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Let’s face it.  If you have a business, especially one that relies on local customers, you need a Google My Business page.  Google is one of the core search engines used by millions of people every day, every hour, every second, who are searching for something.  

Having a Google My Business profile allows you to show up in regular and Google map searches, and gives you the chance at appearing in a Local Pack at the top of search results.

But with all the changes and optimization that Google constantly goes through, it can be tough to figure out exactly where you need to go to get your GMB page.

Don’t worry, we’re here to walk you through it!

First thing’s first.  Find your listing.

Go to Google My Business and click the green “Start Now” button.  Then, fill out the form with your business’s information to find your business on the map.

Google My Business Torrance, ca

A small questionnaire will come up, asking you for some additional details about your business.  Answer the questions then click the “Continue” button at the bottom.

Google Business South Bay

Next, you will be asked to verify your business.  Most businesses will have to verify by mail.  That means Google will mail you a postcard with a code on it and you will have to enter that code in order to be verified.

You can skip this step for now, but until you are able to verify your business, any edits you make to your listing won’t show up.

Once you receive the postcard in the mail, go back to your profile, and click the “Verify Now” link.  Voila!  Your profile is verified.

Tips for Filling Out Your GMB Profile

  • Sign in and review your profile once a month.  Google is notorious for making tons of changes to how GMB looks and acts.  Not too long ago GMB profiles were allowed to have descriptions where businesses could write about their products or services.  That no longer exists.
  • Make sure you’ve chosen the business category that most closely relates to what your business does.  Having the right category associated with your business can help with your rank in the search results.  Check out what Google has to say about choosing a category.
  • Add photos to your GMB profile.  There is a correlation between businesses with lots of photos and higher rankings, most likely because people spend time looking through photos, which is a positive behavioral factor.
  • Be as complete and detailed as possible!
  • If someone has already claimed your business profile, you can request access through GMB.  That person has seven days to respond.  After seven days without a response, you’ll be able to go in and claim the listing as yours.  You’ll simply go through the steps as outlined above.

The process for filling out your Google My Business profile is not a complicated one, and yet the positive impact it could have is profound.  

Remember, to fill out your information as accurately and completely as possible.  Don’t stuff keywords into your business name and don’t choose categories based on the keywords alone.  Add pictures of your business and get reviews from your customer and you’ll see a boost in local searches.

Feeling stuck or overwhelmed?  We can help with that!