How to get your business on Google Maps: a step-by-step Google Business Profile guide

When someone searches “dentist near me” or “CA in Laxmi Nagar”, the map with three businesses at the top of Google comes from Google Business Profile. It is free, and for local businesses it is often the single most valuable thing you can set up online — alongside your website.

Here is how to do it properly. Google updates its screens from time to time, so the exact buttons may look slightly different, but the steps stay the same.

Step 1: Check whether a profile already exists

Search Google Maps for your business name and area. Sometimes a listing already exists, created by Google or a customer. If it does, use the option to claim or manage it instead of creating a duplicate.

Step 2: Create your profile

1. Go to Google Business Profile (business.google.com) and sign in with a Google account you will keep long-term — ideally your business email.
2. Enter your business name exactly as it appears on your signboard. Do not add keywords to the name; that can get a profile suspended.
3. Choose the most accurate primary category, for example “Dentist”, “Chartered accountant” or “Clothing store”. You can add secondary categories later.
4. Add your address if customers visit you. If you visit customers instead, you can set a service area and hide your address.
5. Add your phone number and website.

Step 3: Verify your business

Google needs to confirm you are genuine. Depending on your business, it may offer verification by phone, SMS, email, a short video showing your location and signage, or a postcard with a code. Follow the option shown to you. Your profile becomes fully visible after verification.

Step 4: Fill in everything

Complete profiles tend to perform better. Make sure you add:

• Opening hours, including special hours for holidays.
• Services or products, with short descriptions.
• A business description — what you do and who you serve, in plain words.
• Photos — outside (so people recognise you), inside, team and products. Real photos beat stock images.
• Attributes such as wheelchair access, payment options or appointment requirements.

Step 5: Keep it consistent with your website

Your business name, address and phone number should be written the same way on your Google profile, your website and other listings. Consistency helps Google trust the information. Also link your profile to your website, and make sure your website shows the same timings.

Step 6: Reviews — the honest way

• Ask happy customers for a review and share your direct review link on WhatsApp.
• Reply politely to every review, including negative ones.
• Never buy reviews or offer rewards for positive ones — it breaks Google's policies and can get reviews removed or your profile restricted.

Step 7: Stay active

• Update hours whenever they change.
• Add new photos every few weeks.
• Use posts for offers, events or news.
• Answer questions customers ask on your profile.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Keyword-stuffed business names like “Best Dentist Delhi Cheap Dental Clinic”.
2. Multiple profiles for the same location.
3. Using a virtual office or someone else's address.
4. Different phone numbers on the profile and the website.
5. Setting it up once and never updating it.