How to Put Your Business on Google Maps

Your business shows on Google Maps, and in the map at the top of local searches, through a Google Business Profile. It's free. It's where people see your hours, your phone number, your Call button, your photos and your reviews. Many Spanish-speaking owners still call it "Google Mi Negocio", the name Google used before; it's the same thing.

Google sometimes creates a listing from public information or from what customers add, or a former owner made one.

If you find it, select "Claim this business" and then "Manage now" (Google Business Profile Help, "Add or claim your Business Profile"). If someone else already verified it, Google lets you request ownership from the current owner (Google Business Profile Help, "Request ownership of a Business Profile").

Don't make a second profile for the same business: duplicates confuse customers and Google.

If your business isn't on Maps yet, go to business.google.com/add, choose "Add your business to Google" and follow the steps: your business name, your category, where you are or where you serve, your phone number and your website. Use your business's real name, exactly as it appears on your sign, your truck or your invoices.

Verification is how Google confirms you run the business, and you can't fully manage your profile or reply to customers until it's done. Google decides which methods you can use, and you may need more than one (Google Business Profile Help, "Verify your business on Google").

The options include a short video recording of your business, a code by phone call or text, email, a live video call with Google support during your business hours and, for some businesses, a postcard with a code mailed to your address. Google's verification review can take up to 5 business days.

If you get a postcard, don't change your name, address or category while you wait, and don't ask for a new code, because that cancels the first one. Most postcards arrive within 14 days, and the code expires after 30 days.

Google says complete, accurate information helps it show your business for the right searches (Google Business Profile Help, "Tips to improve your local ranking on Google").

Choose the primary category that best describes what you are, like Plumber or Mexican restaurant, and add only the other categories that truly fit. List your services, your hours and special hours for holidays, a phone number someone answers, and your website.

Write a description in plain words: what you do, where, and whether you speak Spanish.

Plumbers, cleaners, landscapers and anyone else who works at the customer's place are service-area businesses.

Google's guidelines say to set a service area and hide your address if customers don't come to it (Google Business Profile Help, "Guidelines for representing your business on Google").

Your home address stays private, and your profile can still come up for searches in the areas you serve.

Customers want to know what to look for when they arrive or who's coming to the door.

Google doesn't set a schedule, but posting an update every week or two works well, like a finished job, a seasonal service or new hours, and keep your hours, services and description up to date.

Ask every customer right after the job, with your direct review link, and reply to every review.

Never ask only the happy ones or offer anything for a review: both break Google's rules. Our guide to getting more Google reviews has the whole routine.

Some shortcuts get profiles suspended. Google's guidelines say not to add extra words to your business name, like "Best Plumber Santa Barbara 24/7", when that isn't your real name.

Don't use a P.O. box, a mailbox service or a virtual office as your address, and don't list an address where you don't actually serve customers or have staff. Use only the categories that describe what your business is, not extra ones as keywords.

And use a phone number that you control and that reaches your business directly, not one that sends callers to other numbers.

When your hours or number change, update them everywhere the same day. Then link your website from your profile. If you want more calls from it, how to get more calls from Google covers the next steps.

If you'd rather not do it yourself, we set up and look after Google Business Profiles as part of our local SEO, in English or Spanish.