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7 min

Google My Business Guide

6 steps for better local SEO.

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BeoHosting Team

10+ years of experience — Web hosting and infrastructure specialists

Last updated:

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the single most important tool for local SEO. A well-optimized profile can drive more leads than your entire website. This guide walks you through six steps: creating your profile, postcard verification, optimization, getting reviews, posting updates, and tracking results.

Google My Business Guide

1

Create your Google Business Profile

Go to google.com/business and sign in with a Google account. Enter business name, choose a primary category (most important — affects which searches you appear in), add address, phone and website. If you operate without a public address (service-area business), tick that option.

2

Verify ownership

Google typically sends a postcard with a verification code to the business address — arrives in 5-14 days. Some categories qualify for instant phone or video verification. Without verification, the profile is not visible in search results.

3

Complete every field

Add business hours (including holidays), services or products with prices, photos (logo, exterior, interior, team, products), description (750 characters), attributes (wheelchair accessible, Wi-Fi, free parking) and a booking link. A complete profile ranks higher.

4

Collect Google reviews

Reviews are the strongest ranking signal in local SEO. Generate a direct review link from the dashboard and share it with happy customers via email, SMS or printed QR code. Respond to every review — positive and negative — within 48 hours.

5

Publish weekly posts

Posts (announcements, offers, events) appear directly in your profile and signal to Google that the business is active. Add a photo, 300-character description and a call-to-action button. Aim for at least one post per week.

6

Track performance via Insights

The Insights tab shows: how many people found your profile, what searches they used, how many called or asked for directions, and which photos performed best. Use this data to refine your description and categories.

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FAQ

Answers to the most common questions about our services.

Yes, Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is completely free. There are no hidden fees for creating a profile, posting updates or responding to reviews. Google also offers paid options for advertising (Google Ads), but the profile itself is free for all businesses.

Postcard verification usually takes 5-14 days. In some cases Google offers fast verification via phone or email, which takes only minutes. Video verification is also available for some business categories. You cannot speed up the postcard process — Google sends a postcard with a unique code that you enter in your profile.

No, a website is not required for Google Business Profile. However, a website significantly improves local SEO and adds credibility. Google often pulls information from your site into search results. BeoHosting offers affordable hosting from €4.30 per month so you can launch a professional site quickly.

The most effective method is to ask happy customers directly — in person, via email or SMS. Generate a direct review link from your Google Business Profile and share it. Do not offer gifts or discounts for reviews — this violates Google policy. Also respond to every existing review, which motivates others to leave one too.

Most common reasons: profile not verified, profile incomplete (missing key info), wrong category selected, no reviews or negative reviews, or a duplicate profile with the same data. Verify the profile, fill in every field and start collecting reviews.

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