Find Us Online: Setting Up Google My Business

Have you ever tried to look up a small business in a Google search, only to find that they’re not listed anywhere? Now, try typing your own business’ name into the Google search bar. How easy is it to find your phone number, hours and location? A simple and free fix to this problem is to set up a Google My Business profile for your brand.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is free tool provided by Google for businesses to build their presence in Google Search and Maps. Along with listing basic information about your business, you can upload photos and post offers. With one click, customers can call you or get direction if you have a physical location. Google My Business connects to phone dialing and Google Maps to offer these options. Customers also have the option to leave reviews. If you really want to be savvy, Google My Business allows you to access insights to your listing so you can see how many users interacted with your content and when.

How to Create a Google My Business Account

To create a Google My Business account, follow these steps:

Note: You’ll need a Gmail account to continue. This should be the email account you use for your business, not a personal account. You can create one at gmail.com or in step 2 listed below. 

1. Go to google.com/business

2. Click “Sign In”

3. Type your business’ name into the search bar. If it does not appear, click “Add your business to Google.”

Note: The following directions will follow the second option. 

1. Type in your business’ name and click “Next”

2. Enter in your business category

3. Choose whether or not you would like to add a location

4. Enter your business’ location

5. Add a contact number and URL. If you don’t have a website, Google has an option to create a free and simple, SEO-friendly website.

6. Click “Finish”

7. Give Google your mailing information so they can send you a verification code in the mail. When you receive this, you’ll be able to have full access to all the benefits of Google My Business.

Viola! Your profile is set up and visible in a Google Search. 

What’s next?

After you have your Google My Business profile set up, you can add more information like hours, products, services, and a longer description of your business. You can even add special hours for store closures due to holidays or weather emergencies. Don’t forget to monitor reviews and reply to them politely and in a timely manner. The more information your profile includes, the higher you’ll rank in a Google search, so adding in these details is beneficial to you and your business.