How to Edit Google My Business

Your Google Business Profile is your digital storefront, but a Closed sign is effectively hanging on the door if the information is wrong. An outdated profile can send customers to the wrong address, have them call a disconnected number, or show up when you aren't open. This guide provides a complete, step-by-step walkthrough of how to edit every part of your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) using Google's new direct editing interface, so you can get found by the right customers at the right time.

First Things First: How to Access Your Profile Editor

Google has moved away from the old GMB dashboard. Now, you manage your profile directly from Google Search or Google Maps, which is much faster once you know where to look. Getting to the editor is simple.

1. Sign In to the Right Account: Make sure you are logged into the Google account that you used to claim or create your Business Profile. This is the most common reason people can't find their editing tools.
2. Search for Your Business: Open Google Search or Google Maps and type your exact business name into the search bar. If you're logged into the correct account, your business profile will appear along with a management panel.

You’ll see a series of icons and buttons right above the regular search results, including "Edit profile," "Read reviews," "Messages," and "Add photo." This menu is your new command center. From here, you can access and modify every detail of your listing.

Editing Your Core Business Information

Your core business information is the foundation of your profile. Accuracy here is non-negotiable, as it directly impacts customer trust and your local SEO performance.

Business Name, Category, and Description

These three elements tell customers who you are and what you do. To change them, click the "Edit profile" button and then select the "Business information" tab.

• Business Name: This should be your official, real-world business name. Resist the temptation to add keywords or city names here (e.g., "Mandy's Awesome Cupcakes NYC"). Google considers this "keyword stuffing" and may penalize your listing. Stick to the name on your storefront sign.
• Business Category: This is one of the most important ranking factors. Choose a primary category that is as specific as possible. Instead of "Restaurant," choose "Italian Restaurant" or "Vegan Restaurant." You can also add several secondary categories to cover all the services you offer.
• Description: Here's where you get to communicate your brand's personality. You have 750 characters to explain what makes your business special. Focus on what helps customers, not on stuffing in keywords. Explain your history, your mission, or what your customers love most about you.

Contact Info, Website, and Location (Your NAP)

Your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) are critical for local search rankings. Google cross-references this information across the web, and consistency is vital. You can find these fields in the same "Business information" section.

• Location (Address): Double-check that your address is precise and your map pin is in the correct spot. If you are a Service Area Business (SAB), like a plumber who travels to customers, you can hide your physical address and define the specific cities or zip codes you serve.
• Contact Information: Make sure your phone number and website URL are correct. A single typo here can cost you a customer.

Hours of Operation

No one likes showing up to a closed business. Keeping your hours updated builds trust and prevents negative reviews. To edit them, click "Edit profile" and go to the "Hours" tab.

• Regular Hours: Set your standard operating hours for each day of the week.
• Holiday Hours & Special Hours: Google will prompt you to confirm hours for upcoming holidays. Always confirm these. You can also set special hours for events or other occasions by clicking "Add hours."
• Setting Temporary Closures: If you need to close temporarily for renovations or an emergency, you should mark your business as "Temporarily Closed." This is far better than leaving your old hours up or marking it "Permanently Closed" by mistake.

Showcasing What You Offer Your Customers

Beyond the basics, your profile is a rich canvas to show off your products, services, and the atmosphere of your business. These features help potential customers choose you over a competitor.

Adding Products and Services

This is your chance to create a digital catalog or menu directly on your profile. From your main management panel, look for dedicated buttons like "Edit products" or "Edit services."

• For Retail/E-commerce: Use the "Products" section. Add high-quality photos, product names, prices, and detailed descriptions for each item you sell. You can group them into categories to make browsing easier.
• For Service-Based Businesses: Use the "Services" section. List every service you offer, breaking broader categories into specific offerings. For example, a hair salon might list "Haircut," "Coloring," and "Styling," then add specific services like "Balayage" under "Coloring." Add descriptions and prices where possible.

Uploading Photos and Videos

People are visual. A profile rich with high-quality photos and videos is far more engaging than one with just a generic Street View image. Click the "Add photo" button to get started.

Types of Images to Upload:

• Logo & Cover Photo: Your logo helps customers recognize your brand, and the cover photo should be a high-quality image that best represents your business. Think of it as your profile’s banner.
• Exterior & Interior Shots: Show people what your business looks like from the outside so they can find it easily. Post inviting interior shots that convey your business's atmosphere.
• Action Shots & Team Photos: Pictures of your team working with customers help humanize your brand. Show your staff smiling and engaged.
• Products & Work: Show photos of your popular products or before-and-after pictures of your service in action.

Always upload crisp, well-lit photos. Avoid blurry images or overly stock-like photos. Authentic, real photos perform best.

Setting Your Business Attributes

Attributes are specific details that answer quick, factual questions customers might have. These pieces of information can be the deciding factor for a customer. To edit them, go to "Edit profile" and then the "More" tab.

Examples of attributes include:

• From the business: Identify as women-owned, veteran-led, or Black-owned.
• Payments: Indicate if you accept credit cards, debit cards, or NFC mobile payments.
• Accessibility: Note if you have a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking, or restroom.
• Amenities: Highlight things like free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating, or family-friendly features.

Take the time to go through every available attribute and select all that apply. Many customers use these as filters when searching.

Engaging with Customers Directly on Google

Your Google Business Profile isn't just a static directory listing, it’s an interactive social platform. Engaging here sends strong positive signals to both Google's algorithm and potential customers.

Creating Posts: Updates, Offers, and Events

Google Posts are like mini-blog posts or social media updates that appear right on your profile. They are perfect for announcing news, promoting sales, or highlighting a new product. From your management panel, click "Add update."

• Updates: Share general news about your business. Maybe you hired a new employee or won an award.
• Offers: Create a promotion with a start and end date, a coupon code, and a call-to-action button like "Redeem offer."
• Events: Promote an upcoming webinar, workshop, or in-store event with a title, date, time, and a registration link.

Posts expire after seven days (unless they are for an event), so aim to publish a new post at least once a week to keep your profile active and fresh.

Managing the Q&A Section

Anyone can ask a question on your profile, and anyone can answer it. This can be great, but it also carries risk if wrong information is posted. You can find this section by clicking the "Q&A" button.

Stay on top of this by:

• Seeding Your Own FAQs: Don't wait for people to ask. Add your own frequently asked questions and then provide clear, helpful answers. Think about what customers typically ask on the phone, like "Do I need a reservation?" or "Do you have parking?"
• Monitor and Answer New Questions Quickly: Set up alerts so you know when a new question is posted. Answering promptly shows you are attentive and helpful.

Responding to Customer Reviews

Reviews are incredibly influential, and your responses are just as important. From the main panel, click "Reviews" to see and reply to new feedback.

Best Practices:

• Respond to All Reviews (Positive and Negative): Thank happy customers for their kind words. It encourages more positive reviews. For negative reviews, respond professionally and calmly. Apologize for their poor experience, take the conversation offline if needed ("Please call us at…"), and show that you're committed to making things right.
• Be Prompt: Try to respond within 24 hours. This demonstrates that you care about customer feedback.

Final Thoughts

Regularly editing and managing your Google Business Profile is one of the fastest, free ways to attract more local customers. By following these steps to keep your information accurate, upload fresh content, and engage with users, you transform your profile from a simple listing into a powerful marketing tool that drives real-world growth.

Once your Google presence is dialed in, the next step is building that same consistency and engagement across your social channels. That puzzle of managing multiple platforms, dealing with different content formats, and finding time for it all can be overwhelming. It's exactly why we built Postbase. We’ve focused on simplifying social media with a beautiful visual calendar for planning, rock-solid scheduling for posts and Reels, a unified inbox to manage all your comments in one place, and to-the-point analytics. It’s what you need to build a consistent, standout brand on social media, without the chaos.