Your Google Business Profile is your listing on Google Maps and in local search. It shows your name, reviews, photos, hours and a button to call. For clinics, shops, restaurants and service businesses, it is often the single biggest source of new customers, and it is free.
In short: claim and verify the profile, and choose the most specific main category. Fill in every section and add real photos every week. Get reviews and reply to them, and track calls and direction requests every month.
Why your profile matters so much
For searches with local intent, such as “dentist near me” or “bakery in Rewari”, Google shows a map with three businesses above the normal results. Those three get most of the clicks, calls and visits. Your profile decides whether you are one of them.
Google ranks local results on three things:
- Relevance: how well your profile matches the search, mainly through categories and services.
- Distance: how close you are to the person searching or the place they named.
- Prominence: how well known and trusted you are, based on reviews, links and activity.
Setting up and verifying your profile
- Search for your business on Google Maps. If a listing exists, claim it; if not, create one at business.google.com.
- Use your real business name, exactly as on your signboard.
- Add your address, or hide it and set service areas if you visit customers instead.
- Complete verification. Google may ask for a video of your premises, a phone call or other steps.
Use a business email you control, and add a second owner, so you never lose access if someone leaves.
Choosing the right categories
Your primary category has the biggest effect on which searches you appear for. Choose the most specific option: “Dental clinic” rather than “Doctor”, “Interior designer” rather than “Designer”. Add up to nine secondary categories for other services you genuinely offer.
Complete every section
- Description: 750 characters on what you do, where and for whom.
- Services and products: list each one with a short description and price where possible.
- Hours: accurate regular hours, plus special hours before festivals and holidays.
- Attributes: accessibility, payments accepted and other details customers care about.
- Website and booking links: add a tracking tag with our UTM link builder to measure visits.
Photos and posts
Profiles with plenty of recent, real photos get more calls and visits. Add the outside of your premises so people recognise it, the inside, your team and your work. Aim for two or three new photos each week.
Posts let you share offers, updates and events directly on your profile. A weekly post shows Google and customers that you are active.
Reviews: getting more and replying well
Reviews affect both your ranking and whether people choose you. The simplest system is to ask every customer at the moment they are happiest, with a direct link:
- Create your link with our review link generator.
- Send it on WhatsApp the same day, using our review request templates.
- Print the QR code for your counter or reception.
Reply to every review within a day. For negative reviews, stay calm, apologise for the experience and move the conversation offline. Our review reply generator helps with wording. Never offer rewards for reviews or post fake ones: both break Google’s rules.
Want to know how many reviews you need to reach a higher rating? Try our review rating calculator.
Avoiding and fixing suspensions
Profiles are most often suspended for keywords in the business name, a virtual office or shared address, incorrect service areas, or many sudden edits. Keep your details accurate and consistent. If you are suspended, fix the cause and submit a reinstatement request with proof such as utility bills, registration documents and photos of your signboard.
Measuring results
The Performance section of your profile shows calls, direction requests, website clicks, messages and the searches people used to find you. Check it monthly and compare with the same month last year to allow for seasons.
Your Google Business Profile checklist
| Once | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Claim, verify and add a second owner | Add 2–3 photos and one post | Check performance and search terms |
| Set categories, services and description | Send review links to that week’s customers | Update services, prices and offers |
| Match details on your website and directories | Reply to all new reviews | Set special hours before holidays |
Prefer to have it managed? See our Google Business Profile service, or read the cost guide.