Imagine a place where your business can shine online — completely free of charge. Sounds great, right? That’s exactly what building a Google Business Profile (GBP) offers. It makes your business visible on the world’s most popular search engine and helps customers discover, explore and connect with your business like never before.
So, grab a cup of coffee and let’s jump right into how you can set up your very own Google Business Profile.
Step 1: Get Started
Well, first things first. Hop onto Google My Business and click on the “Manage Now” button. If you already have a Google account, you’ll be instructed to sign-in before you move on to the following steps. However, if you’re new to Google, you’ll have to create a Google account first before proceeding. Once you’ve signed in or created an account, you can move on to step 2.
Step 2: Enter Your Business Details
Here’s where you can pour out all the essential details about your business. Fill in your business name, its physical location (if you have one), the specific areas you serve and your business category. It’s crucial to be as accurate as possible because these details not only help Google understand what you do, but they also provide valuable information to potential customers.
By including additional details such as your business hours, contact information and a brief description of the products and/or services you offer, you can create a comprehensive and informative profile that will attract and engage your target audience.
Remember, the more information you provide, the better equipped your customers will be to make informed decisions and connect with your business.
Step 3: Select Business Type & Category
Step three is an important one. Choosing the right business type & category will help Google decide where to display your business profile. You wouldn’t want to advertise your delicious baked goods to people looking to buy a car, so be sure to pick the business type & category that best describes your business.
Google will provide you with three business types to choose from — Online Retail, Local Store and Service Business. Don’t fret if these options aren’t a perfect match, it just has to be as close as possible to your business. If your business happens to be more than one of the listed options, that’s okay. Google allows you to choose any combination of the three categories which apply to your business to ensure your name gets in front of the people that matter.
Once you choose your business type, Google will then prompt you to enter your business’ category. Fill out the empty text prompt with your business type and click the corresponding business type in the drop-down menu that appears as you type. This ensures your GBP will be properly recorded so it can be accurately displayed in relevant search results.
Step 4: Provide Contact Information
Step four is pretty simple; all you have to do is add contact information for your business. It’s important to ensure customers see your GBP, so make sure to add your business’ current phone number, website URL and social media handles for the best results.
If you don’t have a website, no worries! At Dealer World, we specialize in websites and digital advertising, which means we’ll have a website for your business up and running in no time. A well optimized website is a crucial part of the modern digital advertising game — give your business the competitive edge by dialing 866-600-2345 or visiting our website today!
Step 5: Business Verification
To finish your Google Business Profile successfully, you’ll need to verify your business. Google does this to ensure that only rightful owners have control over a GBP. There are a variety of ways to verify your business for a Google Business Profile in 2023, including phone verification, video verification and postcard verification.
Choosing the phone verification option? If so, you’ll need to provide Google with your business’ current phone number to receive a corresponding verification code. Once you enter your business’ phone number, you will receive a call with an automated message providing you with the verification code needed to complete the process.
Opting for video verification? Let us give you a hand! At Dealer World, we’re experts at setting up Google Business Profiles and can send our Video Verification Team out to help your business get verified. Interested? Simply fill out our online contact form or give us a call at 866-600-2345 today.
When neither phone nor video verification are options, Google may allow you to verify via postcard. While this option doesn’t happen often these days, there are some rare exceptions, so it’s always worth a try.
Whether you’re verifying your Google Business Profile via phone, postcard or video, Dealer World is here to help. Visit us online or give us a call at 866-600-2345 today!
That’s All Folks
There you have it! By following these five steps, you’ll be able to successfully set up your Google Business Profile. Remember, it’s not just about setting your GBP up; it’s about optimizing and regularly updating your GBP with new photos, posts and responding to reviews — that’s where we come in.
The power of a Google Business Profile lies in its ability to improve your local SEO and drive leads. That means that using relevant keywords in your business description and posts, responding to reviews (both good and bad), and updating your profile regularly with fresh content are key to a healthy GBP. Think of your company’s GBP like a storefront in the digital world and keep it clean, attractive and inviting.
Sounds like a lot of work, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. At Dealer World, our SEO Team are experts in all thing Google Business Profile, so we’ll have your company’s GBP verified and optimized in no time — at a price you’re sure to love.
A well optimized and verified Google Business Profile is one of the simplest, yet most powerful tools for getting your business in front of potential customers. So why wait? Optimize your Google Business Profile on your own or by calling us at 866-600-2345 today!