If your local (native) business isn’t on Google, you’re missing out! Your Google Business Profile (previously called Google My Business) isn’t just a ordinal listing—it’s how customers find you when they need you.

What is a Google Business Profile?

“A Google Business Profile is a free (tool) instrument that lets you manage how your business appears across Google, including Google Search and Maps. It shows your business name, location, hours, photos, reviews, and more—so when people search for services like yours, they can find and connect with your profile easily.”

Examples to understand for better,

1. Suppose your uncle runs a bakery in your city or town. If someone searches “best bakery near me” on Google, your uncle’s bakery will show up—only if he has a Google Business Profile.
2. See your elder brother opened a gym. People searching “gym near me” will easily find his gym through Google Maps, thanks to his Google Business Profile.
3.  If your father is a plumber and someone’s kitchen pipe spurts, they will quickly search “plumber nearby” on Google. Your father’s name will pop up if he has a Google Business Profile!

No worries—I’ve got you covered! Follow these easy steps, and soon, your business will start showing up in local searches. Let’s make sure you get found!

Why Is Google My Business Important for Local SEO?

If you want native clienteles to find your business, your Google Business Profile is non-negotiable.
Your profile is what gets you on Google Search and Google Maps when people are actively searching (read: credit card in hand, ready to buy!). But Google doesn’t just casually show your business – it checks some imperative things first.

Here’s what Google is secretly judging you on:

1. Relevance: Are you exactly what the searcher is looking for? (Example: If someone searches for “pizza,” and you run a pizza shop, bingo!)
2. Distance: Are you close enough to the person searching? (Nobody wants to travel far for a haircut!)
3. Prominence: Does your business look active and trustworthy online? (Google loves businesses that update regularly!)
4. Quality: Is your website neat, fast, and easy to use? (Bad websites = bad impression.
5. Reviews: Are people saying good things about you? (Good reviews = more trust.)
6. And that’s not all! Google also checks:
   How often you update your profile (don’t leave it old and dusty!).
   Whether your business info is the same everywhere online (even on small websites).
   How specific your categories are (for example, “London Coffee Shop” is better than just “Shop”).

📚 Real-Life Example: Easy to Understand!

• Imagine James opens a burger shop in his city.
• He makes a Google Business Profile with his shop name, address, photos, and menu.
• When someone types “best burgers near me” on Google, James shop appears in the results!
• Because he added good photos, kept his timings updated, and got 5-star reviews, more and more people visit his burger shop. 🍔

Moral: Without Google Business Profile, James burger shop would stay hidden. With it, he’s now the “Burger King” of his area!

How to Set Up and Verify Your Google My Business Profile

Getting your Google Business Profile ready is the first big step to make sure local customers can find you easily on Google.

Here’s how you can set it up and verify it properly:

Step 1: Create Your Profile

1. Open Google Business Profile Website
   • On your mobile or computer, open your browser and go to google.com/business.
   • Sign in using your Google account (like your Gmail ID).
2. Click on “Manage Now”
   • You’ll see a button that says “Manage Now” — click on it.
3. Search Your Business Name
   • Type your business name carefully.
   • If your business already shows up, just claim it (means, prove that it’s yours!).
   • If it doesn’t show up, create a new profile by following the steps.

📚 Easy Example:
Sara runs a small beauty salon at home. She goes to Google Business Profile, clicks “Manage Now,” types “Sara’s Beauty Salon,” but doesn’t find it.
So, she clicks on “Create New Profile” and starts adding her salon details. 💄

Part I                   Part II