Guide

Google Business Profile — everything a business owner needs to know

A Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free profile that appears in Maps and search results. For a local business, it's now a more important sales tool than a website. See how yours compares to the competition.

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What is a Google Business Profile and why does it matter?

When someone searches for a service nearby, Google shows a map with three businesses, their ratings, and a "Call" button. Those are business profiles. Customers often don't even visit the website — they call straight from Google. That's why a complete, high-ranking profile translates directly into phone calls, bookings, and directions requests.

How do you set up a Google Business Profile?

  1. Go to google.com/business and sign in with your business's Google account.
  2. Enter your business name — exactly as it appears on your sign (don't tack on keywords like "cheap SEO"; that risks suspension).
  3. Choose your business categories — the primary category has the biggest impact on visibility.
  4. Add your address or service area, hours, phone number, and website.
  5. Verify your business (postcard, phone, or video — depending on your industry).

Google Business Profile optimization — what really works?

The trap: most suspended profiles are the result of "optimizing" the business name (stuffing in the city and keywords). It works in the short term, but in the long term the profile disappears for weeks.

How do you check your profile's ranking in Maps?

A profile's ranking changes depending on where the customer is searching from — so checking "on your own phone" tells you nothing. Use a ranking map (Local Grid): a grid of points on a city map shows your ranking at each one. You can run a free scan with the form at the top of this page.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Google Business Profile free?
Yes. Setting up and running a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is completely free. Only the tools that help you manage and rank it may cost money.
Google My Business vs. Google Business Profile — what's the difference?
None — it's the same thing. Google renamed the service from "Google My Business" to "Google Business Profile." In everyday speech, everyone still says "Google listing."
How do you edit your Google Business Profile?
Search for your business on Google while signed in to the account that manages it — the editing panel appears directly in search results and in Maps. There you can change your details and hours, update photos, reply to reviews and publish posts.
Why isn't my profile showing up in Maps?
The most common causes: the profile isn't verified, it was suspended for violating guidelines (e.g. a name stuffed with keywords), it's a duplicate listing, or your ranking is simply too low in a competitive area. Start with a free rankings scan — it will show whether the problem is a missing profile or a low ranking.
Does your Google Business Profile affect AI visibility?
Yes, more and more. Data from your Business Profile (reviews, categories, attributes) is used by Gemini and ends up in AI answers about local businesses. A complete, active profile increases the chance that AI will recommend you specifically.

See also

Google Business Profile SEOFree SEO auditAI citation monitoring

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