Google My Business
Google My Business, now called Google Business Profile, is Google’s free tool for managing how a local business appears in Google Search and Google Maps.
Key takeaways
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile to control how your business appears on Search and Maps.
- Complete all profile fields: NAP, hours, categories, services, photos.
- Respond to every review and post regularly to signal trust and activity.
- Avoid duplicate or inconsistent NAP across the web.
- Use insights to track performance and adjust your strategy.
It is the starting point for any local business visibility strategy on Google.
What Google My Business is used for
- Manage your business name, address, phone (NAP), and website across Google
- Set and update business hours, categories, and attributes
- Add photos, videos, and posts (offers, events, updates)
- Collect and respond to customer reviews
- View insights: searches, views, clicks, calls, and direction requests
- Enable messaging and booking integration
Quick start workflow
- Go to Google Business Profile and sign in with a Google account.
- Enter your business name and address. If it already exists, claim it; otherwise create a new listing.
- Choose the primary category and up to 5 secondary categories that best describe your business.
- Complete your profile: hours, phone, website, services/products, attributes, and photos.
- Verify your business via postcard, phone, email, or video (postcard is most common).
- After verification, regularly post updates, respond to reviews, and add fresh photos.
When not to start here
- If your business has no local presence (e.g., 100% online-only store) – use standard SEO instead
- If you cannot verify the listing (e.g., no fixed address for some service areas) – consider other local citation sources
- If you only need a website and don't care about Maps visibility – a regular site + Google Search is enough
Alternatives
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Yelp for Business | Listing and review platform popular in many countries |
| Bing Places for Business | Manage your business listing on Bing |
| Facebook Business Page | Social presence that can appear in local search |
| Local SEO Tools | A broader set of tools for local citation management and audit |
Next step
Related topics
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help — Primary source for product name, setup, verification, and profile management rules.
- Google Search Central — Best source for Google’s guidance on search visibility and local business SEO-related documentation.
- Google Business Profile official site — Official entry point for creating or managing a business profile.
- Yoast — Well-known SEO reference with practical local SEO guidance.
- WordStream — Widely cited SEO resource for practical optimization checklists.
Reviewed by Lucía Marín, Founding editor.