Claim and verify first
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the free listing that feeds the map pack and the panel on the right of search. Search your business name, claim it, and complete verification (usually by video, phone, or postcard). Nothing ranks until you're verified.
Complete every field — completeness is a ranking signal
- Name — your real business name, exactly as it appears in the real world. Don't stuff keywords; it violates the guidelines and can get you suspended.
- Primary category — the single most important relevance lever. Pick the most specific category that fits, then add secondary categories.
- Services / products — list them with short descriptions. These help you match more searches.
- Hours, phone, website, address — accurate and kept current. Holiday hours matter.
- Photos — real, high-quality photos of your storefront, team, and work. Profiles with photos get meaningfully more clicks and direction requests.
- Description & attributes — write naturally for a human; add attributes (wheelchair accessible, women-owned, etc.).
Keep it alive
Post updates, answer questions in the Q&A, and respond to reviews. An active profile signals a real, operating business — exactly what Google wants to recommend.