Around 46% of Google searches are looking for local information, showing how important location-based searches are for users. But here’s the thing, not all results are as well-optimised as you might think.
More and more businesses are starting to see the value Google Maps brings to their online presence. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of adding your business to Google Maps. Lets get a move on.
What is Google Maps?
Before we get into the steps to add your business to Google Maps, let’s start by understanding how this tool works and how it fits into your local SEO strategy.
Think of Google Maps as your virtual storefront. It’s an online mapping tool from Google that provides satellite images, street views, and 360-degree photos of almost anywhere in the world. But it’s not just for navigation! When used correctly, it becomes a powerful part of your local SEO strategy, helping customers find your business easily and giving you more visibility in your area.
Why does my business need to be on Google Maps?
The internet has completely changed the game, and if you, as a business owner, ignore this shift and don’t adapt your business model to reach an online audience, your shop or project could be in trouble in the long run.
That’s where Google Maps comes in. It helps you connect with customers who might never have heard of your business otherwise. With Google Maps, people can find your exact location and use clear directions to visit you in person. Plus, when it comes to local SEO, Google Maps is a powerful tool, it helps your business show up first in Google searches for people nearby.
How do I get my business on Google Maps?
Simply put, Google Maps gives your business visibility, makes it easy for customers to find you, and helps you understand more about how people are searching locally. The best part? It’s completely free to get listed.
Steps to perform a SEO strategy with Google Maps correctly
Add business profile
To access Google My Business, simply search for “Google My Business” on Google and click the first result, “Google Business Profile – Get Listed on Google”. Once you’re on the page, click the button in the top-right corner.
You’ll need to verify your email. Make sure to always keep your passwords saved in one secure place, both digitally and physically. If you forget your password, you can use the reset option. For now, let’s move on to verifying the account.
In this section, you can add your business name, like “Rojas Creator Hounslow”. If there’s no existing Google Maps listing with that name, but you want to claim or verify an existing listing, you’ll need the email address originally used to create it.
If you don’t want to verify or claim an existing listing, and instead want to create a new one, you can do that too. After entering the name, select your business type from the options:
- Online retail: Customers buy products from your website
- Local store: Customers visit your business in person
- Service business: You visit customers to provide your services
Address and Location Management
If your business doesn’t have a physical address, you can still create a Google My Business Profile. Instead of displaying an address, you can specify a service area where your business operates. This option is ideal for service-based businesses like cleaning services, freelancers, or delivery-only operations. To set up a service area, go to the profile setup and add regions, cities, or postal codes where you provide services. This ensures your business is discoverable in relevant local searches, even without a fixed location.
If you previously added a physical address but want to switch to a service area setup, simply open the edit profile button in your dashboard. Turn off the show business address to customers option and confirm your service areas. This makes your profile more flexible and ensures customers in your operating regions can still find you.
For businesses that relocate or need to update their address, managing this process is straightforward. Use the edit profile button, update the address, and click the save option. If Google cannot locate the new address, use the adjust button on the map to manually place the pin in the correct spot. This ensures accuracy and avoids customer confusion when searching on Google Maps.
If you don’t want to display an address but still need to complete the verification process, you can temporarily provide a personal or alternative address for verification purposes. Once verified, remove the address by turning off the visibility setting in your profile. This setup is perfect for businesses operating in multiple regions or for those that don’t require a storefront.
By using these options, businesses without a physical address can effectively use Google My Business Profile to connect with local customers, set up accurate service areas, and manage their online presence efficiently.
Next, you’ll be asked to add your online store URL. For example, we’ll use rojascraetor.com and click “Next”. Then, you’ll need to select business categories. It’s super important to pick options that align with the keywords you identified during keyword research in the previous class. Google lets you add more categories later if needed.
Now, it’s time to add your business address. Fill in all the required details. Even if you don’t have a physical address, I’ll include one as an example for this exercise. If Google can’t find the exact location, you’ll need to enter it manually. Be careful to place the pin correctly to avoid confusion for customers trying to find you on the map.
When you move to the next step, you can add your phone number. While you can skip this part, it’s not recommended. Providing a number makes verification smoother and avoids extra steps later.
After that, you can choose whether to receive notifications or recommendations. For now, I’ll opt out and continue.
When you reach the verification section, your options may vary. For me, it only shows verification via text message, but you might see other requirements. I’ll share some tips for this in class.
Now, add your services using the keywords from our previous keyword research. You can include custom services or select from the predefined options.
Set your business hours, even for days when you’re closed. If you accept messages, make sure to respond promptly to private inquiries through your listing.
For the business description, use up to 750 characters, incorporating your keywords naturally.
Finally, upload photos of your team or business. Photos can appear in search results, so choose quality images and upload them from your computer.
For now, we’ll skip creating ads and focus on completing the profile. Once everything is done, you’ll be guided through the verification process again.
Verify business profile
Checking your business profile can feel like a bit of a headache, but with our tips, you might save yourself some hassle. There are several verification methods, and which one you get depends on different factors like your business category, the info provided, your location, operating hours, or even your business volume.
Here are the 5 main verification methods:
- Phone or SMS
- Video recording
- Live video call
- Letter
To get your Google Business Profile verified on the first try, we recommend:
- Having a website where the phone number matches the one on your business profile.
- Verifying your site beforehand with Search Console (we explain how in our SEO course).
- Using a corporate email address.
- Avoiding any attempts to mislead Google.
We always debate whether to include local SEO earlier in our SEO course, but we’ve found that having an SEO-optimised website from start to finish saves loads of time. For starters, you’ll already have your keyword research and content ready, and when it comes to verifying your profile, things will be much easier.
If you’re struggling to get your profile verified, don’t forget Google also has a support service you can contact for help.
Once your profile is verified, you’ll see a blue checkmark indicating it’s active. You can double-check by doing a branded search on Google.
We’ve got the profile set up! Now we can dive in and complete it properly. For local SEO, it’s best to fill in every option Google provides. We’ll cover some of these in more detail in the next class.
Google My Business Edit Profile dashboard
This is where you’ll add your business’s main info: contact details, location, hours, and more. Always try to include keywords where possible, like in the description.
Read Reviews
Here, you can view and respond to customer reviews. This is key for organic growth on your profile. We’ll go deeper into this in the next class.
Messages
Turn on messaging so users can reach out to you directly, and make sure to keep an eye on this section so you don’t miss any messages or potential leads!
Add Photos
Good photos are essential for getting more views on your Google profile. At the very least, you’ll need a horizontal photo for your cover, a square one for your logo, and some extra images that show off what your business is all about.
Photos are especially important for businesses like restaurants, cafes, hotels, or any service where visuals help customers decide.
Start by setting up a profile photo, usually your logo, and a cover photo that best represents your business. Here’s a quick guide to photo sizes and formats:
- File size: Between 10 KB and 5 MB
- Profile photo: 250 x 250 pixels
- Cover photo: 1080 x 608 pixels
- Google posts: 1200 x 900 pixels
- Business photos: 720 x 720 pixels
- Format: JPG or PNG
Once you’ve got your photos ready, sign in to your Google account, search for your business on Google Maps, and upload them. It’s quick and makes a big difference!
Performance
This section lets you check how your profile is performing. It’s worth noting that physical businesses tend to perform better than purely online ones. However, if you’re online-only, these insights can still help track brand-related search performance. We’ll talk more about this in the next class.
Advertise
This button takes you to Google Ads. Remember, we have an entire course dedicated to using this tool.
Edit Products
Oddly, this button redirects to the old Google My Business interface. Here, you can add products, making sure to use keywords.
Edit Services
You can add services one by one. Use a keyword as the service name and include it in the description where possible.
Reservations
From here, you can add a link for users to book appointments with your business.
Questions and Answers
Users can ask public questions, and you should aim to answer all of them.
Add Updates
This section works like a social media feed where you can share updates about your business. We’ll explain how to keep your profile active in the next class.
Request Reviews
This is an important section. You can copy the review link and share it wherever you like. In the next class, we’ll go over strategies for optimising your reviews.
Create a Website
Google Maps allows you to create a microsite, which is a mix between a blog and a fan page. We recommend using all available options.
If you don’t have the budget or time for a full website, this microsite can serve as your site until you’re ready. It’s not the most advanced solution, but it’s better than nothing. Plus, it’s free. Just keep in mind, Google encourages you to have a website because it makes it easier to advertise through their platform.
