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Set up your Google Business Profile in an afternoon.

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When neighbors search for your services or look up your business name on Google Maps, your Google Business Profile is what decides whether they call you or click a competitor. Here is how to create, verify, and complete your profile in a single afternoon.

Storefront versus service-area: hide or show your address.

Before entering your address, understand how Google treats physical retail locations versus traveling service providers:

Choose the profile model that matches your business.

  • Storefront business: You serve customers at your physical commercial building, such as a bakery, retail store, studio, or auto shop. Customers walk in during posted business hours. Your exact street address appears publicly on Google Maps with turn-by-turn driving directions.
  • Service-area business (SAB): You travel to your clients (like an electrician, house cleaner, wedding photographer, or mobile groomer) or run your business from home. Google keeps your personal street address private. Instead, you specify the cities, counties, or ZIP codes you serve.

Five setup steps to claim and verify your profile.

Follow these steps on your computer using a dedicated Google account for your business:

  1. Sign in to Google Business Profile. Go to the official Google Business Profile manager and click Manage now. Sign in with your work email account rather than a family Gmail. [screenshot: Google Business Profile landing screen showing the Manage now button]
  2. Enter your exact business name and primary category. Type your registered business name exactly as it appears on your state filing. Choose your primary category thoughtfully: Google uses this primary category as the single biggest factor for local search ranking.
  3. Specify your location and service boundaries. If customers visit your shop, enter your commercial street address. If you work from home or travel to jobs, check the box stating you deliver goods and services to customers and enter your service areas.
  4. Add your business phone number and website URL. Enter your dedicated business phone line and link to your website home page. Never put your personal cell phone number here if you want uninterrupted evenings.
  5. Complete the verification method. Google will prompt you to verify ownership. Depending on your business category and location history, Google will offer an instant automated phone call or text code, an email verification, a short recorded smartphone video showing your workspace, or a mailed postcard.

Four profile details that convince local searchers to call.

Having a verified pin on the map is only step one. Complete these four sections before sharing your link:

Complete these sections on launch day.

  • Accurate business hours: Enter your exact opening and closing times for each day of the week, and update holiday hours whenever you plan to take time off.
  • At least five high-quality photos: Upload clear photos of your storefront exterior, your front counter or workshop, your team in action, and finished customer projects. Listings with real photos get substantially more direction requests.
  • A concise, customer-focused description: Write two short paragraphs explaining what you do, who you serve, and how long you have been working in your local area. Put your core specialties in the first 250 characters.
  • Direct appointment or quote link: Link straight to your online scheduling page, contact form, or email signup page so visitors can take immediate action.

Also claim these three local business profiles.

Google Maps drives the majority of local web traffic, but millions of mobile users search through default phone assistants and map apps. Claim these three free profiles to protect your brand:

Free local directories to claim this week.

  • Apple Business Connect: Powers Apple Maps, Siri search suggestions, and the iOS Spotlight search bar on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
  • Bing Places for Business: Powers Microsoft Bing local searches, Yahoo local listings, and Windows desktop searches. You can import your verified Google profile with one click.
  • Yelp for Business: Powers local customer reviews, business hours, and review stars on Apple Maps and Siri search cards. Claim your listing for free and decline any aggressive ad sales calls.

Need a hand getting this set up?

Hollerpost is built by Utopian Creations, my studio. If you'd rather have it done for you, that's where to ask.

Contact Utopian Creations

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