When someone in Lahore searches "bakery near me" or someone in Karachi looks up "AC repair Gulshan", Google often shows a map with a few businesses underneath. Those listings come from Google Business Profile, a free tool from Google.
If your business serves customers in person or in a local area, a Business Profile is one of the most useful free things you can set up. This guide walks you through it.
What a Google Business Profile does
- Shows your business on Google Maps and in local search results
- Displays your address or service area, phone number, opening hours and website
- Lets customers leave reviews, ask questions and get directions
- Shows photos of your shop, products or work
It is free. Be careful of anyone who calls claiming you must pay Google to "stay listed"; that is a common scam.
Before you start
Prepare these details so the setup is quick:
- Your business name exactly as it appears on your signboard and documents
- Your address, or the areas you serve if customers do not visit you
- A phone number you actually answer
- Your main business category, for example "Restaurant" or "Plumber"
- Opening hours
- Your website address, if you have one
- A Google account (a Gmail account works) that the business owner controls
Create the profile with an account the owner controls, not a staff member's personal account. If that person leaves, you could lose access.
Step by step: creating your profile
- Go to google.com/business and sign in with your Google account.
- Enter your business name. If Google suggests an existing listing that is yours, claim it instead of creating a new one.
- Choose your business category. Pick the one that best describes your main service; you can add more later.
- Decide whether customers can visit you. If yes, add your address. If you visit customers (like a repair service), add your service areas instead, and your home address stays hidden.
- Add your phone number and website.
- Follow the prompts to verify your business (see below).
- Once verified, add your hours, photos, services and a short description.
Verification
Google needs to confirm the business is real and that you manage it. Depending on your business, Google may ask you to verify by phone or SMS, email, a short video of your location and signage, or a postcard sent to your address. You cannot always choose the method; Google shows the options available to you.
Video verification is common. Google usually asks you to show your signboard or location outside, something that proves you manage the business (like the inside of the shop or your tools), and your street or surroundings. Record it in one continuous clip and follow Google's instructions on screen.
Verification can take from a few minutes to several days. If it is rejected, check that your name, address and category match what is visible in the video, then try again.
How to make your profile stand out
- Use your real business name. Adding keywords like "Best Pizza Lahore" to your name breaks Google's guidelines and can get the profile suspended.
- Add good photos. Your storefront, inside, products and team. Real photos build trust.
- Keep hours accurate, including Ramadan and holiday hours.
- Write a clear description of what you offer and where.
- Add your services or menu with short descriptions.
- Ask happy customers for reviews, and reply to reviews politely, including the negative ones.
- Post updates occasionally: offers, new products or events.
Connect it to your website
Your Business Profile and website work best together. Link your website from the profile, and make sure your business name, address and phone number are written the same way on both. Consistent details help Google trust that the information is correct.
A profile gets you on the map; a good website turns that visit into a call or booking. Our guide to local SEO for small businesses in Pakistan explains how the two fit together.
Need help?
Setting up a profile is something most owners can do themselves. If you would rather have it handled, or you want your website and local search set up together, see our SEO service or email hello@auravestudio.com.