You are reading this article because you want to know how to add a business to Google maps. You want a piece of that free money that Google gives away! Ok, you’re running a business so it’s not exactly free money, but you do want your piece of the pie. You want your business to appear on Google maps when someone searches for your type of business in your area. This article is going to show you how to add a business to Google maps, but first, you have to learn what Google Business Profile is.
You’re now asking what is Google Business Profile and what does that have to do with you adding a business to Google maps? Google Business Profile, which was formerly known as Google My Business, is a free tool by Google for businesses to list and manage their presence on Google’s services such as Google Search and Google Maps.
To have a business included in Google Maps, you have to add or claim a Google Business Profile. If a business is already established, chances are good that that business already exists in the Google My Business directory. If a business is not already listed, you will have to create a Google Business Profile.
Having a local business listed on Google’s search and map functions makes it easy for customers and potential customers to find their business.
This guide will help you set up and optimize a Google Business Profile, which will include showing you how to add a business to Google Maps.
Why Have a Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile allows you to manage how a local business shows up on Google services like Google Search and Google Maps. Having a Google Business Profile allows a local business to either specify the business’ physical address or specify a designated service area where customers are served.
Businesses that are listed and verified with a Google Business Profile tend to receive a significant amount more traffic to the business and website.
Having a Google Business Profile allows you to tell Google your business’ hours of operation (including holidays), website address, phone number, and street address or designated area in which customers are serviced which will be displayed on Google’s services like Google Search and Google Maps.
It also allows you to post photos of your business, location, and the products and services that the business offers and also allows customers to post reviews and for you to respond to those reviews.
The fact that Google is the biggest search engine in the world, makes getting a business listed in Google Business Profile almost necessary.
How to Set up a Google Business Profile
The first step to set up a Google Business Profile is to verify your business. You will want to check that all of the information is correct and that you are the only one that can edit it when you verify your business.
One way is to go to google.com. Click on the “Google Apps” icon that is in the upper right-hand corner of the browser and then click on the “Business Profile” icon that appears.
This will take you to Google’s Business Profile page, where you will either click the “Sign in” link or the “Manage Now” button.
If your business is already verified, you will simply sign in. If your business is not verified, you should click on the “Manage Now” button. Google will ask you to enter information such as your business name, business address, service area, phone number, website, and business category.
The process may vary a little bit depending on what device you use.
Verify Your Business
Next, you will be asked to verify your business. This is important for Google to show the results in Google’s local search results.
You are given three options to verify your business.
- You can verify your business by mail. Google will send a postcard to the business address with a code that you will use to verify your business.
- You can choose to receive a phone call from Google if your business is eligible for phone verification. You will enter the code that they give you to verify your business.
- You can choose to receive an email with a verification code that you will use to verify your business.
Personalize Your Google Business Profile
Once you have verified your Google Business Profile, the last step is to customize your business profile. You have the option of adding the following information and elements to your Google Business Profile.
- You can add your business hours, including any holiday hours.
- You can allow customers to text your business and for you to reply to them through Google for free.
- You can add a business description for your business that will show up on Google Search results, Google Maps, and other Google services.
- You can add photos of your products and business.
- You can also run and manage Google Ads through your Google Business Profile.
Adding Subcategories
You can also add subcategories to your Google Business Profile. To do this, you simply go back into your Google Business Profile, and instead of adding the main category, you add subcategories.
Adding subcategories is helpful in helping the pages that are not your home page rank. If you have a service business, you are going to want to have each separate service have its own page and you are going to want each page to be search engine optimized for each specific service.
For example, if you have a carpet cleaning business in Los Angeles, California, you might want your home page to target the words: Los Angeles, carpet, cleaning, business. Your primary category will reflect this and should be under the category of carpet cleaning.
If the same company has a more specific service, for example, 24-hour emergency carpet cleaning. You will want to add a subcategory that fits these more specific services and make a page specifically for that service.
Adding Videos and Photos
Your Google Business Profile lets you add videos and photos of your business and services and lets Google search visitors see those videos and photos. They will appear under the tag “By owner”.
This lets visitors interact more with your Google Business Profile which usually leads to more customers compared to businesses that do not include videos and photos of their business and services.
Adding Products
You can add photos of your products to your Google Business Profile that visitors to your profile can view. You can automatically update these photos or do this manually.
These photos of products appear for free across all related Google services, including Google Search, Google Maps, Google Images, Google Shopping, and more.
You can do this within your Google Business Profile in one of two ways.
One way is to click on the “Products” tab, and you will be taken to the “Product Editor”. Or you can use Google Pointy With Google (https://pointy.withgoogle.com/) service. Both will guide you step by step on how to add photos of your products to your Google Business Profile.
Google Reviews
Google lets visitors write and leave reviews of your business on your Google Business Profile. It also lets the business owner respond to those reviews.
Studies consistently show that online shoppers trust and visit businesses with positive reviews much more than just any marketing material. Encouraging your customers to leave a positive online review is going to help your business get more customers.
Your Website
Many local businesses still do not have a website. If you do not have a website or your website could use a redesign, call goldenoakwebdesign.com to get a beautifully designed website that is customized to your needs. You will also need web hosting and can find cheap web hosting at websitehostingcouponcodes.com.
Conclusion: How to Add a Business to Google Maps
You came to this article to learn how to add your business to Google Maps and learned how to do that by creating a Google Business Profile and updating it. This should help you in not only getting listed in Google Maps but also in getting more customers in general.
Pretty soon, your business will not only show up on Google Maps, but your business will also be getting traffic from all of Google’s services.
For further suggestions, take a look at the articles The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Personal Brand Stand Out, How to Create a Landing Page That Converts, and Boost Your Business Growth With These 5 Free Marketing Resources.
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