Google Business Profile: a step by step setup guide

A Google Business Profile is free and you set it up at business.google.com. It is often the first thing customers see when they search for “joiner Schlanders” or “guesthouse Prad am Stilfserjoch”. With accurate details, good photos and well managed reviews, you are easier to find. Here is how.

Set up your profile in six steps

You need a Google account, ideally one just for the business. Have your address, phone number, opening hours, website and a few good photos ready. Also check that your name, address and phone number are written the same way everywhere: on your website, on social media and in local directories.

1. Account: sign in at business.google.com with your Google account.
2. Name: enter your real business name only. No keywords like “best plumber Vinschgau”, because Google can suspend the profile.
3. Category: pick a precise main category and, if needed, a few additional ones.
4. Address or service area: the address must be real. If customers do not come to you, hide the address and add your service area instead, such as Mals, Schlanders and Meran.
5. Opening hours: add accurate hours, including bank holidays.
6. Verification: Google decides how to verify you. It may be by video, phone or text message, email or a postcard.

Make your profile convincing

• Photos: logo, cover image, your work and your team. Real photos beat stock images. Add new ones now and then, for example every season.
• Services: list your main services, one per line, in plain words.
• Description: say who you are and what you do, naturally and with your location. Write for people, not for Google.
• Contact details: website, phone and, if you use them, a booking link or WhatsApp.

Reviews and posts

After every job, ask for a review and send the direct link to your profile. Reply to every review, including critical ones, calmly and personally. Readers see straight away how you treat your customers. Posts let you share news, offers or a job you have just finished. A few lines and a photo are enough. The same goes for guesthouses and farm stays: a photo of breakfast or the autumn view says more than a long text.

What to expect

A well kept profile helps people find you, but nobody can guarantee a specific position on Google. Consistency is what counts: up to date details, fresh photos, regular reviews and posts. Your profile is also a source for assistants like ChatGPT, which increasingly answer local questions.

Your next step

Short on time? We can handle it: Google profile care is included in our “Digitaler Rest” subscription at 450 € per month. Learn more about visibility on Google and ChatGPT, see our prices or book a free first call.

Frequently asked questions