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Is your business already listed?
Before you create anything, search for your business name and your area on Google and on Google Maps. Google often already has a listing for a shop or clinic, made from public information or added by a customer. If one exists, you should claim it. Creating a second one causes duplicates, and duplicates can confuse customers and can get both profiles flagged.
Look for a button or link that says "Claim this business" or "Own this business?" on the listing. If you see one, use it.
How do you claim or create it?
You need a Google account. Use one that belongs to the business, not a personal one that a former employee or agency could keep.
- Go to the Google Business Profile page and sign in.
- Search for your business name. If it appears, choose it to claim. If it does not, choose to add your business.
- Enter the name exactly as it appears on your signboard and in real life.
- Choose your main category. This is the single most important choice, so look for the most specific one.
- Add your address if customers visit you. If you travel to customers and do not serve them from a shopfront, you can hide the address and list the areas you serve instead.
- Add a phone number and your website, if you have one.
Which verification method will you get?
Google asks you to prove the business is real. Which methods you see depends on your business and your account, and Google decides, so you cannot choose freely. The common ones:
- Phone or text message: a code is sent to the number on the profile.
- Email: a code is sent to an email address.
- Video: you record a short video showing your location, your signboard, and proof that you run the business, such as equipment, stock or a licence.
- Postcard: a card with a code is posted to your address.
If you are offered the video option, prepare before you start. Film in one continuous take. Show the road outside, the signboard, the entrance, and the inside of the premises.
How long does verification take?
It varies. Phone, text and email codes usually arrive within minutes. Postcards take longer, often a number of days and sometimes up to a couple of weeks. Video reviews can take a few days. Google's help pages are the place to confirm the current times, because they change.
Do not edit your business name, address or category while a verification is pending. Changes during that time can restart the review.
Which categories and services should you add?
- Pick one main category that describes what you mostly do, then add a few secondary ones that are true.
- Add each service you offer, with a short description. Add prices where you are comfortable sharing them.
- Fill in opening hours, including special hours for festivals.
- Add the attributes that apply, such as wheelchair access or online appointments.
- Write a business description that says what you do and where, in plain words.
- Upload real photos of your shop front, your inside, your team and your work.
What mistakes get a profile suspended?
- Keyword stuffing the name. "Sharma Dental Clinic Best Dentist Indiranagar" is a flag. Use the real name.
- A fake or shared address. Using a virtual office or someone else's shop to appear in a different area is against the rules.
- Duplicate listings for the same business.
- Changing key details such as name or category in a way that does not match reality.
- Unclear ownership, such as an account the business cannot get back into.
If a profile is suspended, Google lets you appeal. Gather evidence of the real business first: licence, photos of the premises, utility bills.
What do you post every month?
A profile that is checked and kept current gets more trust from customers. Each month:
- Add a post about an offer, an event or a new service.
- Add a few fresh photos.
- Check that your hours and phone number are still right.
- Answer questions people have asked on your profile.
- Reply to every new review.
If this is more than you can keep up, it is part of what our Social Media and Ads plan does for you. To talk it through, contact us.
Questions people ask
How long does a postcard take?
It varies, and Google's current help page is the best place to check. Expect a number of days and sometimes up to a couple of weeks. Do not request a second card while the first is in the post, since that can invalidate the earlier code. Keep your address details exactly as entered.
Can I verify without a shop?
Often yes, if you serve customers at their location. You can create a service area business and hide your address. Google may still ask for proof, such as a video of your vehicle, tools or work. Your business must be real and reachable, and you cannot list an address you do not operate from.
Can I change my business name later?
Yes, but only to the name you really use in the real world, such as the one on your signboard and documents. Changes to the name may trigger a review and can pause the profile for a while. Avoid adding keywords or locations to the name to try to rank higher.
Do I need a website for a Google Business Profile?
No. You can have a profile without one. A website helps, though, because it gives customers more detail, and the profile can link to it. Many owners start with the profile and add a website after, so keep the name, address and phone number the same in both places.
How many photos should I add?
There is no magic number. Start with real photos of the outside, the inside, your team and your work, then add new ones regularly. Clear, recent, honest photos work better than a large number of stock images. Avoid photos with heavy text, filters or borders.
