The launch closes a gap most marketing teams don’t realize exists. For over a decade, Google has been the center of Maps Marketing strategy. Apple Maps has been building a real, measurable audience the entire time, and almost nobody has been managing it.
Apple Maps Isn’t Optional Anymore
Here’s what the data shows: Apple has 60% smartphone market share in North America. Every one of those iPhones opens to Apple Maps by default. That makes Apple Maps the second-largest local search platform in the world, bigger than Yelp, bigger than TripAdvisor, bigger than Bing.
Map Labs’ research puts real numbers behind it: Apple Maps generates 25x more business visibility than Yelp on average, with some markets seeing that gap stretch as high as 50x. And in a growing number of cases, businesses are seeing more direction requests come from Apple Maps than from Google. (Map Labs LLC, 2026)
Businesses that haven’t claimed and optimized their Apple Maps presence are handing customers to their competitors. Apple Business puts you in control of your place card on Apple Maps, including hours, photos, contact details, and promotions, the same way Google Business Profile does on Google. Every unclaimed location is a missed opportunity to reach customers who are already searching.
One Platform, Both Maps
With this launch, Map Labs customers get:
Consistent listings across Apple Maps and Google Maps, the two platforms that drive 95% of local searches.
Bulk management at scale – update hours, photos, and promotions across hundreds or thousands of locations at once.
Optimization for growth – the same category, attribute, and content strategy that drives results on Google, applied to Apple.
Real-world performance insights – taps, engagement, searches, calls, and direction requests, reported the same way Map Labs already reports Google performance.
Support is available across all three Map Labs service levels: Softwarefor teams who want to manage it themselves, Coaching for teams who want strategy and direction, and Full Service for teams who want Map Labs to handle execution end-to-end.
Current Map Labs customers can upgrade their accounts to add Apple Maps management today. Businesses not yet on Map Labs can start with a free Apple Maps analysis or a free 14-day trial of the software.
Map Labs is the #1 Google & Apple Maps Marketing software and service for multi-location businesses. Map Labs goes beyond just tools and accurate reporting – delivering strategy, support, and execution that drive real-world results. Over 10,000 world-leading businesses are growing with Map Labs’ custom maps marketing strategies and industry-leading software.
Your Google Business Profile is the most visible landing page you have. 80% of the views it gets come from non-branded search – people typing “coffee near me,” not your business name. They’re choosing between you and your competition.
It’s also the one result that shows up no matter where the search starts. Google.com, Google Maps, social media, an AI search, a voice assistant – the starting point keeps changing, but the destination doesn’t. People usually end up looking at a Google Business Profile. That makes your GBP the closest thing you have to a single source of truth: the one place worth getting right, because it’s the one place everyone lands.
Google Business Profile is your highest-intent marketing channel, and most teams are leaving it on autopilot.
Map Labs exists to fix that. We’re the #1 Maps Marketing software and service – we help businesses get found on Google and Apple Maps, turn views into calls and visits, and track every bit of it. We do it through three levels of support: Software, Coaching, and Full Service.
Which level of support is right for your business? Read on to find out.
TL;DR: Your Google and Apple Maps profiles are your most visible and durable marketing assets. Map Labs offers three ways to manage, optimize, and measure your business’s growth on Google and Apple Maps:
Software – run it yourself with tools built for the job.
Coaching – build the skill in-house with expert guidance.
Full Service – hand the day-to-day to a dedicated team.
Not sure which one is right for you? Start with a free GBP Analysis, and we’ll discuss where you are and which plan is best for you.
Three ways to work with Map Labs
Managing your Maps presence well takes the right tools, a clear strategy, and consistent execution. How much of that you take on yourself is up to you – and we meet you wherever you are with three levels of service. Some teams want the Software to run it themselves. Some want an expert Coaching them as they build the skills in-house. And some want to hand the execution to a dedicated Full Serviceteam.
Same channel, same goal (more customers), just different levels of support depending on your business’s needs.
Software: You run it, we give you the tools
Our software is proprietary, built specifically for Google and Apple Maps. It’s best for marketers who’ve been through our Coaching program and are ready to manage Maps independently.
Google gives you a basic dashboard and stops there. No protection against unwanted listing edits, no bulk actions across locations, no reporting that ties back to revenue. Our software picks up where Google leaves off – a review assistant that speeds up responses, Listing Defender to stop unwanted profile changes, and performance reports that pull calls, direction requests, and bookings into one place in seconds. For most teams, that reporting alone saves them 5 to 10 hours per profile each month.
Managing multiple locations? The Bulk Features add-on is built to scale with you – roll-up reports that aggregate performance across every location, bulk updates to hours, menus, and photos in one move, and bulk posting that publishes everywhere with a single click. (From $80/mo per profile)
Software is the right fit for marketing teams who have completed the Map Labs Coaching program, and are ready to manage the channel independently.
Coaching: We teach you how, and you build the skill
Coaching is for the team that wants to run Maps in-house with an expert in their corner while they learn. We give you the strategy, the roadmap, and the answers – you execute, and your team walks away knowing exactly how to grow the channel.
We start by getting you organized and optimized – profiles verified, categories and services dialed in – the fundamentals Google rewards. Then we’ll build and execute a content and review strategy that actually drives results – more calls and visits, more customers. All of this while teaching you how to read the data – performance insights, comparison reports, keyword trends – so you know what’s working and what to do next. Coaching adapts to you and your business’s specific needs; we’ll meet you where you are and go after the biggest opportunities first.
The coaching sessions are yours to shape. Most teams start with a few months of regular meetings, then adjust to a check-in cadence that works for them once they’ve found their footing. There’s no limit on who joins – bring your whole team on the call if they want to become experts too.
Coaching is the right fit if you want to own the channel management long-term and build real expertise on your team.
Full Service: We handle it all, you get the results
Full Service provides end-to-end management of your Google and Apple Maps marketing, custom-built for your business’s needs. You approve the strategy and direction, and our team handles all execution: setup, verification, optimization, posts, photos, menus, reviews, troubleshooting, and the reporting that ties it all back to revenue. Everything in Software and Coaching is included – you’ve just got a dedicated team of experts doing the work for you.
Full Service is built for teams running Maps across dozens or hundreds of locations – where the bandwidth to manage it all in-house isn’t there. You get a dedicated account manager, specialists working across all your locations, weekly or monthly strategic reviews, and unlimited support whenever you need it.
Most full-service agencies treat Maps as a one-line item on a checklist. We focus on it specifically to bring more customers to your business. Specialists beat generalists, every time – and you’ll always know exactly what we’re doing and why, because we develop the strategy alongside you and keep you in the loop the whole way.
Full Service is the right fit if you’re managing Maps across multiple locations, and want an expert team handling the day-to-day execution.
Think about how people actually find a business now. They’ll search something like “coffee near me.” They check reviews after seeing a TikTok. They ask ChatGPT for the best auto shop in town. Every one of those journeys ends in the same place: your Google or Apple Maps profile. It’s the first impression most customers get, and often the last one before they call, book, or drive over.
It’s also the most visible result on the page. Search almost anything local, and the first thing Google shows isn’t a website – it’s the map pack, the cluster of business profiles sitting right at the top. Your profile appears above the traditional search results, where customers are actually looking, instead of buried in a list your business has to fight its way up.
That makes it different from the rest of your marketing channels. Social platforms come and go – the channel you built an audience on five years ago isn’t the one you’re on today. Maps don’t work like that. Google and Apple have spent two decades mapping the real world, and that profile isn’t going anywhere. Manage it well, and it compounds – it’s less a channel you rent and more an asset you own and build.
And it sits at the center of your marketing ecosystem. When your profile is complete, current, and active, the rest of your marketing works harder – every paid click, every bit of social buzz, every SEO gain points a customer toward a profile that’s ready to convert them. When it’s neglected, that’s where the journey quietly breaks.
Most businesses set up their profile once and never touch it again. The ones that treat it as the high-value asset it is – kept fresh, optimized, and measured – are the ones turning all those views into calls, directions, and revenue.
So… which one is right for you?
It comes down to how much support you want:
Software – if you’ve got the time and want to run Maps in-house.
Coaching– if you want to build that expertise with an expert guiding you.
Full Service – if you’re managing Maps at scale and want a dedicated team to handle the day-to-day execution.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to pick perfectly today.
Whether you run it yourself with Software, build the skill with Coaching, or hand it to our team with Full Service, every path starts the same way – by understanding where your Maps presence stands right now.
That’s what the free GBP Analysis is for. We pull up your profiles, show you how many customers Google Maps sent you last year, put a dollar value on that traffic, and give you clear next steps to get more. No cost, no commitment – just a real look at what your most valuable marketing asset is doing for you, and which tier makes sense from there.
Want to see what goes into it first? Our free GBP Masterclass walks through everything GBP management involves – so you know exactly what you’re working with.
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is already at work – generating calls, direction requests, website visits, and bookings. But do you know how many?
Most businesses don’t. They know their profile exists. They see reviews come in. But the actual volume of customers their GBP is sending them (and what they’re worth in revenue) is a number most have never seen.
This number exists. We pull it on every analysis call we do – and it surprises even the most sophisticated marketers. Most businesses have no idea how many customers they are already getting from Google Maps (and how they can easily get even more).
TL;DR: Most businesses are guessing at how their Google Business Profile is performing – and what you don’t know is costing you customers. Map Labs’ free GBP analysis shows you exactly where you stand:
12 months of real performance data
Your Maps presence in dollars
And a clear path to get more from your GBP
We show you how you’re doing right now. No commitment required.
Get Your Free GBP Analysis
Your Most Visited Page Isn’t Your Website
Before a customer ever reaches your website, they see your Google Business Profile. It drives clicks, calls, visits, and purchases – often in seconds. 80% of GBP views come from non-branded searches – they search “near me” and decide in that moment where to go.
Here are the facts:
Every month in 2025, Google drove more than 2.5 billion direct connections for U.S. businesses – phone calls, messages, bookings, direction requests, and reviews 1.
88% of people who open a Maps listing call or visit within 24 hours.
This is high-intent traffic (people nearby, and ready to buy) landing on your profile every single day.
Most businesses have no idea how many customers they are converting from Maps (or losing). The free Google Business Profile Analysis walks you through exactly what’s currently working and what Map Labs experts would do differently to drive more customers through your doors instantly.
What’s In the GBP Analysis
In a one-on-one call with a Map Labs expert, we pull up your real data and show you exactly where you stand. No fluff, no pitch decks. Just an honest take on where you’re leaving customers on the table, and what opportunities exist to get more.
You’ll walk away with three things:
12 months of real-world GBP performance – the actual calls, direction requests, website visits, and bookings your profile drove over the last year.
The estimated dollar value of your Google Maps presence – what your current visibility is actually worth in revenue terms.
Clear next steps to drive more customers – the specific optimizations that will move the needle fastest for your business.
All your data, and a clear picture of where to go next. Use the information with or without Map Labs (though we hope you choose to work with us 😉)
Get Your Free GBP Analysis
Showing Up Isn’t the Same as Performing
Most businesses assume their GBP is fine. It’s live, it has reviews, and it shows up when someone searches their brand name. But… that’s the bare minimum.
Performing well means showing up for the customers who don’t know you yet. The ones searching “best [your category] near me” – people who are nearby, ready to buy, and about to choose between you and your competitor.
The gap between showing up for your brand name and showing up for new customers is where most businesses are quietly losing. Our GBP analysis shows you exactly how well your profile is performing today, so you know where the real revenue growth opportunities are.
Ready to See Your Numbers?
Map Labs’ free GBP analysis is a one-on-one expert consultation – real data and real recommendations – no commitment required. It’s the fastest way to go from guessing how your Google Maps presence is performing to knowing.
Get Your Free GBP Analysis
Want to learn how to optimize your profile yourself? Take our 🎓 FREE GBP Masterclass. It walks you through every section of your Google Business Profile step by step – so you know exactly what to improve and why.
If you’ve been wondering how AI is changing the way customers find local businesses, you’re not alone. Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini are becoming part of how people search – and for business owners, that can feel like a new problem to solve.
It isn’t. Here’s what’s actually happening.
TL;DR: AI tools like ChatGPT don’t have their own local business data. They pull it directly from Google Business Profile (GBP) and Apple Maps. Optimizing for AI local search and optimizing for Google Maps are the same activity. If your profiles are strong, you’re already showing up.
What Is AI Local Search?
AI local search is what happens when someone uses a tool like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity to find a nearby business instead of going directly to Google.
It sounds like a completely different system, but it isn’t.
We were recently at the International Pizza Expo in Vegas and watched real people search for local businesses live. Some used Google. Some used Apple Maps. Some went straight to ChatGPT.
When you type: “best pizza in Vegas” into ChatGPT, it doesn’t already know the answer. It has no database of local businesses. So, what does it do? It searches the web, which is essentially… Googling it.
This technique is called grounding – AI finds information from existing sources rather than pulling from its own data.
Where Does AI Get Its Local Business Data?
When AI platforms generate local search results, they pull primarily from Google and Apple Maps profiles.
That means the results your customers see on ChatGPT look a lot like what they’d see on Google:
Same star ratings
Same review count
Same photos
Same business description & hours
There is no ChatGPT business directory. There is no Perplexity profile to manage. For local searches, AI is pulling directly from the same profiles that power Google and Apple Maps results – and may also reference other sources like OpenTable or local review sites. But the foundation is always your Google and Apple Maps profiles.
What This Means for Your Strategy
Well-managed Google and Apple Maps profiles are already doing double duty – showing up on all Google/Apple surfaces AND powering AI local search results at the same time.
So, how do you take advantage of this? Make sure your profiles are as optimized and up-to-date as possible:
Photos and videos – current, comprehensive, and high-quality
Services and menus – fully built out, so AI has all the complete information to surface
Reviews – consistent volume, consistently responded to
Booking integrations – make it easy to convert directly from the profile
Accurate hours – including special and holiday hours
Optimizing for AI local search and optimizing your Google Business Profile are the same activity. There’s no separate AI strategy needed.
80% of Google Business Profile views come from a non-branded search – people in discovery mode, choosing between you and a competitor in the moment. Those micro-moments happen in Google and Apple Maps. They happen in ChatGPT. They happen in Gemini. In every case, the data driving the result comes from the same place – your GBP.
That’s your AI local search strategy.
Managing Your GBP Across Multiple Locations
Your Google Business Profile is your most powerful marketing asset – and like any asset, it needs to be actively managed to perform.
For a single location, that’s manageable. Across dozens or hundreds, that’s where most businesses need support – and where the biggest opportunities get missed.
Map Labs helps businesses manage and optimize their GBPs at scale – bulk updates, custom strategy, and accurate reporting, all in one place.
Get a free Google Business Profile analysis at maplabs.com/gbp-analysis and see exactly how your profiles are performing.
When a holiday weekend rolls around, your customers are already making plans—and they’re checking Google to see if you’re open. If your hours aren’t accurate, you’re not just missing out on sales; you’re risking bad reviews, broken trust, and lost traffic.
That’s where Google Business Profile’s Special Hours come in. Whether you’re closing for the Fourth of July, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or just changing hours for a one-time event—keeping your hours updated tells Google (and your customers) that your business is active, reliable, and ready.
In this guide, we’ll break down what Special Hours are, why they matter more than most businesses realize, and how to update them quickly; especially if you’re managing multiple locations.
Special hours on Google Business Profile allow you to specify temporary or exceptional operating hours for your business on specific dates, such as holidays or special events, that differ from your regular hours. These hours override your standard hours for those particular dates and help customers avoid confusion when they expect your business to be open or closed.
You can use special hours to indicate when your business will be open or closed for a short period, like a few hours or up to six consecutive days. Special hours are perfect for marking holidays, special events, or any other occasion where your business operates outside of its normal schedule. Special hours will be displayed on your Google Business Profile instead of your regular hours for the specific dates you’ve set.
Why Special Hours Matter
Rank Higher on Google
If there is a holiday coming up in your region, you must update your ‘holiday hours’ even if your hours are not changing for the holiday. This signals to Google that your business is active and has confirmed when you will or will not be open, allowing Google to display your GBP with confidence to consumers. Businesses that do not update their special or holiday hours will appear lower in search results than those that do.
Brand Image
Imagine making a reservation and arriving with your whole family, only to find the business is closed. This is not a good look for your brand and is guaranteed to create frustrated potential customers, especially if they have gone out of their way to visit your business. Keeping your special hours up to date ensures customers have accurate information, preventing wasted trips or negative reviews.
GBP is More Visible Than Your Website
Today, most customers make decisions directly on Google Maps, without ever clicking through to your website. This means your Google Business Profile is the first and often only touchpoint before someone visits your business. If your hours are out of date on GBP, it doesn’t matter that you updated them on your website—customers will likely not make it there.
Turn Interest into Action
Along with updating your special hours, use Google Posts/Updates to share your holiday offers, promotions, or closures. These posts show up directly in your profile and are a great way to communicate your unique offerings to potential customers during the holiday season. Check out these videos on how to use Google Posts!
How to Update Special Hours
Natively on Google Business Profile
On Google Business Profile native, you can set special hours through your Google Business Profile dashboard, typically by navigating to “Edit Profile,” then “Hours,” and then “Special Hours” or “Holiday Hours.”
Step 1: Click the “Edit Profile” tab on the home page of your GBP
Step 2: Click on the “Hours” tab at the top of the page.
This is where you’ll choose how your business hours appear on your Google Business Profile. Pick the option that best describes your current operating status.
Step 3: Set your day-to-day operating hours for each day of the week.
Add “More hours” if applicable
Step 1: Click the “More” Tab
Step 2: Scroll down to “Add more hours”
Set holiday and special hours
Step 1: Click the “More” Tab
Step 2: Scroll down to “Special Hours” and input the date of the holiday, and time you are open
Updating ‘Special Hours’ on Map Labs
Managing a single location?
Our software allows you to update Special Hours with just a few clicks. Visit the “Location Info” tab inside your Map Labs dashboard to easily manage your Regular Hours, More Hours, and Special Hours, all from one central page.
Bulk Updates on Map Labs
Map Labs makes it easy to update hours for a single location, but you can also bulk update dozens or even hundreds of locations in just a few clicks with our proprietary, industry-leading software. This bulk-hours feature is one of our most popular tools, saving time and reducing the chance of errors.
Step 1: Select locations you would like to update
Step 2: Choose what you would like to update in Bulk (in this example, special hours)
Step 3: Add your Special Hours and hit submit!
Whether you’re prepping for a holiday weekend or adjusting for a special event, Map Labs ensures your listings are up-to-date everywhere, all at once.
Get Started with Map Labs
Keeping your Google Business Profile “Special Hours” updated might seem like a small task, but it plays a big role in shaping how customers perceive your business—especially around holidays. In the fast-moving world of Maps Marketing, the details matter. When someone checks your hours and sees that you’re open, available, and reliable, that quick glance can be the difference between gaining a customer or losing them to a competitor.
In 2025, Google Maps isn’t just a navigation tool—it’s one of the most influential decision-making platforms for local commerce. Map Labs is powered by industry-leading proprietary software, built and continuously refined by a full-time, in-house development team dedicated to keeping us at the forefront of Google Maps Marketing. With over a decade of experience, we’re not just the #1 Maps Marketing software and service—we’re experts in a field we helped define.
But we offer more than just a tool. What sets Map Labs apart is our ability to pair powerful software with custom-built strategies, crafted by a team that’s spent 10+ years versed in the nuances of local search.
In the world of local search marketing, new “hacks” and shortcuts appear all the time—most promising quick wins on Google. One of the latest is Click-Through Rate (CTR) Manipulation—a strategy aimed at artificially boosting your business’s visibility on Google Maps by faking user engagement.
While the logic behind it might sound appealing at first, the long-term consequences are not. Here’s what CTR manipulation actually is, why it can temporarily work, and why using it can ultimately hurt your business far more than it helps.
What Is Click-Through Rate Manipulation?
CTR manipulation is the practice of artificially inflating the engagement metrics on your Google Business Profile (GBP). This can include fake direction requests, clicks, profile visits, and even interactions like photo views or call button taps.
Third-party providers offer services that simulate this engagement using either bots or real users with fake Google accounts. The goal is to trick Google into thinking your business is getting more interest than it actually is—causing your listing to appear more relevant and ideally show up higher in local search results.
Why It Might Work… But Only Temporarily
Google’s algorithm does factor in behavioural signals like clicks and engagement when evaluating which business profiles to surface in search results. More engagement signals higher relevance on Google, which is rewarded with increased visibility.
CTR manipulation simulates those engagement signals. And yes—in the short term, you might see a bump in profile views, direction requests, or even local rankings.
But this is where the strategy unravels. Google can detect fake engagement.
Google doesn’t just track the click. It tracks what happens next.
If dozens or hundreds of direction requests are submitted to your location, but no one actually shows up at your business (based on GPS and mobile data), Google flags this as suspicious behaviour. The same applies if engagement patterns spike and then drop off.
Manipulated engagement lacks one critical thing: follow-through. And Google is very good at spotting when behaviour doesn’t align with reality.
The Drop-Off Effect: Why You Could End Up Worse Off
There’s a bigger problem: once you start using CTR manipulation, you have to keep using it. Artificial engagement inflates your metrics—but when you stop, it signals a sharp decline to Google.
For example, if your profile goes from 100 direction requests a month to 1,000 and then suddenly drops back to 100, Google interprets that as a loss in relevance or popularity.
In many cases, businesses that stop using CTR manipulation find that their profiles perform worse than they did before they started.
In other words: you’re not just gaming the system—you’re training it to expect fake numbers.
The Real Risk: Suspension or Removal
Beyond performance drops, there’s a much more serious consequence: Google Business Profile suspension or blacklisting.
Google regularly rolls out algorithm updates designed to detect and eliminate spammy behaviour. If your profile is flagged for manipulation, it can be suspended or removed from search and Google Maps entirely—essentially wiping your business off the local map.
Reinstating a suspended profile is difficult and time-consuming. And in some cases, especially with repeated violations, it may not be reinstated at all.
What To Do Instead: Earn Real Engagement
The best way to improve your visibility on Google Maps isn’t to fake engagement—it’s to earn it.
Here’s what actually works:
Get consistent, high-quality reviews from real customers
Respond to 100% of customer reviews to drive engagement
Keep your business information up to date, including hours, address, and services
Add high-quality photos that reflect your current space, team, and offerings
Post updates regularly using Google Posts
Answer customer questions in the Q&A section of your profile
Use all available GBP features to show that your business is active and trustworthy
When users engage naturally—because your business is appealing and relevant—Google takes notice. Real engagement leads to long-term visibility and trust, without the risk of penalty.
CTR manipulation might seem like a clever shortcut, but in reality, it’s a short-term tactic with long-term consequences. Google’s algorithms are constantly evolving to detect and penalize these methods—and the businesses that use them.
If you want to build a lasting presence in local search, the answer is simple: be the business people genuinely want to engage with. Optimize your Google Business Profile, engage with your customers, and use Maps the way it was meant to be used.
Need help creating a strategy to optimize your Google Business Profile? At Map Labs, we help businesses grow on Maps through honest, proven local search strategies. Visit MapLabs.com to learn more.
Want to know more?
🎥 Watch ‘Why Every Business Needs Maps Marketing’ video below!
If you’re setting up or reclaiming your Google Business Profile (GBP), verification is a critical step.
Google offers video verification as the fastest and most reliable way to verify your business profile. But there’s a catch: your video can be rejected if you don’t follow Google’s instructions precisely.
Here’s a quick, step-by-step breakdown of how to get your business verified successfully via video:
1. Use the Google Maps App
You must log into the Google Maps app (not desktop) using the same account that manages your Google Business Profile. This is the only way to initiate video verification.
✅ Double-check you’re logged into the right Google account on your phone.
2. Record the Video “Live”—No Uploads Allowed
Google does not accept pre-recorded or edited videos. The recording has to be done live within the app. Once you’re in the right account and click “verify,” you’ll be prompted to begin recording.
3. Keep It Under 2 Minutes
Keep your video concise. You only need to prove that your business is real and located where you say it is. The ideal video length is a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of90 seconds, but keeping the video under two minutes is essential.
4. Start with Signage and Location
Begin the video by showing your business signage and physical location. Make sure your address or street names are clearly visible when possible.
If you are located inside a large commercial building, showing the entrance with clear signage to your suite or floor is all that is necessary.
📍 The most crucial thing to remember is you are validating to Google what your business looks like in the real world.
5. Choose Your Orientation—And Stick to It
Start filming either vertically or horizontally, but do not switch once the recording has begun. Changing orientation mid-video can cause your submission to be rejected.
6. Do Not Flip the Camera Around
Don’t turn the camera to show your face or provide live narration. Keep the focus on the business location, signage, and relevant surroundings.
7. Skip the Story—Just Show the Essentials
Avoid excessive talking or storytelling. This isn’t a pitch. Just record the essential visuals: signage, front door, street view, and surrounding area.
8. Use a High-Resolution Camera
Google compresses video files during upload. If you use an older phone or a low-resolution camera, the video may become too blurry for Google to verify your location properly.
Be Seen Where it Matters Most
Video verification is the fastest and most reliable way to activate your Google Business Profile—but only if it’s done right. Treat it like proof of location, not a brand story. Stay focused and follow the format, and you’ll avoid delays or rejections.
Verification is the first step in your Maps Marketing journey. Map Labs can help support you every step of the way, from verification to optimization and long-term management. Contact us today to get started.
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.
TDLR;
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.
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). If so, 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:
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, or menu
Business description 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 2025, 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” platform. 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 your business show up ahead of the competition—and get chosen by the customers who matter most.
If you’ve ever searched for a business on Google Maps or Google.com and seen a little box pop up with its hours, address, photos, and reviews—that’s a Google Business Profile.
It’s one of the most important marketing channels available to local businesses, and yet many don’t take full advantage of it.
So, what exactly is it, where does it show up, and how do people use it?
A Google Business Profile (GBP) is a free listing that businesses can create and manage on Google. It tells potential customers all the key information about your business—like your name, location, hours, website, phone number, and even photos—right inside Google’s search results and on Google Maps.
Think of it as your business’s digital storefront. Your most visible landing page.
Whether someone is searching for your brand directly or just looking for a service you offer (i.e. “restaurant near me”), your Google Business Profile is what shows up first—before your website, Instagram, or even your Yelp page.
Where Does It Appear?
Your Google Business Profile appears in two main places:
Google Search When someone searches for your business or a related keyword with local intent, your Google Business Profile shows up at the top of both desktop and mobile Google.com search results.
Google.com DesktopGoogle.com Mobile
Google Maps Your Google Business Profile also appears in Google Maps app search results. When people search for businesses in the area, Google Maps results are sorted based on location, relevance, and the optimization of your profile.
Google Maps
What Can You Use It For?
An optimized and well-managed Google Business Profile lets you:
Show up for local searches (“coffee near me”, “best dentist Toronto”)
Share your hours, address, phone number, and website
Post updates like special offers or seasonal announcements
Upload photos and videos to showcase your space or products
Collect and respond to customer reviews
Add booking or ordering buttons (for restaurants, spas, etc.)
Let customers message you directly
It’s like having a mini-website that lives inside Google’s ecosystem—but it’s faster, more visible, and completely free.
How Do Customers Use It?
Most people don’t bother going to a business’s website anymore—especially when they’re on their phone.
Instead, they:
Search on Google.com or Google Maps
Scroll through the Google Business Profiles displayed
Check the hours
Call you directly from the listing
Click for directions
Look through your reviews
Judge your business based on your photos
Book a service or place an order—right from the Google Business Profile
It’s fast. It’s easy. And in most cases, your Google Business Profile is the only place a customer looks before deciding to visit, call, or skip.
GBP is your most powerful marketing asset for attracting customers who are nearby and ready to buy.
If you’re a local business and you haven’t claimed or optimized your Google Business Profile, you’re missing out on free traffic, footfall, and visibility.
