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• Use this when

  Use this when creating a profile, claiming an existing listing, opening a new location, or repairing an incomplete listing.

• Category

  Google and Local Visibility

• Format

  Checklist

• Time required

  30–60 minutes

• What it helps you do

  Set up the essential information customers need to find, understand, contact, and visit your business.

Before you begin

• □ Use a Google account controlled by the business, not a former employee or outside vendor.

• □ Gather the exact business name, address, phone, website, hours, categories, services, description, logo, and current photos.

• □ Confirm whether customers visit your location, you serve customers at their location, or both.

• □ Check whether duplicate listings already exist.

Create or claim the profile

• □ Search Google and Maps for the business name and address.

• □ Claim the existing profile when one is already present instead of creating a duplicate.

• □ Complete Google’s verification process.

• □ Add trusted owners or managers with the appropriate access level.

Complete the core information

• □ Enter the real-world business name without extra keywords.

• □ Select the most accurate primary category.

• □ Add only relevant secondary categories.

• □ Enter the correct address or service area.

• □ Add the primary phone number and website.

• □ Set regular hours and special hours.

Explain the business

• □ Write a plain-English business description.

• □ Name the main products, services, experiences, or specialties.

• □ Include location and service-area language naturally.

• □ Add service or product descriptions where available.

• □ Link booking, ordering, menu, appointment, or reservation actions to the most useful page.

Add visual proof

• □ Upload a clear logo.

• □ Choose a representative cover image.

• □ Add exterior photos so customers can recognize the location.

• □ Add interior, team, product, service, room, food, project, or experience photos.

• □ Avoid misleading, heavily filtered, or outdated images.

Prepare for ongoing management

• □ Create a simple process for asking real customers for reviews.

• □ Assign someone to monitor questions, messages, edits, and reviews.

• □ Update holiday hours and seasonal information.

• □ Add new photos regularly.

• □ Review performance and customer actions each month.

Next Step

• Your next move

  Complete accuracy and verification before focusing on posts, review volume, or advanced optimization.