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Step-by-Step Guide on How to Grow Your Google Business Profile

May 21, 2025
 by 
Domenick Arapi
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Illustration of a clipboard with checkmarks next to a multicolored bar chart and upward arrow, representing how to grow your Google Business Profile. A location pin with a checkmark and a speech bubble boasting three stars symbolize progress and success.

When it comes to learning how to grow your Google Business Profile, it is best to start by claiming and verifying your ownership through Google Business Profile Manager. This sets the foundation for optimizing your presence. Make sure your profile is complete with accurate details and engaging visuals. Immerse yourself in strategies to enhance local SEO and interact with customers, which can greatly impact your visibility. Curious about how to maximize your profile's potential? Let's explore further.

Claiming Ownership of Your Profile

To claim ownership of your Google Business Profile, begin by accessing the Google Business Profile Manager.

How to get started on creating a Google Business Profile

Log in at business.google.com using your Google account. Search for your business by name, location, or address. If your profile appears, select it. If not, use the "Find and manage your business" tool. For unclaimed profiles, you can opt to "Create a business with this name." An optimized Google Business Profile boosts engagement and visibility, which can significantly enhance your online presence.

Initiate the claiming process by clicking "Own this business?" or "Request access." Fill out Google's form to justify your need for ownership access. This step is essential to address any ownership disputes that might arise. Having control over vital business information such as your address, phone number, and hours is crucial to prevent outdated or incorrect information from negatively impacting your business.

Once you submit your request, the current owner is notified, and you should expect a response within 3–7 days. If your request is denied, don't worry—you can appeal through Google support.

Verifying Your Business Profile

Have you considered how essential verifying your Google Business Profile is for establishing trust and visibility? Business verification not only enhances your credibility but also connects you more deeply with your community. Google's verification methods—phone/SMS, email, live video call, and postcard—are tailored to your specific business type and location.

An illustration of a computer screen displaying a document with a checkmark, surrounded by an envelope, magnifying glass, and mobile phone with a checkmark. These elements symbolize communication and information verification, offering insights on how to grow your Google Business Profile.

Completing every section of your profile ensures that accurate business information is displayed to potential customers. Keep your business name, address, and category consistent to avoid invalidating verification codes. Live video calls require showcasing your business location and ownership through signage or equipment, while postcards need a valid mailing address, with codes arriving in up to five business days.

Prepare for video verification by documenting your business's exterior or relevant operational areas. Using high-quality photos can increase requests for directions and website clicks. Use a mobile device for live calls during business hours, ensuring you're ready for interactive compliance with Google agents. Remember, verification codes expire in 30 days, and never share them with others. Establish your business's authenticity and foster a sense of belonging with successful verification.

Completing Profile Information

When you're aiming to boost your business's visibility, completing your Google Business Profile (GBP) with detailed and accurate information is essential. Profile optimization guarantees you stand out in local searches and become a trusted part of your community.

Start by achieving 100% profile completeness to maximize local visibility. Include precise contact details—phone, email, website URL—and specify your physical location or service areas to enhance local SEO relevance.

Don't forget to list your business hours, including holiday exceptions, to keep customers informed. Photos and videos can increase website click-through rates by 35%, so enhance your profile with visual content by uploading recent, high-quality photos and videos showcasing your offerings. Consistent positive reviews signal reliability, which Google favors in rankings.

Keep your cover photo and logo updated to reflect your brand's current vibe. Regularly list all services, highlighting unique selling points, and adjust for seasonal changes. Engage with customers by enabling messaging, responding to queries, and sharing updates via posts. Maintain consistency across platforms to present a unified brand image everywhere.

Assigning Accurate Categories and Attributes

Although it's tempting to rush through your Google Business Profile setup, assigning accurate categories and attributes is essential for maximizing visibility. By focusing on precise category selection and attribute definition, you'll enhance your profile optimization and connect better with your community. Google Reviews significantly influence consumer decisions, and having an optimized profile can boost sales by attracting more customers.

Illustration of a clipboard featuring a checklist on How to Grow Your Google Business Profile alongside a location pin and magnifying glass with a check mark, set against buildings, trees, and a blue sky with clouds.

Start by aligning your primary category with industry standards to accurately reflect your core business operations, ensuring search visibility. Immerse yourself in competitor analysis to uncover high-performing SEO keywords and niche targeting opportunities that resonate with customer needs. Your Google Business Profile location ensures that your business appears in Google Maps and local searches, which increases foot traffic and enhances customer engagement.

Your secondary categories should complement, not overshadow, the primary focus, maintaining service clarity. Be mindful to avoid overly broad categories, opting instead for niche options that match customer searches.

For attributes, highlight unique selling points like "curbside pickup" or "sustainable fashion" to cater to specific customer expectations. This approach not only boosts keyword relevance but also aligns with local search intent, creating a sense of belonging and enhancing your business's presence online.

Uploading Your Business Logo

A strong visual identity starts with a well-uploaded business logo on your Google Business Profile. Your logo design speaks volumes about your brand, and guaranteeing it's presented correctly helps you connect with your audience. Business listings that feature complete and accurate information, including logos, can significantly enhance search visibility and customer trust.

Start by logging into your Google Business Profile account, and navigate to the profile editing tools. Select "add photo," choose "Logo" from the dropdown menu, and upload your logo file. Make certain your image resolution meets Google's specifications—a minimum of 250x250 pixels, ideally 720x720 pixels. This prevents pixelation and guarantees your logo appears crisp and professional. To ensure your logo adheres to Google's guidelines, use a clean image with no excessive filters or overlays.

Before finalizing, use the built-in cropping tools to maintain the square aspect ratio. This consistency in logo design across platforms fosters a sense of belonging among your customers.

After uploading, monitor the processing time and check Google Maps/Search to confirm visibility. If issues arise, double-check image resolution and re-upload if necessary.

Updating Business Hours and Closures

To keep your Google Business Profile accurate and helpful, updating business hours and closures is essential. Start by logging into your Google Business Profile. Search for your business name and location to access editing tools.

Navigate to Edit Profile > Contact & hours > Hours to manage your time settings. If you're struggling, try Google Maps for an alternative path.

An infographic illustrating how to grow your Google Business Profile features a multicolored umbrella at the center. Surrounding it, six circles represent key categories: temporary adjustments, holiday closures, split day hours, extended hours, review process, and customer engagement.

Stay connected with your community by ensuring your information is current. Reflect changes in your business hours, considering:

  • Holiday closures that might affect your schedule.
  • Temporary adjustments for special events.
  • Split day hours for breaks like lunch.
  • Extended hours during peak times.
  • Edits are pending review after submission, and this review process usually takes up to 10 minutes.

When you're proactive about these updates, you show potential visitors that you care about their experience. Consistently engaging with customer feedback not only helps refine your schedule but also boosts your online reputation by demonstrating your commitment to customer satisfaction.

Regularly refine your schedule based on customer feedback and review your hours for seasonal shifts. This attention to detail fosters a sense of belonging and trust within your community.

How Reviewly.ai Can Help Grow Your Google Business Profile

Growing your Google Business Profile (GBP) requires consistent engagement, proactive review management, and a strong local SEO strategy. Reviewly.ai simplifies this process by providing businesses with the tools to generate, manage, and respond to reviews efficiently, ensuring your GBP remains active and optimized for visibility.

Reviewly.ai Automate Your Engagement

One of the biggest factors in improving GBP rankings is customer engagement through reviews. With Reviewly.ai, businesses can automate SMS review requests, ensuring more customers leave feedback. Since 97% of text messages are read, this significantly increases response rates, helping businesses gain more authentic, high-quality reviews, which Google considers a key ranking factor.

Additionally, Reviewly.ai’s AI-powered sentiment analysis helps businesses understand customer feedback trends, allowing them to address concerns proactively and highlight positive aspects of their service. The platform also automates review responses, crafting thoughtful and personalized replies that align with brand voice—further boosting engagement and reinforcing customer trust.

By streamlining review collection, response management, and feedback analysis, Reviewly.ai helps businesses build a stronger online presence, improve local search rankings, and ultimately drive more traffic to their GBP. Whether you're looking to grow your business organically or enhance your online reputation, integrating Reviewly.ai into your strategy can be a powerful step toward long-term success.

Incorporating Location-Based Keywords

Having your operating hours up-to-date is just one step in optimizing your Google Business Profile; honing in on location-based keywords can greatly enhance your visibility in local searches.

Start by conducting a local search analysis to understand what terms potential customers use, like "HVAC near me." Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to develop a solid location keyword strategy, targeting high-intent phrases such as "best [service] in [city]." Keywords determine relevance and importance of listings in search results, which plays a crucial role in local search optimization.

Illustration of local search optimization with a magnifying glass over a document, location pins, and a graph arrow. Webpages labeled near me suggest ways on how to grow your Google Business Profile. Background features a pale blue wave design.

Consistent naming, address, and phone number (NAP) information across all platforms also builds trust with search engines and customers.

Don't forget to peek at competitor profiles for insight into their prioritized keywords.

To create a sense of belonging, brainstorm geographic terms that resonate with your community, from city names to beloved landmarks. Optimize your business name by incorporating phrases like "San Diego Plumbing Solutions" or "Golden Gate Park Cafe." Highlight location-based services in your offerings, ensuring they reflect your commitment to the local area.

Regularly monitor performance using tools like Ahrefs to fine-tune your strategy and stay ahead.

Engaging Customers With Google Posts

While optimizing your Google Business Profile, leveraging Google Posts can greatly engage customers and drive foot traffic. A well-crafted content strategy can enhance customer engagement by tapping into user behavior trends and utilizing effective calls-to-action (CTAs). By sharing reviews, you can further enhance your business reputation and attract new customers.

Embrace the power of Google Posts by:

  • Targeting "near me" searches: Capture the attention of 76% of users who visit businesses within a day.
  • Highlighting promotions: Make your offers stand out in Google Search and Maps, attracting high-intent users. Google Posts can also enhance visibility and engagement on Google Search and Maps.
  • Creating location-specific content: Reach 88% of users researching businesses they'll visit within a week.
  • Incorporating urgency with CTAs: Boost conversion rates by 161% using phrases like "limited time" or "Book Now".

When you share timely offers and events, you cultivate a sense of belonging among your audience, encouraging them to become loyal patrons.

Keep your posts engaging and relevant to guarantee your business remains top-of-mind for customers.

Highlighting Products and Services

Showcasing your products and services effectively on your Google Business Profile can greatly boost customer engagement and drive sales.

Begin by employing product visibility strategies, such as highlighting products with eye-catching visuals and detailed descriptions. Incorporate clear pricing and urgent calls-to-action (CTAs) like "Buy" or "Order Online" to motivate immediate customer responses.

Illustration of shopping bags, a clipboard with forms, a Google logo, and a megaphone. The red bag features a padlock for security and aligns with how to grow your Google Business Profile, while the orange bag, adorned with checkmarks and graphs, highlights analytics or purchases.

Remember to feature seasonal or trending items to maintain relevance. Providing accurate information, such as business hours and contact details, helps customers connect with your business seamlessly. Regular monitoring of reviews can further enhance your business's online presence by providing valuable insights into customer preferences and feedback.

On the services side, adopt service organization techniques by grouping your offerings into relevant categories. Use Google's suggested services when possible to align with SEO best practices, while adding custom services as needed—just avoid prohibited terms.

Regular updates guarantee your services reflect current offerings and seasonal changes, crucial for accuracy and clarity.

Always prioritize mobile visibility by checking how your profile appears on smaller screens. Concise language and mobile-friendly formatting will enhance user experience, fostering a sense of belonging among your audience.

Cross-Promoting on Social Media Platforms

Although enhancing your local SEO is essential, cross-promoting on social media platforms can greatly amplify your Google Business Profile's reach.

By aligning your social media strategies with your GBP, you can create a cohesive brand presence. Start by linking your social media profiles to your GBP for seamless content alignment. Social media posts will be linked and pulled directly from connected social media accounts, enhancing the user experience by providing a comprehensive view of business activities. Consistency is key, so verify your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) are uniform across all platforms. Regularly update your social media links on GBP to stay relevant and avoid inactive accounts that can harm your credibility. Utilizing local hashtags in your social media content can also improve your reach within the community, making your business more visible to potential local customers.

Here's how you can enhance your community engagement:

  • Link profiles to GBP: Foster integration for automatic updates.
  • Curate engaging content: Share user reviews and photos for authenticity.
  • Highlight promotions: Drive traffic with exclusive offers.
  • Collaborate locally: Build shared visibility by partnering with nearby businesses.

These strategies won't only extend your reach but also forge stronger connections with your audience.

Wrapping Up

Growing your Google Business Profile is like planting a seed in fertile soil—it needs nurturing to flourish. Claim ownership, verify details, and complete every section with precision. Think of categories as branches that support your growth, while visuals and keywords act as the sunlight and water. Engage with your community through posts and reviews, and extend your reach via social media. When you actively cultivate your profile, you'll watch your business reach new heights.

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