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Adding New Business Profile in Google Business Profile
How to Add a New Business Profile in Google Business Profile
Creating a new Google Business Profile is an essential step in establishing an online presence for your business. It helps customers find your business on Google Search and Google Maps, increasing visibility and driving traffic. Furthermore, it plays a crucial role in local SEO, allowing your business to show up in location-based searches.
This guide will walk you through each step in detail on how to add a new business profile to Google Business Profile and optimize it for better search visibility.
Step 1: Sign in to Google Business Profile
Before adding a new business profile, you need to sign in to Google Business Profile.
How to Sign in:
- Go to Google Business Profile.
- Click on “Sign in” at the top right corner.
- Use your Google account credentials to log in (the account associated with your business).
If you don’t have a Google account, you will need to create one before proceeding. Having a Google account is essential for accessing Google Ads, Google Analytics, and other Google services for your business.
Step 2: Add Your Business
Once you’re logged in, follow these steps to create a new business profile:
- Click on “Manage now” on the Google Business Profile homepage.
- This will prompt you to either select an existing business profile (if you manage multiple) or add a new business.
- This will prompt you to either select an existing business profile (if you manage multiple) or add a new business.
- Click on “Add a New Business”.
- Here, you will be prompted to enter your business name and category.
Business Name:
- Enter the official name of your business. It’s important to use the exact name that your customers would recognize.
SEO Tip: Use a name that incorporates your business type or location, if applicable, as this can help improve your local SEO. For example, “John’s Bakery in Downtown”.
Business Category:
- Choose a business category that most closely aligns with what your business offers. Google uses categories to understand your business and match it with the right search queries.
SEO Tip: Select the most specific category that reflects your business to help Google rank you higher in local search results. For example, if you own a coffee shop, select “Coffee Shop” rather than just “Restaurant”.
Step 3: Add Your Business Location
Google will ask if you have a physical location where customers can visit your business. If so, follow these instructions:
Add Physical Location:
- Select “Yes” if you have a physical storefront, office, or facility.
- Enter your business address.
- SEO Tip: Make sure your business address is consistent with the one listed on your website and other online directories for better local SEO and search engine marketing.
- SEO Tip: Make sure your business address is consistent with the one listed on your website and other online directories for better local SEO and search engine marketing.
Service Area Businesses:
- If you don’t have a physical location that customers can visit, you can specify a service area instead. This is common for businesses like delivery services or contractors.
- Select “Yes” if you have a physical storefront, office, or facility.
Step 4: Enter Contact Information
Google will prompt you to enter your business phone number and website.
Phone Number:
- Enter the primary contact number for your business. This will help customers contact you directly.
- SEO Tip: Make sure your phone number is consistent across your website and other online listings to improve your local SEO.
Website URL:
- If you have a website, enter the full URL (e.g., www.yourbusiness.com).
If you don’t have a website, you can leave this field blank, but it’s highly recommended to have a website to build credibility and improve your SEO marketing.
- Enter the primary contact number for your business. This will help customers contact you directly.
Step 5: Verify Your Business
Google requires verification to ensure that you are the rightful owner or manager of the business. There are several ways to verify your business:
Postcard by Mail:
- The most common verification method. Google will send a postcard with a verification code to the address you provided. This can take up to 14 days to arrive.
Phone or Email Verification:
- If eligible, you may be able to verify your business using a phone number or email.
- SEO Tip: This is a faster way to get your business verified, helping you go live on Google quickly.
Instant Verification:
If your business is already verified through Google Search Console, you might be able to verify your business instantly.
- The most common verification method. Google will send a postcard with a verification code to the address you provided. This can take up to 14 days to arrive.
Step 6: Optimize Your Business Profile
Once your business is verified, it’s important to optimize your Google Business Profile to make it more visible and attractive to potential customers.
Add Photos:
- Upload high-quality photos of your products, services, or store. Visual content increases customer engagement and helps with local SEO.
- SEO Tip: Use keywords in your photo descriptions to further optimize your profile.
Complete Business Information:
- Add your business hours (regular and special hours), payment methods accepted, and other essential details to improve customer experience and engagement.
Encourage Customer Reviews:
- Customer reviews play a significant role in local SEO. Encourage your customers to leave reviews on your profile.
SEO Tip: Respond to reviews to show engagement and boost your online reputation management.
- Upload high-quality photos of your products, services, or store. Visual content increases customer engagement and helps with local SEO.
Step 7: Monitor and Update Your Profile Regularly
Once your Google Business Profile is live, make sure to:
- Monitor customer interactions: Respond to customer reviews and messages to maintain an active profile.
- Update profile information: Keep your business hours, contact details, and products/services updated regularly, especially during holidays or promotions.
Adding a new Google Business Profile is an essential step for businesses looking to enhance their local SEO and digital marketing strategy. By following the steps above and optimizing your profile, you can improve visibility, attract more customers, and increase sales through Google Search and Google Maps.
For businesses seeking to enhance their SEO marketing tools, local SEO services, or website SEO, regular profile updates and engagement are key to long-term success.
- Monitor customer interactions: Respond to customer reviews and messages to maintain an active profile.
Your Profile Section in Google Business Profile
The “Your Profile” section in Google Business Profile is where you can manage and view all the business profiles you own or have access to. It provides an organized view of all your profiles, along with their verification status and other essential details.
What Is Displayed in the “Your Profile” Section?
When you click on “Your Profile”, you’ll see a list of all the business profiles under your account. The details shown include:
- Business Name: The name of the business you are managing.
- Business Address: The physical address of the business, if applicable.
- Verification Status: Whether the business profile has been verified by Google. If the business is unverified or duplicate, it will be highlighted.
- In the screenshot, we see three business profiles, including one that is marked as a duplicate and two that are verified.
Purpose of the “Your Profile” Section
This section is vital for businesses that manage multiple locations or different businesses. It allows you to:
- Quickly see the status of each business profile (whether it’s verified or needs attention).
- Access and manage all your profiles in one place without having to sign in to each individual profile.
- Switch between business profiles easily, which is especially helpful for those who run multiple businesses or locations.
Features of the “Your Profile” Section
- Profile Name and Address: Quickly check the name and address associated with each business.
- Verification Status: View whether the business profile has been verified by Google or if it needs further action (such as receiving a verification code).
- Profile Actions: You can take actions such as editing the profile, adding posts, and more for each business listed.
- Duplicate Profiles: If you have multiple profiles for the same business, you can address and merge them to avoid confusion.
Why Is This Important?
- Centralized Management: For businesses that manage several locations or profiles, this feature helps keep everything organized. It’s easier to see if any profile needs to be updated or verified.
- Verification Check: Ensuring that all profiles are verified is crucial for appearing in local search results and gaining trust from customers.
Efficiency: Quickly managing your business profiles and ensuring they’re up to date is vital for local SEO, SEO marketing, and online reputation management.
How to Use It Effectively
- Keep all profiles verified: Ensure that each of your business profiles is verified to appear in local searches. Unverified profiles can’t be used to their full potential for SEO optimization.
- Merge duplicate profiles: If you have duplicate listings for the same business, merge them to improve local SEO and avoid customer confusion.
- Update business details regularly: Keep your business hours, address, and contact details updated to maintain accurate and relevant information across all your listings.
This section is a powerful tool for managing multiple Google Business Profiles. By keeping track of your profile status and ensuring your profiles are complete and verified, you enhance your digital marketing strategy and local SEO efforts.
Google Call-to-Action (CTA) Carousel
Below the NMX icons, you’ll find a carousel displaying key Google CTAs designed to help improve your Google Business Profile. These options may include:
Complete your profile
- This CTA prompts you to finish any missing or incomplete details on your Google Business Profile. Completing your profile improves local SEO and ensures your business is more discoverable in search engine marketing, helping customers easily find your business.
Add update
- This option encourages you to add updates to your Google Business Profile, such as new services, promotions, or changes in business hours. It’s recommended to post weekly, keeping your profile fresh and engaging for customers. Regularly adding weekly posts not only improves your SEO marketing but also boosts local SEO by keeping your business visible and active in search engine optimisation results.
Set up booking
- The Set Up Booking feature allows customers to book services directly through your Google Business Profile, improving customer convenience and increasing conversions. This online booking system enhances local SEO and supports your digital marketing strategy by streamlining customer interactions.
Add directions to your website
- By using this CTA, you can add a directions link to your website, making it easier for customers to find your business location. This simple addition enhances your local SEO in digital marketing, ensuring your business is easily located on Google Maps.
Add exterior photo
- This option prompts you to upload an exterior photo of your business, enhancing your profile’s appeal. High-quality photos help with online reputation management and improve local SEO, making your business more visible and engaging to customers searching nearby.
Create on offer
- This CTA lets you create special offers and promotions directly within your Google Business Profile. By offering promotions, you can drive more traffic to your business and boost conversions. This supports SEO marketing tools and enhances your digital marketing strategy.
Add a map to your website
- This CTA allows you to embed a map of your business location directly onto your website. Adding a map improves user experience, makes your business easier to find, and supports local SEO tracking, which enhances visibility in local search results.
Add an amenity map to your website
This option lets you embed a map that highlights amenities such as parking or accessible entrances. Adding this feature enhances customer experience and provides vital information, contributing to local digital marketing and improving customer satisfaction.
It’s important to regularly monitor these Google CTAs and notifications, as they provide valuable insights into areas of your profile that may need attention. They also highlight features Google is promoting or seeking to increase adoption of, helping you stay aligned with the latest tools and best practices.
Managing Your Google Business Profile via the Google Maps App
If you’re managing your profile through the Google Maps app, just tap the “Business” icon located at the bottom navigation bar to access your profile tools.
When you tap on the icon, a list of all the Google Business Profiles you manage will appear.
Select the profile you wish to update, and you’ll be taken to the New Merchant Experience (NMX), which offers a similar interface and functionality to the desktop version for easy editing and management.
Efficiently Update Your Google Business Profiles with Bulk Edit
You can manage bulk editing through the Google Business Profile (GBP) dashboard at business.google.com
To use this feature, your business profiles must be organized into a location group, and each profile should have a unique store code. Bulk editing allows you to upload updates in bulk, making it significantly more efficient when updating information for multiple locations at once.