Your Business Listing on Google Search and Maps. When someone searches for a business like yours on Google, the results they see come from Google Business Profiles. This free listing displays your company name, address, phone number, hours, photos, and customer reviews directly in search results and on Google Maps.
A Google Business Profile determines whether your business appears in local search results or gets buried beneath competitors. For local businesses, this listing has become one of the most valuable digital assets you can have.
Nearly half of all Google searches have local intent. That means people are actively looking for businesses, services, and products in their area right now. Without a Google Business Profile, your business doesn't exist in these local search results.
An active and complete profile puts your business in front of potential customers at the exact moment they need what you offer. The businesses appearing in map results and local packs have profiles. The ones missing from those results don't.
Are these issues stopping you from getting found?
Customers search for services you offer, but your business never shows up in the map section. Competitors with Google Business Profiles capture all that local search traffic.
Wrong phone numbers, old hours, or an incorrect address frustrate customers and damage trust. Some businesses don't even know Google has created a basic listing for them with inaccurate details.
You see the same businesses appearing above you every time someone searches for your services. Their profiles are more complete, have more reviews, and get more visibility.
The platform seems straightforward, but knowing what information to add, how to verify your business, and what features to use feels overwhelming without guidance.
If you've been running a business for a few years, you probably remember Google My Business. In November 2021, Google rebranded this service to Google Business Profile. The name changed, but the core purpose stayed the same.
The main difference is how you access your listing. Previously, business owners used a separate dashboard. Today, you can edit your profile directly from Google Search or Google Maps after logging into your Google account. This shift made managing business information faster and more intuitive.
Understanding where your profile shows up helps you appreciate its value.
Someone searching for a service in a specific area sees a map with three business listings underneath. This is the Local Pack. Businesses appearing in the Local Pack receive the majority of clicks from local searches, displaying name, rating, address, hours, and phone.
When someone searches for your business by name, they see a Knowledge Panel on the right side of desktop results or at the top on mobile. This panel pulls all information directly from your Google Business Profile, including photos, contact info, and recent updates.
Your profile is the foundation of your presence on Google Maps. People using Maps to find businesses or navigate to locations see your complete profile information, including directions, the ability to call directly, and access to your photos and reviews.
A complete profile includes multiple components. Each feature serves a specific purpose in helping customers learn about and connect with your business.
The basics include your business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation. This information needs to match what appears on your website and other online directories.
Google lets you select a primary category and additional categories describing what your business does. You can also list specific services or products. These selections directly influence which searches your profile appears in.
Visual content makes your profile significantly more engaging. Businesses can upload photos of their storefront, interior, team, products, and completed work. Profiles with photos receive substantially more requests for directions.
Customer reviews appear prominently on your profile. Your overall star rating is one of the first things potential customers notice. The number of reviews, average rating, and recency of feedback all influence how your business is perceived.
The Posts feature lets you share updates directly on your profile. You can announce new products, promote events, share offers, or publish general updates. Posts appear in your Knowledge Panel and can include images, text, and call-to-action buttons.
The Q&A section allows anyone to ask questions about your business. You can answer these questions yourself, or other users can provide responses. Proactively adding common questions and answers helps customers find information faster.
Google Business Profile includes messaging that lets customers send direct messages from your profile. A "Message" button appears on your listing, allowing customers to reach you without making a phone call.
Google Business Profile adapts to different industries. The features available depend on the category you select.
| Business Type | Unique Features |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | Menu display, reservations, delivery ordering |
| Retail | Product inventory, pricing, stock status |
| Service-area | Service region display, quote requests |
| Healthcare | Insurance accepted, appointment booking |
| Hotel | Room booking, amenities, star classification |
Google designed this tool specifically for businesses that interact with customers in person.
If customers visit your location to make purchases or receive services, you qualify for a profile with your street address displayed. Restaurants, retail stores, medical offices, and salons fall into this category.
Businesses that travel to customers rather than receiving them at a fixed location also qualify. Contractors, mobile mechanics, house cleaners, and delivery services operate this way. These profiles hide the street address and instead display the geographic areas served.
Businesses without any in-person customer interaction don't qualify for a Google Business Profile. E-commerce stores and companies that operate entirely online should focus on other marketing channels.
From creation to management: How to turn your profile into a customer magnet.
If your business is new to Google, you'll create a profile from scratch. If your business has been around for a while, Google may have already created a basic listing from web data. In that case, you'll claim the existing profile and take ownership.
To start, go to google.com/business and sign in with your Google account. Follow the prompts to add your business name, location, and category.
Google requires verification to confirm you own or represent the business. Methods vary and can include postcard by mail, phone call, email, or video recording. Until verification is complete, your profile won't appear in search results.
For detailed guidance on completing verification, see our verification process page.
Creating a Google Business Profile is an important first step. But having a profile doesn't automatically mean you'll rank well in local search or convert viewers into customers.
An optimized profile uses every available feature, maintains consistent activity, actively manages reviews, and follows best practices that improve visibility. Many business owners create a profile and never touch it again. These stagnant profiles get outranked by competitors who put ongoing effort into their presence.
Learn more about maximizing your listing through Google Business Profile optimization.
A Google Business Profile isn't a set-it-and-forget-it asset. Active management keeps your information accurate and your profile competitive.
Responding to Reviews: Customers who leave reviews appreciate a response. Thank reviewers who leave positive feedback. Address concerns from negative reviews professionally. Review response is one of the signals Google considers for ranking local businesses.
Keeping Information Current: Business hours change during holidays. Phone numbers get updated. Services expand. Every piece of information on your profile should reflect the current state of your business. Outdated information frustrates customers and damages trust.
Adding Fresh Content: Regular posts keep your profile active. Weekly or bi-weekly posts about new products, team highlights, or special offers signal that your business is engaged. Managing your post scheduling and Q&A management keeps your profile fresh without consuming your time.
For strategies on handling both positive and negative feedback, explore our review response strategies.
Your Google Business Profile is one component of a broader local SEO services strategy. The profile itself is critical for appearing in map results, but other factors influence your overall local search visibility.
Mentions of your business name, address, and phone number across the web are called citations. Consistent local citation building supports the accuracy of your profile information and strengthens your local search presence.
Your website content, technical optimization, and backlink profile all work together with your Google Business Profile to determine how you rank in local search results.
No. Google allows businesses to create profiles without having a website. Your profile can serve as your primary online presence. However, having a website gives you more control over your brand and allows you to provide information beyond what the profile accommodates.
Yes. Creating and managing a Google Business Profile costs nothing. Google offers this service free because it helps them provide accurate information to searchers. There are no hidden fees for basic profile features.
Each physical location your business operates should have its own profile. If you have three store locations, you would have three separate profiles. Service-area businesses without a physical storefront create a single profile covering their entire service region.
Verification time varies by method. Phone and email verification can be instant. Postcard verification typically takes 5 to 14 days. Video verification is usually processed within a few business days.
If someone else has already verified your business profile, you can request ownership through Google. The current owner receives notification, and if they don't respond within a set period, ownership transfers to you.
At minimum, review your profile monthly to ensure hours, contact information, and services are accurate. Posting updates weekly or bi-weekly keeps your profile active and signals engagement to Google.
A Google Business Profile puts your business in front of customers actively searching for what you offer. The platform is free, accessible, and powerful for local visibility.
Getting started means creating or claiming your profile, completing verification, and filling in your business information. From there, consistent management and optimization determine how much value you get from this tool.
Pravda SEO provides complete Google Business Profile services for local businesses. From initial setup through ongoing management, we help you turn your profile into a consistent source of new customers.
Contact us to discuss your Google Business Profile needs.