If you’re running a local business and want new customers to find you, Google Business Profile is your single most important marketing asset.
Whether someone’s searching “coffee near me,” “24/7 vet,” or “best gym in Los Angeles,” Google pulls up a list of options based on proximity, relevance, and completeness of profile. If your business isn’t showing up – or if your GBP looks incomplete, outdated, or generic… chances are you’re getting skipped.
A Google Business Profile isn’t just a digital listing. It is your most visible landing page. This is where people check your hours, call you, request directions, browse photos, and read reviews – all without ever visiting your website.
TL;DR: Your Google Business Profile is your digital storefront on Google. If it’s not optimized, you’re leaving extra revenue – and customers – for your competitors to grab. We walk you through each step to set up and optimize your GBP.
Step 1: Go to Google Business Profile Manager
Head to google.com/business and click “Get Started,” you’ll be prompted to log in with your Google account (preferably one tied to your business).
Step 2: Enter Your Business Name
Start typing your business name. If it shows up, it may already exist on Google (especially if customers have previously left reviews), and you can request to claim it. If not, proceed to create a new profile.
💡 Tip: Be consistent. Use the exact same business name you use on your storefront signage, website, and other directories.
Step 3: Choose Your Business Type
If customers visit your physical location, select “Local store”. This ensures your business shows up on Google Maps.
If you’re a service-area business (like a mobile groomer or cleaning company), select “Service business” and you’ll be able to list your service areas instead.
If you are an online retailer, click “Online retail”, and you will be prompted to enter your website domain.
Step 4: Choose a Business Category
This step is critical – your primary category determines which types of searches your business can show up for.
Start typing what you do (e.g., “restaurant,” “dentist,” “auto glass repair”) and select the most accurate option. You can add additional categories later, but the primary one carries the most weight.
💡 Avoid guessing. Choose the category your ideal customer would search for when looking for a business like yours.
Step 5: Enter Contact Information
Add your address (if you have one).
Add your phone number and website URL (if you have one). This will make it easy for customers to call or click directly from your Google Business Profile.
Step 6: Verify Your Business
Verification options vary by business location and industry, but when verifying your business, you will be presented with the following options:
- Video: Check out our quick tutorial on how to complete your GBP video verification.
- Postcard: Google mails a code to your business address
- Phone: Some businesses can verify instantly via automated call or text
- Email: Less common, but sometimes available
Enter the code once it arrives, and your Google Business Profile will go live.
Step 7: Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Once verified, don’t stop there. Fill out everything else to increase your chances of showing up in relevant searches:
- Business hours (and holiday hours)
- Photos of your storefront, products, team, and/or menu
- Business description that is clear, concise, and keyword-aligned
- Attributes like “Wheelchair accessible,” “Outdoor seating”
- Q&A section (answer customer questions)
- Review requests (start asking happy customers to leave reviews)
A complete profile doesn’t just show up more often – it gets chosen more often.
In 2026, local search isn’t about your website but your Google Business Profile. This is what shows up when customers are ready to act: to call, visit, book, or buy. It’s where they read reviews, see photos, and make split-second decisions.
Getting your profile right from the start is one of the easiest and highest-impact steps you can take for local visibility.
What Next?
Creating your Google Business Profile is just the first step – winning on Google Maps takes ongoing strategy.
This isn’t a “set it and forget it” asset. It’s a high-intent marketing channel where customers are nearby and ready to buy. To stand out and drive real foot traffic, your Google Business Profile needs to be optimized, updated, and actively managed.
Map Labs helps businesses show up ahead of the competition – and get chosen by the customers who matter most.
Visit MapLabs.com to learn how we help thousands of businesses grow with Maps Marketing.
Want to know more?
🎥 Watch ‘Why Every Business Needs Maps Marketing’ video below!
