The 12 Step Process on How to Set Up Google My Business
What is a Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business)
If you’ve never heard of a Google Business Profile (A.K.A Google My Business (GMB)), it’s an easy-to-use, free tool for businesses and non-profits to manage their online presence across Google search and maps. This includes listing your business name, location, hours, monitoring and replying to customer reviews, adding photos and more. Your Google Business Profile is designed to show up when people need it most, whether they’re looking for a bite to eat nearby or need to consult with a professional about an issue they’re facing.
With the majority of individuals leaning on the internet for information, it is essential for you to have a Google Business Profile. In today’s digital age, businesses who fail to curate an online presence will miss out on valuable customer traffic. When you have a Google Business Profile that shows up on someone’s Google Search or Maps, it can make a huge difference in whether someone chooses your services over another.
Google Business Profile: Your Online Business Card
Think of your Google Business Profile as your online business card. It’s a one-stop shop for your customers to get all the information they need about your business.
How often do you go on Google and check out a company's information before committing to going there? We think it’s safe to assume, a lot. In fact, 1 in 3 people conducts a Google Search on their smartphone before visiting a store. Even more so 97% of consumers check a company’s online presence before deciding to visit them. Without a GMB presence, it’s a missed opportunity of exposure.
It also allows you to quickly give your potential customers all the information regarding your company. Your business listing shows your phone number, address (if applicable), website, store hours, products or services, reviews and a company statement. Additionally, it can display a price range for your products/services, whether you offer delivery, catering, or curbside pick-up, and much more depending on the type of business you have.
Instead of consumers having to go onto your website to find the information they need, they are able to find everything right from their browser.
Not only can a local business benefit from a Google Business Profile, but purely online business or service area business can as well! Although online businesses might not be able to take advantage of all the features, it's still a great way to get in front of your customers. Plus a google business listing helps with local SEO which allows you to be found by more people!
Here’s an example of a GMB business listing store front of a cafe in Waterloo called Princess Cafe.
3 Reasons to Set Up a Google Business Profile in 2025
Increased Visibility in Local Search
With an official Google Business Profile, you are eligible to appear in Google Maps and “near me” searches when customers are actively looking for businesses like yours. These are high-intent searches which are invaluable for a local business to appear in — and actually have a high chance of leading to a conversion!
Builds Trust & Credibility
Your Google Business Profile can almost act as a independent storefront, allowing customers to get a first taste of your business’s brand, services, and what they can expect. People can tell when your profile lacks effort, and that lack of effort could influence how they view your business. Users are 70% more likely to visit a business that has a complete profile, rather than one that is obviously missing key information. With a completed, optimized profile, your business sets forth a tone of professionalism, credibility, and reliability.
This is only further cemented by the presence of Google Reviews, which are shown on your profile as an overall review score. Customers can dig deeper into your reviews for more information, and it often acts as the final push before they decide to convert. Having a Google Business Profile grants visitors peace of mind and gives them the ability to understand what they can expect from your services and/or products.
Get Insights on How Customers Find You
Google automatically tracks and reports valuable data about your profile, which can help you make informed decisions about how to improve it. Google Business Profile analytics provides data on how people discover your business, what they’re searching for, and what actions they take when you business appears in search. This can tell you a number of things, such as:
If and how many people are seeing your Google Business Profile.
If your Google Business Profile is showing up in relevant searches.
If searchers choose to click on your Google Business Profile when it appears in Search or Maps.
If searchers look for directions or call your business number (convert) after clicking on your Google Business Profile.
How to Set up your Google Business Profile
Now that you understand why you should have a Google Business Profile, it’s time to set it up:
Overview
Step 1 - Go to https://business.google.com/ca-en/business-profile/ and click “Get Started”
Step 2 - Enter your Business Name
For this example we will use the name FROSTED. There might be a chance that your business listing already exists, even if you didn’t create it. If such is the case, Google will prompt you to take ownership of the pre-existing Google Business listing.
How can a Google Business Profile of your business exist if you didn’t make it? A Business Profile is simply a place on Google Maps, which any person or computer can add if one doesn’t exist already. However, only the owner of a business can manage and change information on the profile permanently.
Step 3 - Business Profile (Match vs. Create)
If you don’t see your business profile come up, Google will ask you to create a profile as you’re entering a new business onto their database. Your business name is already filled out so you’ll want to add your business category. If you do have a business profile already listed, Google will ask you to put in contact information.
Step 4 - Location Settings
It’s going to ask if you want to add a business location. For local businesses click yes and put in your address, that way you can appear on Google maps. For online businesses or service area businesses click “no” and put in your service areas. You can enter in any service areas you’d like (ie. country, province/state, city)
If you have an address, it’s going to ask an additional question; do you service customers outside of your area?
Step 5 - Contact Details
It will then ask you to put in the contact details that you want to show up for your customers. You may skip this step if you want but it is recommended that you complete it. If you don’t have a physical address it will require you to put in either a phone number or a website.
Want to learn more about how to leverage Google My Business and get in front of your customers?
We've helped businesses of all sizes optimize their Google Business Profile with proven SEO strategies, immediately boosting their rankings on popular, high-intent searches. If you want to learn more about how our strategy works, let’s schedule a call!
Step 6 - Updates
It will then ask you if you want to stay in the know and receive updates. This is up to you!
Step 7 - Verification
You will now have to verify your account.
Usually, Google sends a postcard with a verification code to the address that you put near the beginning if you’re a brick and mortar store. Or it will ask you to put in your mailing address if no physical location was provided.
You will get a email from Google once your Google Business Profile is eligible to appear in Search and Maps.
Step 8 - Add your business hours
Step 9 - Messaging
Add messaging (not required). This allows anyone who finds you on google to send your business a message!
Step 10 - Add Dining Modes
In the example provided, I selected my business category as ‘Dessert Restaurant’, because of this GMB asked me specific questions related to my category. As shown in the image below, Google wants to know whether we offer curbside pickup. The questions listed here will differ depending on your previous business information.
Step 11 - Add a business description
If you have one ready to go then that’s great! If you still need time to think about it you can skip this step and add it in later.
It’s important not to leave your description blank — your description is one of the first things that shows up when someone finds your listing. It’s your chance to provide a quick, detailed summary of what your business provides and why someone should shop there. Equally important, it’s part of your listing’s SEO and will help influence how Google ranks you in searches.
Step 12 - Add in photos
Similar to the previous step, if you have photos ready then that’s great, if not you can skip it and add photos later. You will want to add your logo, cover photo and a few general business images. The cover photo size is 1080x680 pixels, with a size range of 10 kb to 5 mb, JPG or PNG. Adding photos, such as a menu, or of your menu items, is a great way to attract new customers who are planning a night out and want to prepare accordingly.
Step 13 - You’re done!
You have now set up your Google business account! This is what you’ll see when searching your business name in Google or searching “My Google Business Profile”. This is where you can make changes to your profile and access traffic statistics.
Google provides an automatic rating to your listing labelled as “profile strength”. If possible, keep this rating as high as possible. Keeping a high rating is as simple as completing your profile and keeping it up-to-date.
5 Ways to Optimize your Google My Business Account
Now that you have set up your Google My Business account it’s time to make sure you are using it to the maximum! Here are a few tips that you can use to optimize your account.
Fill out your whole Google business profile
Give google as much information as possible. Anything and everything you provide makes it easier for google to match your business to customer searches. In other words it improves your ranking.
Standout with photos
When you create your Google business account, you’ll be able to add a logo and cover photo—much like you would on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Pinterest. Without these images, it will be harder for people to recognize your brand online.
Post news, updates and special offers
Sign in to Google My Business and open the location you’d like to manage.
From the left hand menu, click Posts.
Choose the type of post you’d like to create from the options given.
Enter the relevant information in each field. Copy should include necessary details and be concise. Avoid commercial slang and too much punctuation (!!!!!).
Click Preview to double check formatting and spelling. If you need to make an edit, click the back arrow.
When you’re ready, click Publish.
Add special features, attribute, and services
Hotels can display class ratings and list amenities offered
Restaurants and bars can upload menus, showcase popular dishes, and add a link for online orders and reservations
Service-oriented businesses can display service menus and add a booking button
Small and medium-sized companies can add product catalogs
By providing this information Google can match even more keywords with customer searches
Encourage Customers to leave reviews and respond to them!
