Google Business Profile: step-by-step guide

For a company with a physical premises or local service, the Google Business Profile, formerly known as "Google My Business" - is often more important than the website itself. It is the first thing people see when they enter your trade and city into Google or Maps. Setting it up and optimising it is not complicated. We will go through it step by step.

People today usually open a map before a website. They check photos, opening hours and reviews, and only then decide whether to call or visit. That is why it pays to give your profile the same care as your own website.

Step 1: profile creation

Go to business.google.com and click on create a new profile. Enter the exact company name as it appears officially, without adding extra words such as "best" or an industry title, as this violates Google's rules. Select the correct primary category that most accurately reflects your services.

Step 2: address and area of operation

If you have a premises where customers physically visit, enter the exact address. If, on the other hand, you travel to customers, for example as a tradesman or plumber, set your service area instead of a visible address, i.e., the towns and districts you travel to.

Step 3: profile verification

Google needs to confirm that the business actually exists at the given address. Depending on the business type, it will offer verification by post with a code sent to your address, by phone, or by email. The postal method usually takes several days; other methods tend to be faster. If you work from home and do not wish to publish your address, you can set up a service area without a visible address, Google will still verify the profile, usually by phone or email.

Step 4: completing the profile

The more information your profile contains, the better. Set opening hours including public holidays, add a phone number and website link, and upload photos, of the business exterior, interior, and team at work. Write a short company description in your own words, not generic phrases. Also include a list of specific services you offer. The profile also has a questions and answers section where users can post their own queries. It is good to check this from time to time and add your own accurate answer before someone else provides an inaccurate one.

Krok 5 - recenze eticky

Reviews are one of the strongest signals of trust, but they must be genuine.

• Ask satisfied customers directly. The best time is immediately after completing the job or order, send a link to the review by email or SMS, or display a QR code in a visible location at your premises.
• Nikdy recenze nekupujte Do not write reviews for each other with other companies. Google can detect suspicious patterns and may delete the reviews or restrict the entire profile. Even if Google does not notice, the customer will eventually find out, and trust is then very difficult to regain.
• Respond to reviews, including the negative ones. A calm and factual response to a complaint often leaves a better impression on other readers than five-star ratings alone.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Duplicate profiles. Sometimes, multiple profiles are accidentally created for the same business, perhaps after a move or a name change. This confuses both customers and Google, so it is necessary to report the redundant profile for merging or deletion.
• Incorrect trade category. A poorly chosen or outdated primary category means that Google shows you to people who are looking for something else.
• Discrepancies in data. If the phone number or address on the profile differs from those on the website, it appears untrustworthy, to both customers and Google.

Step 6: regular maintenance

A Google Business Profile is not something you set up once and forget about. Update your opening hours for holidays and leave periods, occasionally add new photos, and respond to inquiries people send through the profile. An active and up-to-date profile appears more trustworthy than one that has remained unchanged for years.