Your Google profile, step by step.

1. Create or claim your profile

Search for your business on Google Maps. If it exists, tap «Own this business?» and claim it. If not, create it in Google Business Profile with your Google account. Google will then ask you to verify it, usually with a video of the premises or a call.

An unverified profile barely counts.

2. Choose the main category carefully

It matters most. «Restaurant» is very broad; «Brunch restaurant» or «Wine bar» is better if that’s what you are. Add secondary categories, but the main one must be the most precise.

3. Fill in everything, really

• Name: the real one, with no added keywords (Google penalises it).
• Address and service area.
• Hours, including holidays. Wrong hours are the number one complaint.
• Phone and website.
• Description: what you do, for whom and where, in normal sentences.
• Services or menu, with descriptions.
• Attributes: terrace, accessible, English spoken, booking required.

4. Upload good photos, often

Front (so people recognise you), inside, team and your work or dishes. Real photos in natural light. Add a few new ones each month: a lively profile is seen more.

5. Reviews: ask and answer

Ask every happy client, with the direct link in a WhatsApp or a QR code at the counter. Answer all of them, the bad ones too, calmly and in the client’s language. Never buy reviews.

6. Use posts

Google Business Profile lets you post news, offers and events. Not every day: one post every week or two keeps the profile active.

7. Connect the profile to your website

Your website must say the same as the profile: same name, address, phone and hours. Google checks. A website with one page per service also helps your profile show for more searches.

Next step

With the profile done, continue with our guide to local SEO on Google Maps. If you’d rather we did it, it’s part of our local SEO.

Your Google profile comes with Completa, Atelier and Puesta a punto.