Hey there! If you’ve ever searched for a “pizza place near me” or “skate shop” on your phone, you know exactly what pops up first. It’s that little map with the top three businesses listed.
As a marketer at OMAI Marketing, one of the very first things I do when a new client calls me is open up Google. I’m not looking for their fancy website yet I’m looking to see if they even exist on the map.
I’ll be honest with you: it’s actually kind of wild how many businesses are “invisible” because they haven’t touched their Google Business Profile (GBP) in years. Or worse, they don’t have one at all.
Why Should You Even Care?
Think about it this way: if you aren’t on the map, do you even exist to a customer who is ready to buy right now?
Most people think SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is this magical, complex math equation that takes years to master. And while some parts are tricky, the Google Business Profile is the “low-hanging fruit.” It’s the digital handshake you give a customer before they ever walk through your door.
But here’s the thing… is having a profile enough? Or is an outdated profile actually hurting your reputation more than not having one at all? Imagine a customer sees you’re “Open” on Google, drives 20 minutes, and finds a “Closed” sign. They aren’t just annoyed, they’re likely never coming back.
The Big Secret: Marketers love GBP because it’s a high-impact win. If we fix this for a client, their phone starts ringing almost immediately.
How to Do It Yourself (The “Pro” Way)
I promised I’d show you the ropes, so here is exactly how we set these up at OMAI Marketing. Grab a snack, because if you do this right, it’s going to take some focus.
Step 1: Claim or Create
Go to google.com/business. You’ll need a Gmail account. Search for your business name. If it pops up, click “Claim this business.” If not, click “Add your business to Google.”
Step 2: The Perfect Name (Don’t Cheat!)
Write your business name exactly as it is. Warning: Do not “keyword stuff.” If your shop is called “Tech Repair,” don’t name it “Tech Repair Best iPhone Screen Fixers in Dallas.” Google’s AI is smart in 2026 it will catch you and suspend your account.
Step 3: Choose Your Category
This is the most important part for ranking. Your Primary Category tells Google what you are. Be specific. Instead of just “Store,” pick “Vintage Clothing Store.” You can add secondary categories later, but the primary one is your bread and butter.
Step 4: Location & Service Area
- Have a shop? Put in your address.
- Work from home? You can hide your address and select “Service Areas” (like cities or zip codes) that you travel to.
Step 5: The “NAP” Consistency
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone. This must be identical everywhere on the internet. If you use “St.” on Google but “Street” on Facebook, Google gets confused. Pick one and stick to it.
Step 6: Verification (The Hard Part)
Google needs to know you’re real. They might send a postcard with a code (takes 5-10 days), ask for a phone code, or even require a live video call to show your equipment or storefront. Don’t skip this. If you aren’t verified, you don’t show up.
Step 7: Optimization (The “Marketer” Polish)
- Photos: Upload at least 10 high-quality photos. Show the outside, the inside, and your team. Profiles with photos get 35% more clicks.
- Hours: Make sure these are 100% accurate, especially for holidays.
- Description: Write a 750-character bio. Use natural language. Mention what makes you different.
Is Doing It Yourself Right for You?
Now, I’ve given you the blueprint. You could totally spend your Saturday afternoon setting this up, chasing down verification codes, resizing photos to 720 x 720 pixels, and making sure your “NAP” is consistent across the 50 other directories Google checks.
But I have to ask… with everything else you’ve got going on to run your business, how much of your time are you willing to spend on “technical chores” like this?
Setting it up is one thing, but maintaining it, responding to every review, posting weekly updates, and fighting off “suggested edits” from competitors, is a whole different animal.
Would you like me to take a quick look at your current online presence to see if there are any “red flags” holding your rankings back? At OMAI Marketing, we do this every day so you don’t have to worry about whether your “open” sign is actually showing up for your customers. If you’d rather spend your time actually running your business instead of playing tag with Google’s verification team, let’s chat.