, add updates, opening hours and other business info. The great thing about having a Google business profile is it's like free advertising.

Let's jump right in and get your profile set up.

Step 1: List your business on Google with a free Business Profile

You will need a Google account so you’ll have to log in first. ( If you create a new Google Account, sign up with your business email domain. )

• On your computer, sign in to your Google Account, or create one. If you create a new Google Account, sign up with your business email domain. Go to https://business.google.com/ to create a profile.

• Enter the name of your business. You may also be able to select your business from the list of suggested businesses as you type.
• If you get a message that someone else has already verified the business, request ownership of the Business Profile. If your profile already exists you can also claim the business. One way to check if a profile already exists for your business is to search for your business on Google and in the right panel click either the, "Claim this Business" or "Own this business" link to go to Google and start the verification process.
• If you can't find a "Claim this Business" or "Own this business" link on the Business Profile, you’re likely already an owner of the business. On your profile, search for a “You manage this business profile” badge.

Search for your business category and click Next.

Step 2: Enter Your Business Details

• Choose whether you have a location customers can visit. ( FYI Google doesn't allow you to list a home address as a place of business but if you work from home you can hide your address. )
• For businesses with a storefront staffed during business hours: Click Yes.
• You may then be asked to enter your business address or position a marker on a map for the location of your businesses. When finished, click Next.
• For businesses that don't have a storefront staffed during business hours: Click No.
• Enter the service area of your business. You can set your service area based on the cities, postal codes, or other areas that you serve. You can add up to 20 service areas. Tip: We recommend you do not extend the boundaries of your overall area farther than 2 hours of driving time from where your business is based. For some businesses, it may be appropriate to have a larger service area.
• Enter a phone number and website URL. Click Next.
• Click Finish to finish setting up your profile.

Step 3: Verification

Google requires that you verify your business to avoid fraudulent accounts.

Select a verification option. Make sure you review your information before you request verification. To verify now: At the top, find the red banner and click Verify now.

If you’re not authorized to manage the Business Profile, find the person in your organization who’s authorized and continue the process. This can happen a lot as people may have started the process in the past and given up.

Conclusion

Now that your profile is set up you can begin updating photos and gathering reviews. I am going to write a series of these articles about Google Business for local SEO so in the next article we will look at how to get the most out of your Google Business Profile and attract local SEO.