Someone searches “cakes under 24 hours in Lagos,” “hair salon near me,” or “car repair shop in Ikeja.”

Your business offers exactly what they need, but if Google doesn't know enough about you, it becomes much harder for that customer to find you.

That is where a Google Business Profile comes in.

A Google Business Profile helps businesses manage how they appear across Google Search and Google Maps, including important information such as their location or service area, opening hours, phone number, website, photos, and customer reviews. It is free to create and manage.

It is also what you may remember as Google My Business. Google changed the name to Google Business Profile, so if you are searching for how to set up a Google My Business account, you are essentially looking for the same thing.

Here is how to set up a Google Business Profile step by step.

Yes. Google Business Profile is free.

You can create or claim an eligible Business Profile and manage your business information on Google Search and Maps without paying Google for the listing.

You may decide to spend money on Google Ads or other marketing activities separately, but you do ’t need to pay to create the Business Profile itself.

The exact questions Google shows you can vary depending on your business, but the overall process is straightforward.

You need a Google Account to create and manage your Business Profile.

If you already have one you want associated with the business, sign in and continue.

If you do not, create a Google Account first. You may want to use a dedicated business account rather than an employee's personal account, especially if more people will eventually need to help manage the profile.

Then go to Google Business Profile to begin.

Do not immediately create a new profile.

Your business might already appear on Google Search or Maps even if you were not the person who originally added it. Creating another listing could result in duplicate profiles when what you actually need to do is claim the existing one.

Search your business name and location on Google Search or Maps.

If you find the correct business, you can begin the process of claiming it.

If your business does not already have a profile, select the option to add your business and follow Google's instructions.

If you find an existing unclaimed profile, choose the option to claim and manage it.

If someone else already manages the Business Profile, select Request Access, complete the ownership request form, and Google will send your request to the current owner for approval. 

Enter the name customers actually know your business by.

Google's guidelines suggest your Business Profile name should reflect the business's real-world name as it is consistently represented on your website, social media, and other branding.

Be specific. Your category helps Google understand what kind of business you operate and can affect which features are available on your profile.

How does your business actually serve customers?

You may have a physical location customers visit, travel to customers yourself, or operate as a hybrid business that does both.

If customers regularly visit your location during your stated business hours, you can provide the address.

If you travel to customers and do not serve them at your address, set up the business as a service-area business and remove the address from the public profile. Google specifically says businesses should hide addresses where they do not serve customers.

If customers visit your business, provide an accurate physical location.

If you are a service-area business, tell Google the areas where you provide your services instead.

A mobile mechanic, for example, may not need customers to come to a workshop. The mechanic goes to them. The relevant information is therefore the area the business serves.

Google currently allows service-area businesses to specify areas such as cities and postal codes rather than defining the area by a radius.

Now make it easy for someone who finds your business to take the next step.

Add your correct phone number and website where applicable.

This is also a good time to think beyond simply being found. If you are trying to attract more customers online, our guide to proven strategies for growing your business in Nigeria explores other ways businesses can build visibility and turn that attention into growth.

Google needs to verify that you are authorised to manage the business.

This is one area where you should be careful with older Google Business Profile tutorials because the verification process has changed over time.

Google determines which verification methods are available to your business. Depending on the business and other factors, these may include methods such as video recording, phone or SMS, email, live video call, or mail. Google may also require more than one method.

Verification gives you control of the profile.

Depending on the features available to your business, complete information such as:

Give someone who discovers you through Google enough information to decide whether your business is relevant to what they need.

Setting up a Google Business Profile is something you may do once.

Managing it is ongoing.

If your opening hours change, update them. If your phone number changes, replace it. If you move locations, make sure customers are not still being sent to the old address.

The goal is for someone to search for what you offer, discover your business, and find enough accurate information to take the next step.

If you came here looking for how to set up a Google Business Profile, these are the most important things to remember:

To set up a Google Business Profile, sign in to your Google Account and first check whether your business already appears on Google. If it does not, add the business and provide information such as its name, category, location or service area, and contact details. You will then need to complete the verification method Google makes available to your business before fully managing the profile.

Yes. A Google Business Profile is free to create and manage for eligible businesses. It allows you to manage how information about your business appears on Google Search and Maps without paying for the listing.

Google My Business is now called Google Business Profile. If you are searching for how to set up Google My Business, the current process is to create or sign in to a Google Account, add or claim your eligible business through Google Business Profile, and complete Google's verification process.

If another person already manages your Business Profile, locate the business through Google and select the option to request access or ownership. Complete the form with your details and submit the request. Google will notify the current profile owner, who can approve or reject your request.

Search for your business on Google first. If it does not have a Business Profile, you can add it and follow the setup instructions. If the business already has an unclaimed profile, select the option to claim it and complete the verification process rather than creating a duplicate listing.

Yes, if you operate an eligible service-area business that travels to customers. You can provide your address to Google when required for setup or verification while hiding it from customers if you do not serve customers there. You can then specify the areas your business serves.

A newly created or recently changed Business Profile may not appear immediately. First, check whether the profile has been verified and whether it complies with Google's Business Profile guidelines. Google also notes that edits can sometimes take time to appear. If the profile is verified but still cannot be found, review its status for restrictions or other issues before creating another profile.

A Google Business Profile can support local SEO by giving Google accurate information about your business, including what it does and where it operates. Google says local results are mainly determined by relevance, distance, and how well-known or prominent a business is. Having a profile does not guarantee a top ranking, but complete and accurate information can help Google match a business with relevant local searches.

Till next time,

Team Thrive

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