Google Business Profile is a free tool for managing your business's appearance on Google Search and Maps. This guide covers how to set it up, get verified, manage your information, and use it to attract more customers through reviews.
By Abhishek Gharat Last updated
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) determines what a potential customer sees when they search for your business name or a relevant category near your location. It controls:
Your direct Google review link takes customers straight to the write-a-review form without them needing to search for your business. To find it:
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Google Business Profile (GBP) is a free platform that lets businesses manage how they appear across Google Search and Google Maps. When someone searches for your business name or a service category near them, your Business Profile is what appears in the Knowledge Panel (the card on the right of search results) and in the Map Pack (the three local results with pins). It includes your business name, address, hours, photos, and — critically — your Google reviews.
Go to business.google.com and sign in with your Google account. Search for your business. If it already exists (Google often creates basic listings from web data), claim it and verify ownership. If it doesn't exist, create a new listing. Verification usually happens via a postcard sent to your business address with a PIN, though phone and email verification are available for some business types.
Google uses reviews as a primary 'Prominence' signal in its local ranking algorithm. More reviews, higher ratings, and more recent reviews all correlate with better Map Pack placement for relevant local searches. Review content also matters — reviews that mention specific services, products, and locations help Google understand your relevance for those queries.
Business owners cannot delete any Google review. You can flag (report) reviews that violate Google's policies — fake reviews, spam, conflicts of interest, off-topic content — and Google may remove them after investigation. Genuine negative reviews from real customers are not removable, regardless of how unfair they seem.
At minimum: accurate business name, address, phone number, website URL, and hours (including holiday hours). Also: your primary category (the most important ranking signal after location), at least 5 photos, a complete business description with relevant service keywords, and your service list. Profiles with complete information rank better and convert more visitors.
Yes, creating and managing a Google Business Profile is completely free. There are no fees for the listing, its features, or for appearing in Google Search and Maps results. Google's revenue comes from Google Ads, which is a separate, optional paid advertising service that can be linked to your profile.
There is no longer a separate login page or dashboard. To manage your profile, sign in to the Google Account used for management. Then, search for your exact business name on Google Search or navigate to it on Google Maps. A private management panel will appear directly in the search results or on the map, allowing you to edit your profile, view performance, and respond to reviews.
No, the standalone 'Google My Business' mobile app was discontinued in 2022. All profile management is now done directly within the Google Maps app or the Google Search app on your phone. You must be signed in to the correct Google Account to see the management options.
Google does not provide a public helpline number for GBP support. The official method is to use the support contact form available in your Business Profile Manager. You can access this by clicking the help icon, describing your issue, and following the prompts. This may lead to options for email support or a callback from Google's team. Be cautious of any third-party service that claims to offer direct phone support for a fee.
They are the same tool. 'Google My Business' (GMB) was the former name. In late 2021, Google rebranded the platform to 'Google Business Profile' (GBP) and began phasing out the old GMB dashboard and mobile app in favor of direct management through Google Search and Maps.
Yes. You can add and manage multiple business profiles under a single Google Account. For businesses with 10 or more locations, Google provides tools for bulk management and verification through a feature called Location Groups, which simplifies updating information across all your profiles at once.
Once your Google Business Profile is verified, you manage it directly on Google Search and Maps. There is no separate dashboard website or app. To make changes:
Verification is how Google confirms you are the legitimate owner of a business at a specific address. You cannot manage your profile until verification is complete. Common methods include:
The verification options available to you will be shown during the setup process.
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