For businesses that want to show up across Google Search, Maps, and local results, this is where it starts.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If you’re like many business owners today, you’re probably wondering, “How can I make my business show up on Google?” You’re in luck. We’ve updated our popular guide with the latest in all things Google to help you show up when it counts the most. Read on for our top recommendations.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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What Will You Learn?<\/h2>\r\n
Key Takeaways:<\/b><\/p>\r\n Update: <\/b>Google My Business is now called Google Business Profile (GBP). Google officially rebranded \u201cGoogle My Business\u201d to Google Business Profile back in late 2021. All Google Business listings are now managed through Search and Google Maps, and the old GMB app has been retired.<\/p>\r\n Create a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) listing and get it verified, build a website (our web design team is standing by the help), and publicize your business’ name, address, and phone number.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In this guide, you will learn how to easily<\/em> execute each of those steps so that your business can stop being invisible and start showing up in search results where it counts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You don’t have to be computer-savvy or have any marketing skills to follow this guide. We’ve broken down each step into bite-sized chunks that don’t require the mind of an SEO expert<\/a> to execute.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n After reading this guide on how to get your business profile to show on Google, if you still need assistance,<\/span> schedule a free consultation<\/span><\/a> with Sharp Innovations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Getting your business listed on Google Maps makes it easy for customers who already know your name to find you and get directions to your store or office.<\/p>\r\n Just as important, it is one of the first steps toward appearing when people search for local businesses that offer the services you provide. Whether you are a roofing contractor or a neighborhood shoe store that depends on foot traffic, showing up prominently on Google Maps can make a real difference. When someone nearby searches for something like \u201croof repair near me,\u201d your business has the opportunity to appear right where they are looking.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In order for your business to show up in Google Maps, you need to learn how to create and verify a Google Business Profile. It’s free and easy to do. Here’s how to do that, step by step.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You’ll need a Google account to create and verify your Google Business listing. Go to any Google service page, such as https:\/\/myaccount.google.com<\/a>\/<\/a> and log in. You may use a personal Google account (your account email address and username will not show up publicly), but if you have a Google account for your business, we recommend that instead. If you don’t have a Google account yet, you can create a new one here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Once you are logged in (see previous step), go to https:\/\/business.google.com\/create<\/a> and you should see an option to search for your business. Type your business name, and if a listing shows up then click on it to claim it. If nothing shows up, click the option to “Create a business with this name.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In the “business name” box, type out the exact name of your business as you would like it to be shown publicly. You don’t have to include a suffix like “LLC” or “Inc”, although you may if you would like to.<\/p>\r\n This should be the name that you most want to represent your business. For example, rather than list our business as Sharp Innovations. LLC, we list it as simply Sharp Innovations.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n In the “Business category” box type out a category that best defines your business. This is how Google determines when to show your business listing to people who are searching for the services you offer.<\/p>\r\n We recommend going as broad as possible while still remaining accurate. For example, if you only do residential roofing jobs, then “Roofing contractor” is probably your best category.<\/p>\r\n However, if you do roofing jobs, kitchen remodeling, flooring installation, etc, then “General contractor” is probably your best category.<\/p>\r\n If you run a cafe, think about getting the type of cafe correct, rather than being generic, to attract the right searchers.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n By choosing “Yes” here, it means that when people are searching for your business or for services that your business offers, people will be able to see where your business is located in relation to them.<\/p>\r\n In most situations, “Yes” is the best option to choose. If your business has a store-front where customers can visit, definitely choose “Yes”. Even if your clients or customers don’t typically visit your office or home office (such as if you’re a sole proprietor offering roof repair services), we still recommend choosing “Yes” so that people can see if you’re relatively close to them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If for some reason you do not want your address to show up on your Google Business Profile, then choose “No” in this step.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you chose “Yes” in the previous step, you’ll need to type out your business’ physical address. If you chose “No” in the previous step, you can skip to the next step.<\/p>\r\n Simply type in the street address for your business, and then cilck “next”.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you see the screen below next, then it means Google has found a listing that matches your business’ address. If the business name associated with the address is your business name, select it. This means that Google somehow already discovered your business’ name and address by itself. If it doesn’t match, click “This doesn’t match” and then click Next.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Additionally, when the screen below pops up, you can select yes to show that you are available to serve customers outside of just your physical location.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n After step 7, you’ll be asked whether your business provides home and office visits or deliveries. Select whichever option best fits your business, and then click “next”.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n If you choose “yes” then you’ll want to consider adding service areas. Keep in mind, however, that this step is optional, so if you don’t want to limit your profile to certain locations, you can skip this step.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As mentioned, if you chose “Yes” in the previous step, you’ll now be given the option to define where you can serve your clients. Type in all<\/em> of the areas where you can serve your clients. This helps Google to show your listing to people who are geographically within the area that you serve. Proximity is one of the Google Business Profile ranking factors that influence rank performance<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n The fastest and easiest way to finish this step is to type in county names instead of specific towns or cities. For example, if you serve an entire county that has 15 cities within that county, you simply need to enter the county name, not each of the 15 individual cities within that county.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But make sure you don’t extend your area too broad. You don’t want to show up for potential clients in areas where you are unable to serve.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Next, you’ll want to give your customers a way to find you once they discover your Google Business Profile. Put in your business phone number and not your personal phone number in this step. This is the phone number that will show up publicly on your Google Business listing.<\/p>\r\n If you already have a website, type in the website’s address (URL). If you don’t have a website yet, click “I don’t need a website” for now (or contact Sharp Innovations to design one for you<\/a>), and you can go back and add your website later, after you build it (See “Phase 2” below for help with this).<\/p>\r\n At this point, you can choose to verify your address, or you can do this step later.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Don’t worry. You’re nearly finished. In this step, you’ll need to add your services and\/or create any that may not be auto-offered via Google\u2019s populated list.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Next, you’ll add your business hours now or wait to do so later.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In this next step, you\u2019ll have 750 characters to use to describe your business. The first half of those should be used to clearly state your core business functions, service area(s) and unique selling proposition. Include words that your potential customers might use when searching for what your business offers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Adding photos to your Google Business Profile significantly boosts engagement. More requests for directions and more visits to your website. Google offers<\/span> tips for business-specific photos, along with photo size guidelines<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Google gives you the option to start advertising your business immediately with Google Ads. We recommend you skip this part and come back to it later. If you are interested in learning more about paid advertising via Google Ads (or other paid ads), our<\/span> PPC experts<\/span><\/a> will be happy to follow-up with more details.<\/span><\/p>\r\n For managing email, advertising, file management, and other aspects of your business, Google Workspace comes as an optional part ofthe Google Business setup. All these services are part of a subscription service. You can explore the various plans and varying costs or you can skip this step. Skip this step for now if you just want to move ahead to complete your business profile setup.<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n If you’re sure you typed out everything accurately in the previous steps, go ahead and click the blue “Finish” button on this screen. If you’re not sure, you can click the left arrow to return to the previous steps and check your work.<\/p>\r\n Google needs to verify that you have the authority to create and manage this <\/span>Google Business Profile<\/span> for your business.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The exact options you\u2019ll see in this step can vary from time to time, which is why we have not provided a screenshot. Typically, you\u2019ll be given the option to type in your business\u2019 address and request a verification postcard to be mailed to you. Sometimes an option is given to have Google\u2019s system call or text your phone number and provide a code for verification.<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you chose the postcard option in the previous step, it usually takes 2-5 business days to receive the postcard. The postcard will have instructions on how to finish the verification process.<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you chose the phone number option for verification, then follow the prompts on the phone, and the verification process is usually finished within minutes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you\u2019ve completed all of the steps above, congratulations! You\u2019ve done what it takes to make your business show up on Google Maps when people search for your business name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n There\u2019s still plenty more you can do to <\/span>optimize your <\/span>Google Business<\/span> listing<\/span><\/a>, such as adding photos or a <\/span>360 virtual tour<\/span><\/a> of your store or office, <\/span>getting your first couple reviews<\/span><\/a>, and more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n These enhancements make your local marketing more powerful, but they also mean it’s more important than ever to keep your business profile optimized and active.<\/span><\/p>\r\n As AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, Gemini, and others (SGE) become more common, the way businesses appear in search results is evolving. Instead of relying solely on traditional search engine optimization (SEO), business owners should now consider Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n At Sharp Innovations, we incorporate GEO strategies and<\/span> SEO strategies<\/span><\/a> to ensure content is structured and optimized for inclusion in AI-generated responses as well as traditional search.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Now, it\u2019s time to move into Phase 2, which is all about creating a website for your business.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Need to come back to this step later? <\/span><\/i>Click here<\/span><\/i><\/a> to save this step, then on your keyboard press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n Once you\u2019ve completed <\/span>Phase 1 above<\/span><\/a> (to create your <\/span>Google Business Profile<\/span>), your business will appear on Google Maps and on Google Search when people search for your business name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n This is helpful if your business is well known in your area. But what if most of your potential customers or clients haven\u2019t heard of you yet? If all you have is a <\/span>Google Business Profile<\/span> (Phase 1 above), it\u2019s very unlikely that your business will show up when people search for services that your business provides (e.g. \u201croof repair\u201d or \u201cfamily law practice\u201d or \u201clawn mower repair\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\r\n So how can you make your business show up on Google Search (not just Google Maps) for those more generic search terms?<\/span><\/p>\r\n This is where a website can help tremendously.<\/span><\/p>\r\n But don\u2019t worry, even a very simple website is a step in the right direction. You can create a simple website even if you haven\u2019t created one before (even if you do not consider yourself tech-savvy).<\/span><\/p>\r\n We\u2019ve divided this section into 2 overall steps.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Before you can create a website for your business, you\u2019ll need to first register a domain name and set up a hosting account.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Not sure how to do that? The easiest option is to have a team of experts (such as <\/span>our team<\/span><\/a> here at Sharp Innovations) do this for you.<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you want to try this yourself, there are plenty of one-stop-shop web hosting companies to choose from including Wix, SquareSpace, GoDaddy, and more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Since the exact steps you\u2019ll need to take depend on which web host you choose, we recommend contacting your web host\u2019s support team if you run into technical problems.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Tip #1: Your domain name is your digital \u201caddress\u201d for your website, so we recommend keeping it as short as possible. For example, if your business name is \u201cJohnny Appleseed Lawn Care Maintenance\u201d, consider something short like appleseedlawncare.com or johnnyappleseedlawncare.com.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Tip #2: We also recommend choosing the \u201c.com\u201d option if possible, instead of \u201c.net\u201d or \u201c.business\u201d but those are fine too.<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you chose a one-stop-shop web host in the previous step (SquareSpace, Wix, etc), you will likely be given a choice of templates to choose from for your website.<\/span><\/p>\r\n While we highly recommend that you eventually build a multi-page, SEO optimized website for your business, you can start with something simple at the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you go the simple route, you can create a one-page website that has your business name, your logo, and a little information about your business. Several things we highly recommend including on your website include:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Feeling overwhelmed? We can help! Our team at Sharp Innovations has been building, designing, and hosting websites for more than 20 years. <\/span>Request a free consultation<\/span><\/a> to see how we can serve your business!<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you\u2019ve finished Phases 1 and 2 above, you\u2019ve made great progress!<\/span><\/p>\r\n But there\u2019s one more step that many business owners forget or don\u2019t know about. If you miss this step, your business might not always show up when people search for it on Google.<\/span><\/p>\r\n That step is to submit your business\u2019 contact information to relevant business listing websites. Although this may help you to get your business exposure on other websites, the main reason to do this is to show Google that your business\u2019 name, address, and phone number are listed in the same way on multiple websites.<\/span><\/p>\r\n There is a way to do this for free, although it is more time-consuming and less effective. The free way is to manually submit your business information to multiple websites and business directories. Some common sites include Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Foursquare, and more. You can find other sites by searching Google for \u201cservice type\u201d + directories. For example \u201croofing contractor directories\u201d or \u201cfamily law firm directories\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n The easier and more effective way to do this is to have a team of experts handle this process for you. Our team at Sharp Innovations has provided this service to countless local businesses, and we\u2019d be honored to help you as well. <\/span>Get in contact with our team <\/span><\/a>to see how we can help!<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you have done all of the steps above and your business still isn\u2019t showing up on Google search or Google Maps, follow our advice on our other blog post where we answer the question \u201c<\/span>Why Doesn\u2019t My Business Show Up On Google Maps<\/span><\/a>?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n Getting your business to show up on Google when people search for your business name is an important first step. Without that, your exposure is limited to only word of mouth and offline advertising.<\/span><\/p>\r\n However, if your business <\/span>only<\/span><\/i> shows up when people search for your business name and it does <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> show up when people search for services your business offers, then you are missing out on a lot of potential customers or clients.<\/span><\/p>\r\n But to learn how to do this is beyond the scope of this guide, and it\u2019s so complicated and time-consuming that instead of trying to do it themselves, most business owners hire this work out to<\/span> a professional SEO (Search Engine Optimization) company<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n We hope this guide has helped you to make your business show up on Google. If you have specific questions, please use the comments feature below or reach out to our team directly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Once you verify your Google Business Profile, it typically takes up to 3 days for your listing to appear publicly on Google Search and Maps. In some cases, it may take longer if Google needs to review your information or if there are inconsistencies with your business data online.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n
Start with the Google Basics<\/h2>\r\n
Phase 1: How to Create A Google Business Profile To Get Listed On Google Maps<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-22-at-9.27.44-AM-1024x527.png\")
Step 1: Log in to your Google account.<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 2: Go to Google Business<\/h3>\r\n
![\"first](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-22-at-10.01.23-AM-1024x663.png\")
Step 3: Type Out The Name Of Your Business<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Sharp](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-1.44.54-AM.png\")
Step 4: Choose Your Business Category<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-1.41.43-AM-1024x729.png\")
Step 5: Does Your Business Have A Physical Location?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-1.48.36-AM-1024x707.png\")
Step 6: Type Out Your Business Address<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 7: Check For An Existing Listing<\/h3>\r\n
![\"GMB](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/gmbsetup_06_match-your-business-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"serve](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-9.51.36-AM-1024x550.png\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nStep 8: Your Business’ Service (style)\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n
![\"google](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-2.08.08-AM-1024x566.png\")
<\/p>\r\nStep 9: Areas You Serve<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-2.11.44-AM-1024x589.png\")
Step 10: Your Business’ Contact Details<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"enter](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-9.57.01-AM-1024x766.png\")
![\"Verify](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-10.08.43-AM-1024x858.png\")
<\/p>\r\nStep 11: Add Services<\/h3>\r\n
![\"enter](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-10.12.49-AM-1024x811.png\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nStep 12: Add Business Hours<\/h3>\r\n
![\"update](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-10.14.36-AM-1024x820.png\")
<\/p>\r\nStep 13: Add a Business Description<\/h3>\r\n
![\"add](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-10.17.06-AM-1024x796.png\")
<\/p>\r\nStep 14: Photos of Your Business<\/h3>\r\n
![\"add](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-10.19.22-AM-1024x857.png\")
<\/p>\r\nStep 15: Advertising (Optional)<\/h3>\r\n
![\"advertising](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-10.21.26-AM-1024x786.png\")
<\/p>\r\nStep 16: Google Workspace (Optional Paid Service)<\/h3>\r\n
![\"google](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-10.24.19-AM-1024x819.png\")
<\/p>\r\nStep 17: Click Finish (Almost Done!)<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Final](\"https:\/\/www.sharpinnovations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-at-10.25.50-AM-1024x813.png\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nStep 18: Choose A Verification Option<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
Step 19: Finish The Verification Process<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
How to Get Your Google Business Profile Higher on Google<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
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<\/b>Business owners no longer need a separate dashboard. Just search for your business name while logged into your business email account in Google Search or Maps to edit your profile, add hours, respond to <\/span>Google reviews<\/b>, upload photos, and more \u2014 and do this regularly. By keeping your information updated, accurate, and timely, you can enhance your business\u2019s reputation and authenticity.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
<\/b>Google Business Profile now includes direct messaging (like a chat feature), a Questions & Answers section, and user reviews. Engaging with these regularly not only improves customer experience but can positively impact your local ranking. Responding to positive and negative reviews shows that customer service is an important part of your business operations.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
<\/b>With Google\u2019s AI-driven search experiences (like SGE), content that\u2019s structured, concise, and helpful is more likely to be featured. Use natural language and answer common customer questions clearly to boost visibility in both AI snippets and voice searches.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nGenerative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Google Business Profiles<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
Why AI and GEO Matters for Your Google Business Profile<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
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Phase 2: Create A Website For Your Business To Show Up on \u201cGoogle Search\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
Step 1: Setup Your Domain Name And Hosting<\/b><\/h4>\r\n
Step 2: Create Your Website<\/b><\/h4>\r\n
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Phase 3: Publicize Your Business\u2019 Name, Address, and Phone Number<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
What\u2019s Next? Here\u2019s How To Get Even More People To Find Your Business<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Your Business on Google<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
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