How to Create a Google My Business Account

Setting up a Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful - and free - ways to get your business in front of local customers actively looking for your products or services. Think of it as your digital storefront on Google Search and Maps. This guide will walk you through setting up and verifying your profile step-by-step, then show you exactly how to optimize it to attract more customers.

What is a Google Business Profile and Why Do You Need One?

A Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business or GMB) is a free tool that lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. When someone searches for "coffee shop near me" or "plumber in Brooklyn," the profiles that pop up in the map pack at the top of the results page are Google Business Profiles.

Having a well-maintained profile is no longer optional for local businesses. Here’s why it’s so important:

• Dominate Local Search: A complete and active profile has a much better chance of appearing in the coveted "local pack" (the top three map listings in a search result). This prime real estate gets a huge amount of clicks.
• Build Trust and Credibility: A verified profile with up-to-date information, positive reviews, and recent photos signals to both Google and customers that your business is legitimate and trustworthy. The majority of consumers are more likely to trust a business they can find on Google Maps.
• Control Your Business Information: You get to control your hours, phone number, website, and address. Without a profile, Google relies on other online data which can be inaccurate, leading to frustrated customers.
• Engage with Customers: Your profile allows you to respond to reviews, answer customer questions publicly through the Q&A feature, and post updates, offers, and events directly to your listing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Google Business Profile

Ready to get started? The process is straightforward, but paying attention to the details now will save you headaches later. Grab a coffee and let's get your business on the map.

Step 1: Get Started at Google's Business Profile Page

First things first. You’ll need a Google account to manage your profile. You can use your existing personal Gmail account or create a new one specifically for your business.

Once you’re signed in, head over to google.com/business and click the “Manage now” button.

Step 2: Enter Your Business Name

On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to type in your business name. As you type, Google will check if a profile with that name already exists. This is an important step because:

• If your business appears in the dropdown: Stop! This means a profile already exists. It may have been auto-generated by Google or created by a previous owner. Click on your business name to claim ownership of the existing profile rather than creating a duplicate, which can hurt your search ranking.
• If your business does not appear: Great! Continue typing your full business name and click the option to "Create a business with this name."

Pro Tip: Use your real, registered business name. Don't add keywords here like "Joe's Pizza - Best Pizza in Austin." This violates Google's guidelines and can get your profile suspended.

Step 3: Choose Your Business Category

Next, you’ll pick a primary category for your business. This is one of the most critical factors for local SEO, as it tells Google what your business is. Be as specific as possible.

For example, instead of choosing "Restaurant," get more specific with categories like "Italian Restaurant," "Vegan Restaurant," or "Pizzeria." You can add more secondary categories later but get the primary one right from the start.

Step 4: Define Your Business Location and Service Area

Google needs to know how you serve your customers. You'll be asked: "Do you want to add a location customers can visit, like a store or office?"

• Choose Yes if you have a physical storefront, office, or location where customers physically come to you (e.g., a cafe, retail shop, or doctor's office). You will then enter your full business address.
• Choose No if you are a service-area business (SAB) where you travel to your customers, or if you run your business from home and don't take appointments there (e.g., a plumber, a house cleaner, or a mobile dog groomer).

If you choose No, you won't have a map pin at your physical address. Instead, you'll be prompted to add the service areas you cover, like specific cities, postcodes, or a general radius around your location.

Step 5: Add Your Contact Information

Provide a phone number and your business website. It's incredibly important that this information (along with your business name and address, if you have one) is consistent across the web. This concept, known as NAP consistency, helps Google confirm that you are who you say you are, which improves your local ranking.

Step 6: Verify Your Business Profile

Verification is the final proof to Google that your business is legitimate and that you are authorized to manage its profile. You won't be able to fully manage your listing - like responding to reviews - until you complete this step. The available verification methods depend on your business type, but common options include:

• Postcard by Mail: This is the most common method. Google will mail a physical postcard with a 5-digit verification code to your business address. This usually takes 5-14 days to arrive. Once you get it, you log back into your profile and enter the code.
• Phone or Text: Some businesses are eligible for verification via an automated call or text message to the business's phone number.
• Email: Similar to the phone option, you'll receive a code at an official business email address (e.g., yourname@yourwebsite.com).
• Video Recording: This method requires you to record a short video showing your location, equipment, business signage, and proof that you are at the business address.

Don't be discouraged by the postcard method. It’s a small wait for a massive long-term benefit. Just make sure your address is correct and be patient.

Now, Let's Optimize Your Profile for Maximum Impact

Getting verified is just the starting line. An empty profile won't do you much good. The businesses that rank highest and get the most clicks on Google are the ones with rich, complete, and active profiles. Treat your profile like a mini-website or social channel.

Fill Out Every. Single. Section.

Go through your profile dashboard and complete every field you can. The more information you give Google, the better it can match your business to relevant searches.

• Business Description: Write a compelling summary of what you do. Use keywords naturally, but focus on telling customers why they should choose you. You have 750 characters, so make them count.
• Opening Date: Add when your business first opened to show how long you've been around.
• Services/Products: Don't just rely on your category. List all the specific services you offer or products you sell. This helps you show up for more specific searches like "emergency plumbing leak repair" instead of just "plumber."
• Attributes: These are quick tags that highlight important features. You can add attributes like "Woman-led," "Wheelchair accessible entrance," "Free Wi-Fi," or "Online appointments."

Upload High-Quality Photos and Videos

Profiles with photos receive 42% more requests for driving directions to their location and 35% more clicks through to their websites than businesses that don't have any photos. Your photos are your first impression!

• Logo & Cover Photo: Set these first. Your logo helps customers recognize your brand, and your cover photo should be a high-quality image that best represents your business.
• Business Photos: Add photos of your location's exterior (so people can find you), interior (to show the vibe), your team at work, and your products.
• Keep it Fresh: Add new photos regularly to show your profile is active.

Turn on the Messaging Feature

Your profile allows you to enable a messaging feature that lets customers send you a text directly from your listing on Google Maps. In a world of instant communication, this is a fantastic way to capture leads. Just make sure you respond quickly, as Google tracks your average response time.

Use Google Posts Routinely

Google Posts are like mini-updates that appear directly on your business profile. They are perfect for promoting sales, sharing news, highlighting new products, or announcing events. Each post stays highly visible for seven days, so posting once a week is a great way to keep your profile fresh and engage searchers with timely information.

Encourage and Respond to Reviews

Reviews are the lifeblood of your local reputation. 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

• Ask for Reviews: Google provides a direct link you can share with happy customers to ask for a review. Make it part of your follow-up process.
• Respond to All Reviews: Thank customers for positive reviews. For negative reviews, respond professionally and politely. Show that you care and are willing to resolve issues. This shows potential customers that you stand by your service, building immense trust.

Manage the Questions & Answers (Q&A) Section

Anyone can ask - and anyone can answer - a question on your profile. Take control of this section. Monitor it actively for new questions and answer them immediately. You can even "seed" this section by asking and answering your own frequently asked questions ("Do you offer free parking?", "Are you pet-friendly?").

Final Thoughts

Creating and verifying your Google Business Profile is the foundational first step to mastering local search. But the real performance comes from treating it as a dynamic part of your marketing strategy - consistently adding photos, making posts, and engaging with customer reviews and questions to build a trustworthy and visible brand online.

Just as an active Google Business Profile is vital for local visibility, a dynamic social media presence is essential for building a broader brand and directly engaging your community. After wrestling with clunky, outdated social tools, we built Postbase to simplify this exact process. It's a modern, clean platform for planning your content calendar and scheduling posts across all your social channels - including short-form video on Reels and TikTok - without the constant glitches or missing features you might be used to.