Are you wondering how to set up a Google Business Account? This article will take you through the process step by step, so you know exactly what you’re doing! We will also be discussing some helpful tips and the benefits to having a business presence on Google.

Why Is a Google Business Profile Important?

Google Business Profile, previously called Google My Business, makes your business more accessible online to potential customers. They will be able to find out helpful information regarding your business such as opening hours, reviews, business description and photos. When your business has a Google profile it will also help to boost your Local SEO, which you can read more about here. When a customer is searching for a product or service online, Google will typically provide specifically local results so it’s great to make sure that your business features.

But before you start seeing the benefits, you need to set up your profile; here is an easy step-by-step guide to help you through the process…

  1. Sign into a Google Account/Create One

In order to create and manage your business listing, you will need to do so from a Google account, which is just a Gmail. If you already have one – great! – but if not, you can create one here. Don’t worry, it’s very quick.

  1. Create a Google Business Account

Now that you have logged into/created your Gmail account, visit the  Google Business Profile page where you will see a ‘Manage Now’ button. Click on this and it will take you to the start of the process. See below for what the page will look like.

  1. Your Business Name

The first step is to enter your business name under where it says, “Find and manage your business”. When you type your business name in, Google will identify whether there are any existing listings with the same name.

Remember to keep your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistent, so list the same details as you have on your website.

  1. Select a Primary Business Category

When customers carry out Google searches for local businesses, they are likely to search for business categories that you fall into, so try and select a business category which most accurately describes what you do. Once you have chosen your primary category, you can add several more secondary categories, which will also help with your rankings.

You can always go back and change these categories later if you need to.

  1. Add An Address

If your business has a physical location which customers can visit, select the ‘yes’ response or if not, select ‘no’. Then you can enter your business address.

If you selected ‘no’, then you are probably what Google refers to as Service Area Business, which means your business delivers products and services to customers, but you don’t have a physical address. You will not input an address, but the next step is important if this applies to you.

  1. Specify Service Areas (only if you have a service area business)

So, if you are a service area business, this next step will allow you to state which areas you provide your services to. By adding service areas, customers will see businesses most relevant to them. You can add up to 20 areas here.

  1. Phone Number and Website Details

In order for your profile to be verified successfully, you will have to give either a phone number or website under the ‘Add contact info’ section. If you don’t have a website, you can simply add your phone number here. In order to increase chance of verification, it is best to complete your listing as much as possible.

  1. Complete the Profile

You are almost finished! This bit is where you will add as much information about your business as possible. A completed profile is more likely to attract potential customers so make sure to do this step properly.

Add your business hours so customers can easily find out if and when you are open. You can amend these at any point so if you want to update your opening hours during seasonal times, just log into your profile.

There is an option to add messaging which allows customers to message you directly and for free. Message will appear in your inbox located in the Profile manager dashboard.

Add a business description so customers know exactly what services or products you offer. This will then be visible when they search.

Add your business logo! Use this function to promote your online brand and to make sure that your profile looks professional. Try and use a high-quality logo, if possible, to avoid any blurriness or pixelation. You can also add a cover photo here.

  1. Verification

Now you have added as much detail as possible, you are ready to verify your listing. You can do this by postcard, which Google will send to you in the post – it usually takes about 5 business days to arrive at the address you have provided.

There is sometimes the option to verify by phone or email but Google does not always offer this to new rankings to avoid fake profiles.

Once you have verified by following the instructions on the postcard, your profile will become public, and you can start managing it!

Managing A Google Profile

We understand that this can be an ongoing and time-consuming job. Updating your profile regularly with new content will give you the most effective results but again, it requires a lot of time. Our Google Business Management Package ensures that everything on the page is SEO friendly to give your business a better chance of ranking higher in the search rankings than your competitors.

Get In Touch

If you would like to discuss this or any of our packages, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via 01706 482017 or send us an email at info@shineondigital.co.uk and we will get back to you!