If someone searches for your company on Google, or searches for what you do plus your local area, there’s a good chance the first thing they see isn’t your website. It’s a box on the right hand side with your name, opening hours, reviews, and a map. That’s called your Google Business Profile, and it’s one of the most valuable free tools available to any small business.
The good news is that setting it up and keeping it looking good takes very little time, and doesn’t cost anything.
Step 1: Check if you already have one
Search for your business name on Google. If a box appears on the right with your details, someone (possibly Google itself) may have already created a basic listing. If nothing appears, you’ll need to create one from scratch.
Step 2: Claim it
Go to google.com/business and follow the steps to search for your business and claim it as the owner. Google will usually verify that you’re really the business owner by sending a postcard with a code to your business address, or sometimes by phone or email. This can take a few days, so it’s worth doing early rather than leaving it until you need it.
Step 3: Fill in every section properly
Once you have access, take the time to fill in as much as possible:
- Your correct business name, address and phone number
- Your opening hours, including any holiday changes
- The category that best describes your business
- A clear description of what you do
- Your website address
- Good quality photos of your premises, products, or team
The more complete your profile is, the more Google tends to trust it, and the more useful it is to anyone looking at it.
Step 4: Add photos regularly
Businesses with photos get far more attention than those without. You don’t need professional photography, clear phone photos of your shop front, your team at work, or your products are usually enough. Try to add a few new ones every couple of months rather than leaving it untouched for years.
Step 5: Ask happy customers for reviews
Reviews are one of the biggest factors in whether people trust you and whether Google shows you higher up in local search results. After a job well done or a positive interaction, it’s worth simply asking the customer if they’d mind leaving a quick review. Most people are happy to if you ask at the right moment.
Step 6: Reply to your reviews
Whether a review is glowing or a bit critical, taking the time to write a short, polite reply shows that you’re an active, responsive business. It also makes a genuine difference to how trustworthy your profile looks to anyone reading it later.
Step 7: Keep checking back
Your profile isn’t a set it and forget it job. Update your hours around holidays, keep your description current if your services change, and check every so often that nothing looks out of date.
If you’d like help getting your profile set up properly or making it work harder for you, we are happy to take a look. Get in touch and we can help.
