How to List on Google My Business

Setting up your Google Business Profile is one of the fastest, most effective ways to get your brand in front of local customers actively searching for what you offer. This is your digital storefront on Google Search and Maps, and getting it right can completely change the game for your business. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create, verify, and optimize your listing step-by-step.

What Exactly Is a Google Business Profile?

Think of it as your company's free-to-use homepage, hosted by Google. A Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business or GMB) is a powerful tool that consolidates your most important business information into a single, easy-to-read panel that appears in Google search results and on Google Maps. When a potential customer searches for your business name or a service you provide (e.g., "coffee shop near me"), your profile can show up with your address, hours, photos, reviews, and a direct link to call you or visit your website.

For any local business, having one isn't just a good idea - it's essential. It builds credibility, boosts your visibility in local searches, and gives customers the immediate information they need to choose you over a competitor.

How to List on Google: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to get started? The process is straightforward if you follow these steps carefully. Grab a cup of coffee, and let's get you listed.

Step 1: Go to the Starting Line

To begin, head over to google.com/business and click "Manage now." You'll need to be signed into the Google account you want to associate with your business. It's best to use your professional business email address rather than a personal one to keep things organized.

Step 2: Add Your Business Name

The first prompt will ask for your business name. Start typing it in. If a profile with your name already exists (perhaps one that was auto-generated), Google will show it to you. You can claim it if it's yours. If not, continue by typing your full, official business name and select "Create a business with this name."

A quick tip: don't stuff keywords into your business name here (e.g., "Annie's Flower Shop - Best Tulips in Boston"). Google's guidelines prohibit this, and it can actually hurt your ranking or get your profile suspended. Just use your actual registered business name.

Step 3: Choose Your Business Type

Google needs to know how you serve your customers. You'll be presented with three main options:

• Online retail: You sell products through a website.
• Local store: Customers can visit your physical location like a shop or office.
• Service business: You visit customers in their homes or businesses (e.g., a plumber, a cleaning service, a consultant).

You can select more than one option if they apply. For instance, a local bakery might be a "Local store" and "Online retail" if it sells baked goods on its website for shipping.

Step 4: Select Your Business Category

This is a big one for getting found. Start typing in your primary service (e.g., "Hair Salon," "Italian Restaurant," "Marketing Consultant"). Google will suggest a list of predefined categories. Choose the one that most accurately describes your core business. You can add more secondary categories later on, but this primary one carries the most weight. Be as specific as possible. Instead of just "Restaurant," choose "Pizza Restaurant" if that's your main thing.

Step 5: Add a Business Address (For Brick-and-Mortars)

If you selected "Local store," you'll be asked to provide a physical address that customers can visit. Make sure this is exactly right, as it will be used for both your Maps pin and for the postcard verification later. If you operate your business from a home address that you don't want to make public, you'll want to focus on defining a service area instead.

Step 6: Define Your Service Area (For Service Businesses)

If you're a "Service business" (or a hybrid), you won't necessarily have a public address. Instead, Google will ask you to define your service area. This tells Google and your customers where you're willing to travel to provide your products or services. You can list multiple cities, postal codes, or general areas. Be realistic about the area you serve, as this info influences who will see your profile in "near me" searches.

Step 7: Provide Your Contact Information

Next up, add your business phone number and website URL. While the website is technically optional, not having one is a huge missed opportunity. If you don't have a website, Google offers a simple free one based on your profile details, but a real, dedicated website is far more professional. You can also choose to skip this step for now, but be sure to add it later.

Step 8: Verify Your Business

Here it is: the essential step to making your profile go live. Verification is how you prove to Google that your business is legitimate and that you're authorized to manage its profile. Google offers several verification methods, and the ones available to you will depend on your business type and location.

• Postcard by mail: This is the most common method. Google will mail a physical postcard containing a verification code to your business address. It usually takes 5-7 business days to arrive. Once you get it, you log back in and enter the code. Your profile won't be fully visible until this is done.
• Phone call or text: Some businesses are eligible for verification via an automated call or text to the business phone number. The message will contain a verification code.
• Email: Similar to the phone method, some businesses can receive a verification code at their official business email address (e.g., you@yourdomain.com). A generic email like a @gmail.com account is usually not eligible.
• Video recording: You may be asked to record a short video that proves your location, equipment, and business documents. This involves showing things like your storefront sign, branded vehicles, business license, and using a key to unlock your office.
• Live video call: This is similar to the video recording but happens with a live Google representative.

Once you choose a method and complete it, your account will move from "pending review" to "verified," and your business will start appearing in search results and on Maps!

Beyond Creation: How to Optimize Your Profile for Success

Just having a profile isn't enough. An empty, neglected profile is nearly as bad as having no profile at all. You need to fill it out completely and keep it active. Here's how to make it shine.

1. Add High-Quality Photos and Videos

People are visual. Profiles with pictures get more clicks, more calls, and more direction requests. Ditch the blurry phone pictures and upload high-resolution images that showcase your business in the best light.

• Logo & Cover Photo: Add your logo for immediate brand recognition and a great cover photo that represents your business's personality.
• Exterior and Interior Shots: For storefronts, show happy customers where they'll be going. Capture the outside of your building, the inside lobby, workstations, and the general vibe.
• Product/Service Shots: Show your products on display or your team in action providing a service.
• Team Photos: Help customers connect with you by showing the friendly faces behind the business.

2. Write a Compelling Business Description

You have 750 characters to tell your story. Don't just list what you do - explain what makes you unique. Use this space to talk about your mission, your history, or what sets you apart from competitors. Front-load the most important info, as only the first ~250 characters show up before users have to click "more." Use keywords naturally, but focus on writing for people, not robots.

3. Fill Out All Available Attributes and Sections

Google offers all kinds of specific fields depending on your category - take advantage of them!

• Add Products: If you sell physical items, upload them with pictures, descriptions, and prices.
• Add Services: Describe each service you offer with details and, if relevant, pricing. This helps you rank for specific service-related searches.
• Use Attributes: These are quick tags that give customers at-a-glance info. You can mark if your business is women-owned, has wheelchair accessibility, offers free Wi-Fi, and more.

4. Activate Messaging and Respond Quickly

The messaging feature allows potential customers to send you a text message directly from your profile. Turn it on! It's a low-friction way for people to ask questions. But if you activate it, be prepared to answer promptly. Slow response times will cause Google to deactivate the feature for you.

5. Earn and Respond to Every Review

Reviews are the backbone of social proof. They heavily influence both customer decisions and your Google ranking. Actively encourage happy customers to leave you reviews. More importantly, respond to every single one - both positive and negative. Thank people for their positive feedback. For negative reviews, respond professionally, address their concerns, and try to make it right. It shows other potential customers that you care and take feedback seriously.

Use Google Posts to Keep Your Profile Fresh

Google Posts are like mini-articles or social media updates that appear right on your Business Profile. They are a fantastic way to post announcements, highlight special offers, showcase new products, or share company news. Each post can include an image, text, and a call-to-action button like "Learn More," "Call Now," or "Shop."

Since these posts expire after 7 days (unless it's for an event), you should aim to post once a week. It keeps your profile looking active and gives you another opportunity to grab a searcher's attention.

Final Thoughts

Getting your business listed and optimized on Google Business Profile is a foundational step in your digital marketing strategy. It's direct, free, and puts you squarely in front of people who are already looking for what you have to offer - there's no better audience than that.

We know that managing your online presence can feel like a lot to handle, especially when you're juggling social media on top of everything else. It's why we built Postbase with simplicity in mind. By giving you one clean, visual calendar to plan, schedule, and analyze all of your short-form videos and other social content, we help you master your social media chaos. This frees up the time and mental energy you need to focus on other high-impact channels - like engaging with customers on your standout Google Business Profile.