Google My Business

Go to business.google.com and sign in with your Google account. Search for your business name. If a listing already exists, claim it. If nothing appears, click Add your business to Google.

Google often creates automatic listings from public data. Even if you never made one, your business may already have a profile that a stranger could edit. Claiming it stops that.

Tip: If you find a duplicate listing, do not edit both. Claim the main one and request removal of the duplicate through the support flow.

Fill in your business name exactly as it appears on your signage and legal documents. Do not add city names, services, or slogans unless they are part of your real brand name.

Choose your primary category first. This is the single biggest ranking factor in local search. Pick the one that best matches what you actually sell. You can add secondary categories later, but keep them honest.

Add your address if customers visit you. Add your service area if you go to them. For most small businesses, you can do both if you have a real storefront and serve a wider region.

Add regular hours, then add special hours for holidays. Wrong hours are the fastest way to earn one-star reviews from people who show up to a locked door.

Add your main phone number and website. Link social profiles if Google offers the field. Then go through the attributes list: things like wheelchair accessible, women-led, free Wi-Fi, or curbside pickup.

Attributes are small trust signals. They also help you appear in filtered searches like "wheelchair accessible salon near me."

Tip: Use a phone number you answer. Google tracks calls from the profile, and missed calls hurt more than a weak listing.

Click Verify. Google will offer one or more methods: video recording, postcard by mail, phone, or email. The method depends on your business type, location, and history.

Video verification is now common. You will record a short clip showing your location, signage, equipment, or proof that you operate there. Follow the prompts exactly. Show your face, your workspace, and anything with your business name on it.

Postcard verification can take up to 14 days. Do not request a new card too soon, because each request can invalidate the prior code.

Upload a logo and a cover photo. Then add at least 10 real photos. Google favors profiles that get fresh images, so plan to add a few each month.

Use bright, clear shots. Avoid stock photos and heavy filters. Customers compare your photos to the street view and to customer uploads. Mismatches lower trust.

Name files clearly before upload, like joes-plumbing-truck.jpg. It helps you stay organized even though Google does not rank on file names.

You get 750 characters. Use them to say what you do, who you serve, and where you work. Mention your city or region once or twice, but do not stuff keywords.

Write in plain language. Skip buzzwords like "best-in-class" or "synergy." Say "We fix residential plumbing in Boise, Idaho. Same-day service on most calls."

Tip: Put your most important service in the first sentence. That text often shows in search snippets.

List your main services with short descriptions and price ranges if you are comfortable sharing them. Price ranges reduce tire-kicker calls.

Use the Questions and Answers section to seed common questions you already hear. Post the question yourself, then answer it as the owner. Google labels owner answers, and this builds trust.

Add any booking links, menus, or appointment URLs. Make sure each link works on a phone.

Use the Posts feature to share offers, news, or events. Posts expire, so refresh them every week or two if you want steady visibility.

Reply to every review, good or bad. Thank happy customers in one or two sentences. For negative reviews, stay calm, acknowledge the issue, and offer a way to fix it offline.

Never argue in a public reply. Future customers read your response more closely than the complaint itself.

Tip: Ask for reviews right after a successful job. A simple text with the review link works better than a generic email.

Check the Performance tab monthly. It shows how many people found you, where they came from, and what they did: calls, direction requests, website clicks, and messages.

Look for spikes and drops. A sudden drop may mean a competitor, a ranking change, or a suspension. Check your profile status first if numbers fall off a cliff.

Compare your search terms to your services. If people keep searching for something you do not offer, either add it or adjust your category.

Update hours for holidays, new phone numbers, and new services. If you move, update the address and verify again. Do not leave an old address live.

Set a calendar reminder every quarter to review the listing. Fifteen minutes of cleanup prevents months of lost calls.