Guide
Getting on Google Maps
Most local customers find a business on Google Maps before they ever see its website. Here is how to get there, step by step.
Google Maps listings come from Google Business Profile, which is free. Go to business.google.com, sign in with a Google account and add your business name, category, address or service area, contact details and website.
Then verify it. Google often asks for a short video showing the street sign, the storefront or your work vehicle and tools; sometimes it sends a code instead. Until the profile is verified, it won't show properly.
Choose the primary category carefully: it matters more than almost anything else. Add a few secondary categories, your hours, services with short descriptions and at least ten real photos of the place, the team and the work.
Reviews decide who gets the customer. Ask every happy customer with a direct review link, and answer every review, good or bad. Never buy reviews or trade discounts for them: Google removes them and can suspend the profile.
Keep your name, address and phone the same everywhere: your website, Facebook, Yelp and directories. If you serve both sides of the border, write the profile and your replies in English and Spanish.
Questions
How long until I appear on Maps?
Verification usually takes from a few days to a couple of weeks. Ranking higher for searches like 'dentist near me' takes longer and depends on reviews, distance and how complete the profile is.
I work from home. Can I still be on Maps?
Yes. Set a service area instead of an address and hide the address. Google does not allow virtual offices or P.O. boxes as a location.
Is it really free?
Yes, Google Business Profile is free. I set it up in every website package, or separately with monthly support from $250.
Want this for your business?
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