In this guide
Help local customers find and contact you
A well-maintained Google Business Profile can help people understand your business before they visit your website. Start by checking whether you qualify, then make the information accurate and useful. Allow around an hour for preparation; verification may take longer.
Check eligibility first
Google generally requires in-person customer contact. If customers visit your premises, or you genuinely visit customers to provide your service, review the relevant business and address requirements. A business operating entirely through its website, email or telephone is not eligible just because its customers live locally. Homeworking alone does not establish eligibility.
A service area describes where you actually visit customers. It is not a list of towns where you would like bookings. Do not use a virtual office to create a local presence. If you qualify as a service-area business and do not receive customers at your address, follow Google's instructions for hiding it.
Check whether your business qualifies
Start with genuine in-person contact with customers.
Premises-based business
Check Google’s premises, signage and representation requirements before showing the address.
Service-area business
Check service-area eligibility and the rules for displaying or hiding your address.
Website, email and telephone
Online-only businesses are not eligible for a Google Business Profile.
Claim and verify your profile
Search for your business before creating another listing. Claim the existing profile, or request ownership if somebody else manages it. Use an account the business can retain access to and give colleagues their own appropriate access rather than sharing a password.
Follow the verification options Google presents. These can include video, phone, email or post; not every method is offered to every business. Do not promise yourself a particular completion date. Keep verification codes private and follow Google's on-screen instructions.
Complete the information customers need
Use the real business name and the most accurate category available for what you do. Check your phone number, website link and hours, including closures. Add a short description of the holidays you specialise in and how you help customers choose. The character limit is a maximum, not a writing target. Describe financial protection only in terms that are accurate for your business and the bookings concerned.
Suggested description framework
[Business] helps [customer group] plan [holiday types]. Based in [location], we offer [verified service or specialism]. Visit our website to explore [relevant range] or contact us to discuss your plans.
Add genuine photographs you have permission to use: your team, customer-facing premises where relevant, and appropriate examples of your work. Make it easy for people to recognise who they will be dealing with.
Use updates to support a real customer action
Share an event, useful guide or current offer when you have something worthwhile to communicate. Link directly to the matching page on your website. For an offer, check the dates, price basis, availability and conditions before posting. Update or remove outdated promotions. Posting is a customer communication task; there is no guaranteed ranking benefit from a weekly schedule.
Keep the details useful and accurate
A profile should help a customer understand and contact the real business.
Real name and appropriate category
Represent the business accurately without adding keyword-filled names.
Correct website and telephone
Use working contact routes that your team monitors.
Normal and special opening hours
Update changes so customers know when someone can respond.
Accurate services and genuine photographs
Describe what you actually offer and publish only images you may use.
Keep contact options current
The old Google Business Profile chat was discontinued. Some eligible profiles can add WhatsApp or text messaging. Use only the options available in your account and make sure somebody monitors them.
Your monthly check
Check contact details, hours, live links, photographs, reviews and expired offers. Record website visits and genuine enquiries where you can identify the source. Local results depend on several factors, including relevance, distance and prominence, so review growth is not a promise of a top-three position.
Complete this guide when your eligibility is checked, ownership is secure, information is accurate and the website link and contact routes have been tested.
Further reading
Sources and further help
Use the official guidance below when checking settings, eligibility and responsibilities. Platform features and rules can change.
