Find and Manage Your Google Business Profile

Table of Contents

1. What is a Google Business Profile?
2. Why Your Business Needs a GBP in 2025
3. How to Find Your Existing Google Business Profile
4. Claiming or Creating a New GBP
5. Verifying Your Business with Google
6. Managing Your Google Business Profile Dashboard
7. Optimising Your Profile for Maximum Visibility
8. Using Google Posts to Keep Customers Engaged
9. Managing and Responding to Reviews
10. Tracking Performance with Google Business Insights
11. Avoiding Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Visibility
12. How Connect SEO Can Help You Manage and Grow Your GBP
13. Recommended YouTube Video for Visual Learners
14. Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Local Presence

1. What is a Google Business Profile?

A Google Business Profile is a free listing that appears in Google Search and Google Maps when someone searches for your business name or relevant keywords. It displays key information such as:

• Business name, address, and contact information (NAP).
• Business hours.
• Reviews and ratings.
• Photos and videos.
• Website and appointment links.
• Services or product offerings.

It acts as your digital storefront, helping potential customers find you, trust you, and contact you.

2. Why Your Business Needs a GBP

Stat to Consider: According to Google, businesses with verified listings are 2.7 times more likely to be considered reputable by users.

Here’s what makes GBP a critical tool for success:

• High Local Intent: 76% of users who search for something nearby on their phone visit a related business within a day.
• Voice Search Optimisation: GBP data is used by voice assistants like Google Assistant.
• Map Ranking Factor: It's one of the top three factors in Google’s local pack algorithm.
• Reputation Management: Reviews play a huge role in trust and click-through rates.
• Zero-Click Searches: Many users find what they need from the profile alone—no website is needed.

3. How to Find Your Google Business Profile

If you're unsure whether your business already has a Google listing, follow these steps:

Method 1: Google Search

• Search your business name + city on Google (e.g. “Baker’s Delight, Leeds”).
• If a profile shows on the right side (desktop) or at the top (mobile), your listing likely exists.

Method 2: Google Maps

• Open Google Maps and type in your business name.
• If it appears with an address and hours, you have a GBP.

Method 3: Google Business Manager

• Go to https://www.google.com/business/
• Sign in and check the list of profiles under your account.

If You Can't Find It:

• It may not exist (create a new one).
• It may be owned by someone else (to claim the profile).
• It may be suspended (requiring reinstatement).

4. Steps to claim or create a New Business Profile

If your profile exists but isn’t claimed, or you need to create one, follow these steps:

Step 1: Sign In

Visit https://www.google.com/business/ and log in with your Google account.

Step 2: Search for Your Business

Enter your business name. If it appears, select it. If not, click “Add your business to Google.”

Step 3: Choose Business Category

Choose a relevant business category, e.g. “SEO Agency,” “Bakery,” “Electrician,” etc. This determines your search visibility.

Step 4: Add Address and Contact Info

• Physical location (if applicable).
• Phone number.
• Website URL.

Step 5: Choose Verification Method

You'll be prompted to verify your business. More on that in the next section.

5. Verifying Your Business Profile

Verifying your profile confirms to Google that you are the rightful owner. Verification options include:

Postcard by Mail

• Google sends a postcard with a code to your business address.
• Arrives in 5–12 days.
• Enter the code online to complete verification.

Phone Verification (if eligible)

• Automated call or SMS to your business line with a code.
• Immediate verification.

Email Verification

• A code sent to your business email.
• Only available for select businesses.

Instant Verification

• Available if you've already verified your business through Google Search Console.

Video Verification

• Requires a live or recorded walkthrough of your location and proof of presence.

6. Navigating the Google Business Profile dashboard

Once verified, you will be taken to the GBP Manager. This is your command centre for controlling everything that appears in search.

Key Features You Can Manage:

• Info Tab: Edit name, address, hours, website, attributes (e.g., open 24/7).
• Posts: Share updates, offers, events, and promotions.
• Photos & Videos: Add business logo, team pictures, products, etc.
• Reviews: Monitor and respond to customer reviews.
• Services/Products: List what you offer, including descriptions and pricing.
• Insights: See how many views, clicks, calls, and direction requests your listing gets.

7. Optimising Your Profile for Maximum Visibility

Once your profile is verified, optimisation is where the real value begins. Here’s how to ensure your profile stands out and ranks well in local search:

Key Optimisation Areas:

• Business Description: Write a compelling, keyword-rich overview (750 characters max). Example: “Connect SEO is a results-driven digital marketing agency in UK, specialising in Google Business Profile optimisation and local SEO strategies.”

• Business Categories: Add a primary category and up to nine additional categories. Tip: Use specific terms like “Digital Marketing Consultant” instead of generic terms.

• Attributes: Select attributes relevant to your business (e.g. "wheelchair accessible”).

• Business Hours: Include holiday hours and keep them up to date.

• Photos: Add your logo, interior shots, product/service photos, and team pictures. Stat: Listings with photos receive 42% more requests for directions and 35% more website clicks.

8. Using Google Posts to Keep Customers Engaged

GBP allows businesses to publish posts, similar to mini social media updates, directly onto their profile.

Post Types:

• What’s New: Announcements, updates, new staff, behind-the-scenes.
• Events: Webinars, in-store events, seasonal promotions.
• Offers: Limited-time discounts or coupons.
• Product Highlights: Feature services or products with images and CTAs.

Best Practices

• Use high-quality images or short videos.
• Include a strong call-to-action (e.g., “Call Now,” “Book Today”).
• Keep it short and focused (150–300 words).

Posting Frequency: At least once weekly to show active engagement and boost freshness signals to Google.

9. Managing and responding to Reviews

Online reviews directly influence your business’s reputation and local ranking.

Why Reviews Matter:

• 89% of consumers read reviews before contacting a business.
• Businesses with positive and frequent reviews rank higher on Maps.

Tips to Maximise Reviews:

• Ask customers after a service or sale.
• Use a custom link (Google provides one in your dashboard).
• Offer small incentives (e.g., 10% off future services for honest feedback).

Responding to Reviews:

• Positive: Thank the customer and highlight something personal: “Thanks for trusting Connect SEO, Sarah! We loved helping your bakery boost its online visibility.”

• Negative: Respond professionally, offer to resolve offline, and don’t get defensive. “We’re sorry your experience didn’t meet expectations. Please contact us at support@connectseo.uk so we can make things right.”

10. Tracking Performance with Google Business Insights

GBP provides powerful analytics right from your dashboard.

Key metrics to monitor:

• Search Queries: See what keywords people used to find your business.
• Customer Actions: Website visits, calls, bookings, direction requests.
• Photo Views: Compare how your images perform against competitors.
• Profile Views: Breakdown by Maps vs Search.
• Direction Heatmaps: See where customers are coming from.

Use this data to:

• Refine your posts and descriptions.
• Identify popular services.
• Adjust business hours to align with customer interaction trends.

11. Avoiding Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Visibility

Even minor errors can prevent your profile from ranking well or showing at all.

Mistakes to Avoid:

• Inconsistent NAP: Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone are the same across your website, social media, and directories.
• Using a PO Box or Virtual Address: It must be a real, physical business location.
• Wrong Business Category: Misclassification leads to poor search visibility.
• Unverified or Inactive Profile: Inactivity may result in your profile being hidden.
• Spammy Keywords: Keyword stuffing in the business name can lead to suspension.

12. How Connect SEO Can Help You Manage and Grow Your GBP

At Connect SEO, we specialise in building, optimising, and managing Google Business Profiles for small to mid-sized businesses.

Our services include:

• Full GBP Setup and Verification.
• Keyword Research and Category Optimisation.
• Content Strategy and Posting Schedule.
• Review Management and Response Templates.
• Performance Reporting and Monthly Insights.
• Profile Clean-up (NAP correction, duplicate removal).

🔗 Visit ConnectSEO.uk to get started.

13. Recommended YouTube Video

Video Title: “Google Business Profile 2025 FULL TUTORIAL – Set Up, Optimise & Rank”

Channel: Santrel Media

Why this video?

• Step-by-step visual guide.
• Updated for the latest GBP layout and features.
• Clear explanations of categories, Q&A, and ranking signals.

14. Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Local Presence

Google Business Profile is no longer just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a core asset for any local or service-based business. When managed properly, it becomes a high-converting digital storefront that drives traffic, boosts credibility, and increases revenue.

Whether you're setting up a new business, expanding to new locations, or trying to recover from a visibility slump—GBP is where to begin.

Let Connect SEO take the guesswork out of the process and help you turn your listing into a local lead engine.

📞 Ready to stand out? Contact Connect SEO now and we’ll build you a winning Google Business Profile that gets you found, trusted, and chosen.