Imagine this: You’ve been working all day, running on fumes.
You finally get off work and realize—you’re starving. And not just hungry, but hangry.
Where do you turn?
Most likely, you’ll grab your phone, open Google, and search for a nearby restaurant with good reviews and some mouthwatering food photos.
Now, flip the script. Imagine you own that restaurant. That search just brought you a new customer!
According to Google, every month:
- 5 billion people search for restaurants,
- 3 billion search for hotels,
- 1 billion look up clothing stores,
- And 600 million people search for hair and beauty salons.
That’s a lot of potential customers.
If you want to be the business they choose, you need to show up when they search. That’s where Google Business Profile (GBP) comes in.
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free tool that helps small business owners get discovered on Google Search and Maps.
With a GBP listing, you can:
✅ Connect with customers through phone calls, messaging, and reviews.
✅ See insights on how people find and interact with your business.
✅ Showcase products, services, and promotions—all directly on Google.
It is literally your digital storefront on Google. When customers are searching for businesses like yours, your profile can help you stand out and turn those searches into sales.
💡 Pro tip: Google Business Profile doesn’t replace your website—it complements it by driving more traffic your way.
How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile (Step-by-Step)
Now that you know why GBP is important, let’s walk through how to set it up.
Step 1: Go to Google Business Profile Manager
Visit google.com/business and bookmark it—you’ll use this page to manage your profile.
Step 2: Sign in with a Google Account
If you don’t have one, head to google.com/accounts and create a free account.
Step 3: Enter Your Business Name
Make sure it’s spelled correctly and use Title Case (capitalizing the first letter of each word). First impressions matter!
Step 4: Add Your Business Address
- If you have a physical storefront, enter your location so customers can find you on Google Maps.
- If you’re a service-based business (like a plumber or consultant), you can hide your address and instead set a service area.
📌 Note: Google does not allow PO boxes or virtual addresses like UPS Store mailboxes.
Step 5: Select Your Business Type
- Storefront: Customers visit your physical location.
- Service Area Business: You serve customers at their location (e.g., an electrician or cleaning service).
Step 6: Choose a Primary Business Category
This is critical because it tells Google which searches your business should appear in.
For example:
- If you own a pizza place, select Pizza Restaurant instead of Italian Restaurant.
- If you run a marketing agency, pick Marketing Consultant instead of Advertising Service.
Note: You might not find your exact business category, but choose the one that is closest to what you do.
You can add secondary categories later, but your primary category is the most important.
Step 7: Add Your Contact Info
- Phone Number: So customers can call you directly from Google.
- Website: Google tracks website clicks, helping you see how many visitors come from your profile.
Step 8: Verify Your Business
Google will require verification to confirm you’re the real business owner. This usually happens via:
- Postcard (sent to your business address in 5–7 days)
- Video (If eligible)
- Email (if eligible)
- Phone call (rare, but possible)
Follow the instructions to complete verification—this step is non-negotiable if you want your profile to go live.
Step 9: Optimize Your Profile
Once verified, you can add more details to make your profile stand out:
✅ Upload high-quality photos of your products, services, and location.
✅ Add business hours (including holiday hours).
✅ Write a compelling business description.
✅ Enable messaging so customers can contact you directly.
✅ Start collecting and responding to customer reviews.
Final Thoughts: Your Google Business Profile is a Game Changer
Imagine a customer walking through your doors, saying, “I found you on Google!”
That could be happening every single day if you take advantage of this free tool.
Setting up your Google Business Profile is a one-time investment that keeps working for you 24/7. If you haven’t already, go claim your spot on Google and start attracting more customers today!
PS - Once you have your Google business profile set up you’ll need some reviews. We can help you with that with our 5 Star Magic Review Funnel
