Complete Guide for Google My Business Listing: Setups, Optimisation and Tips

Complete Guide for Google My Business Listing

Introduction

If you run a local business, listing it on Google Search is one of the best ways to attract more customers. When people search for “restaurants near me” or “plumber in Ahmedabad,” the results they see on Google Maps and the business listings come from Google My Business (also known as Google Business Profile).

This guide will share a step-by-step guide on how to set up, optimise, and manage your Google My Business listing. You’ll learn:

• How to create and verify your GMB profile.
• Tips to optimise your profile so it ranks higher.
• How to add products, services, and posts.
• Ways to manage reviews and track performance.

So, by the end, you will know how to use Google My Business to improve your local SEO and get more customers to your business.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business (previously Google Business Profile) is a free platform that let you create a business listing on Google. This listing will show your business name, address, telephone number, hours, photos, reviews and more when someone searches for the services you provide.

Benefits of a GMB Listing for Small Businesses:

• Appear in Google Maps and local search results – helping nearby customers find you.
• Build trust – reviews and photos make your business look more professional.
• Free marketing tool – unlike paid ads, it doesn’t cost anything to set up and optimise your profile.
• More website traffic and calls – a well-optimised GMB profile can send more customers to your website and store.

How GMB Improves Local Rankings and Visibility?

Google uses your GMB profile as a major ranking factor for local SEO. When someone searches for a service in your area, Google looks at:

• Relevance: How closely your profile matches the search.
• Distance: How near your business is to the searcher.
• Prominence: How complete and how trusted your profile is (based on your business reviews, photos and updates).

The more you optimise your Google My Business listing, the higher you can rank in Maps and local results, even outranking massive competitors.

How to Create a Google My Business Listing Step by Step?

Creating your Google My Business listing is free. Below is a quick guide to successfully set it up. Let’s dive in…

Step 1: Create or Claim Your Business Profile

Use your actual business name exactly as it appears on your legal documents. Don’t add generic keywords to the name (doing so may get your profile suspended by Google).

Step 2: Add Accurate Business Information (NAP)

Fill in your:

1. Name (exact business name).
2. Address (for local SEO, this must be correct).
3. Phone number (ideally a local number). 

This is called NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency. You have to make sure it is all matching the whole way through (on your website, directories, etc.) to avoid any ranking issues.

Step 3: Choose The Correct Business Category

Your choice of categories can influence the Google searches that you appear in, so make sure you choose it wisely. 

Step 4: Verify your Google My Business Profile

Google will ask you to verify your business. Common methods include:

1. Postcard verification: Google sends a code to your address.
2. Phone verification: If eligible, you can get an instant call or SMS.
3. Email verification: Available for some businesses.

Verification confirms that you are the genuine owner, and without it, your profile does not go live.

Step 5: Add Business Photos and Business Logo

Step 6: Add Business Hours and Website

• Set correct working hours so customers know when to visit.
• Link to your official website to drive traffic.

Quick Checklist:

• Business Name
• Address & Phone
• Business Category
• Verification
• Photos & Logo
• Business Hours & Website

After completing these steps, your Google My Business listing will be done and available for customers to find you on Google Search and Maps.

How to Optimise Google My Business Profile?

Setting up a Google Business profile is just the first step. To improve your rankings and attract more customers, you have to optimise your Google My Business profile. Here’s Google Business profile optimisation steps…

Step 1: Select the Right Categories & Attributes

• Choose the most accurate primary category of your business.
• If you offer multiple services, add them as secondary categories. 
• In addition, use attributes to help you show up more in searches (attributes like “Wheelchair Accessible” or “Free Wi-Fi”).

Use categories that are comparable to what customers are searching for. Example: “Bakery” vs. “Café.”

Step 2: Write a Keyword-Rich Business Description

Don’t stuff keywords forcefully; write for humans first.

Step 3: Add Products and Services

• List all your main products or services.
• If possible, add short descriptions and prices.
• Include applicable local keywords (e.x, “Pet grooming in Ahmedabad”).

Step 4: Post Regular Updates (Google My Business Posts)

• Leverage the “Posts” section to post offers, news, and events. 
• Add catchy images and calls to action.
• Regularly posting will help keep your profile active and help improve your ranking. 

Step 5: Add Quality Photographs

• Add images of your store, team, and products.
• Businesses with more photos get 42% more requests for directions.

Step 6: Keep Information Updated

• Update hours, phone numbers, and services regularly.
• An inactive profile can lose rankings over time.

Managing Reviews on Google My Business

Reviews are one of the most influential parts of your Google My Business listing. Positive reviews will help you improve SEO ranking, build trust, and ultimately bring more customers to your business.

Why Reviews Matter for Local SEO?

1. Google uses reviews as a ranking signal for locally relevant searches.
2. Positive reviews will improve your click-through rate.
3. By responding to reviews, you also show potential customers that you are engaged with your audience.

How to Respond to Positive Reviews?

1. Simply, say Thank You to the customer for their review or feedback.
2. If possible, use their name when you respond to personalise it!
3. Mention your business name and services naturally.

Example: “Thank you, Priya! We’re glad you loved our pet care service. Your feedback helps others find our [Pet Store Name] on Google.”

Dealing with Negative Reviews the Right Way

• Keep cool and be respectful.
• Apologise if it feels right, and always try to take them offline to offer a solution. 
• Never take it public.

Example: “We’re sorry you had a bad experience. Please send us an email at [phone/email], and we can resolve this for you quickly.”

Tips to Get More Positive Reviews

• Ask happy customers to leave a review via email or SMS.
• You can add a “Leave a Review” button on your website and link to your social media posts.
• Provide excellent service so reviews come naturally.

Tracking Your Performance with Google My Business Insights

Once your profile is live, you need to track how it performs. Google My Business Insights gives you useful data to see what’s working and what needs improvement.

What is Google My Business Insights?

Within your GMB dashboard, Google My Business Insights is a free analytics tool. It tells you how people are finding and interacting with your business in Google Search and Maps.

Key Metrics to Track

1. Search Queries – Shows what keywords people use to find your business.
2. Views – How many times your profile appeared in search and maps.
3. Actions – How many people called, visited your website, or asked for directions?
4. Photo Views – Compare how often your photos are seen compared to competitors.

How to Use Insights to Improve Your Listing?

• If you see low searches, improve your business description and categories.
• If actions are low, add better CTAs and photos.
• Track what type of posts and updates bring more clicks.

Why GMB Tracking Matters?

It is important to continually check Insights so that you are making decisions with good information. You can build on what works well and improve upon what does not. This will keep your Google My Business listing active and will also help improve local SEO rankings with time.

Common Google My Business Problems & How to Fix Them

A well-configured profile may experience some challenges with your Google My Business listing. Here are the most common issues occurring while listing the GMB Profile and how you can fix them easily.

Problem 1: Business Not Showing in Google Search or Maps

Why does it happen?

• Profile not verified.
• Incorrect address or categories.
• Low trust signals (no photos, reviews, or updates).

How to fix this?

• Ensure your profile is verified; if not, verify it first.
• Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is accurate in all your listings.
• Add more reviews and keep posting updates.

Problem 2: Duplicate Listings

Why does it happen?

• Someone created another profile for your business.
• You accidentally added the same location twice.

How to fix this?

• Log into your GMB dashboard and check for duplicates.
• Use the “Request to merge” option to combine them.

Problem 3: Account Suspended

Why does it happen?

• If you added a Business name with multiple keywords.
• You violated Google’s terms of service (e.g., if you have added a virtual office)

How to fix this?

• Remove unnecessary keywords from the business name.
• Submit a reinstatement request with correct information.

Problem 4: Wrong Business Information Showing

Why does it happen?

• Outdated details or edits from users.

How to fix this?

• Log in and manually update all fields.
• Make sure your website and all other listings are consistent, so that you don’t create inconsistencies in GMB listings. 

Google My Business vs Local Listings: What’s Different?

Many business owners get confused between Google My Business (GMB) and other local listings. While they are similar to working in tandem to achieve local SEO, they’re not synonymous.

What is Google My Business?

1. A free tool by Google to create your Google Business Profile.
2. Displays your business in Google Search and Maps.  
3. Allows you to manage reviews, photos, products, and posts.

What are Local Listings?

1. Business profiles on other online directories such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, Bing Places, or Justdial.
2. They help customers find you outside Google.
3. Boosts your SEO by building more citations (mentions of your NAP information).  

Major Differences Between GMB and Local Listings  

• Platform: GMB=Google; Local Listings are in a variety of directories. 
• Impact on SEO: GMB has the most impact on local rankings. 
• Features: GMB has insights, posts, and reviews on Google. Other directories usually don’t have these tools.

Why Do You Need Both?

• GMB is your main profile for Google Search and Maps.
• Local listings create more trust signals and support your ranking.
• Consistent NAP details across all platforms boost your Google My Business listing performance.

Using Google My Business for Multi-Location Businesses

If your business is in multiple locations, then you can manage all of your locations under one Google My Business listing account. Optimising each business location helps you show up in local searches for different areas.

Step 1: Create a Location for Each Area or Branch

• In your GMB dashboard, click “Add Location.”
• Use the exact address for each branch.
• Keep NAP details accurate and unique for each branch and area.

Step 2: Use Bulk Verification (For 10+ Locations)

• If you manage many stores, use the bulk upload tool.
• Upload a spreadsheet with all locations, addresses, and phone numbers.

Step 3: Optimise Each Location Separately

• For example, use your keywords in the descriptions (ex, “pet grooming in Ahmedabad” vs. “pet grooming in Surat”).
• Upload unique photos for each branch.
• Collect reviews specific to each location.

Step 4: Keep Brand Consistency

• Use the same logo and brand tone across all your business profiles.
• Maintain consistent business categories and website links.

Why is Multi-Location Optimisation Important?

Managing each branch correctly increases visibility in multiple cities or neighbourhoods. It also helps customers find the nearest branch quickly on Google Maps.

Free Tools to Help You Optimise Your GMB Listing

Using the right tools, it will be easy to manage and optimise your Google My Business listing. 

1. Google Business Profile Manager

• The official dashboard to create, edit, and verify your profile.
• Let’s you manage reviews, posts, and insights.

2. Google Search Console

• Tracks how much traffic comes from Google Search.
• Helps you find which keywords bring people to your website.

3. Google Analytics

• Measures website traffic from your GMB profile link.
• Shows which pages visitors check after clicking from Google.

4. Canva

• Create professional images for Google My Business posts and cover photos.
• Free templates for offers and events.

5. Whitespark Local Citation Finder (Free Version)

• Find any other local directories to list your business in. 
• It also helps you improve NAP consistency across the web.

Why Use These Tools?

These tools will help save valuable time, always have your profiles up-to-date and allow you to make data-driven decisions at all times. Always optimising will enhance your local SEO and bring more customers from Google Maps and Search.

Final Tips + Checklist for a Perfect Google My Business Profile

Setting up and verifying your profile is only half the work. To realise all the potential of your Google My Business listing and increase traffic, you need to keep the profile updated and follow the checklist listed below.

Last Considerations to Boost your Profile

1. Consistent NAP: You make sure that your business Name, Address and Phone Number are the same as your website and other listings.
2. Publish Content Regularly: The best practice is to publish your content weekly, keeping your profile active and relevant to local searches.
3. Respond to All Reviews: It is important to respond to the reviews, whether it’s good or bad, as doing so builds trust for potential customers and is also a factor of local SEO.
4. Upload Quality Images: Customers click on listings that have seen images. Making sure you are using quality images to show your business in a professional light will entice more customers.
5. Create and Monitor Insights: Insights will show you what has been effective and can help you adjust your profile to something more effective.

Quick Checklist for Your GMB Profile

• Business Name (Correct and Verified)
• Accurate Address and Phone Number
• Primary and Secondary Categories Set
• Keyword-Rich Business Description Added
• Products and Services Listed
• Photos and Logo Uploaded
• Business Hours Updated
• Verified Profile
• Regular Posts and Offers Added
• Reviews Managed and Responded To

Why Following This Checklist Matters?

A complete and optimised profile helps you appear higher in Google Maps and local search. More visibility means more calls, website visits, and customers for your business.

Conclusion

Your Google My Business listing is one of the best local SEO assets to have available to you. A properly set up and optimised listing can get your business on Google Maps, attract more customers, and help establish trust in your business online.

At this point, you’ve learned how to:

• Set up and verify your Google Business Profile
• Optimise the profile with categories, descriptions, products, and posts
• Manage reviews and use insights to improve performance
• Fix common issues as well as keep the listing fresh and accurate over time.

Now you are wise not to just build your Google My Business profile and leave it. You are now a firm believer in keeping it fresh and active, with regular posts, updated information, and customer interaction.

Need professional help?

If you want your profile to rank higher and get more customers, check out our Google My Business Listing Services. We help small businesses optimise their profiles and grow through local SEO.

FAQs About Google My Business Listing