When someone searches "barber near me" or "car repair Timisoara," Google shows the map and a few businesses first. Websites come after.
What appears there comes from your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). If you're asking "how do I show up on Google?", this is where the answer starts, and you can fill the profile in yourself, no developer needed.
Start with the basics: name, category, address, hours
The name on the profile must be your real business name. No keywords stuffed into it, because Google can suspend a profile for that.
The primary category is the most important choice in the whole profile. Pick the one that describes exactly what you do, not a general one.
Then add secondary categories for your other services. A dental practice that also does orthodontics should have both.
Your address and phone number should be identical to the ones on your website and social media. Small differences confuse both customers and Google.
Few things annoy a customer more than arriving at a closed door when Google said "Open."
Update your hours every time they change, and set public holidays and vacation days separately.
It takes two minutes and saves you from bad reviews you didn't deserve.
Real photos, added regularly
People want to see where they're going and what they'll get. Stock photos help nobody.
Add photos of the storefront (so people find you easily), the interior, the team, and your work or products.
Don't upload everything in one day and then nothing for a year. A few new photos now and then show the business is alive.
A half-finished profile tells the customer you do half-finished work too.
Reviews: ask for them and reply to all of them
Reviews carry a lot of weight, both for Google and for the person choosing between you and the business next door.
Ask simply, right after a job well done, with the direct link to the review form. Don't offer discounts or gifts in exchange, it's against the rules.
Reply to every review, good or bad. With negative ones, stay calm and to the point: acknowledge the problem, explain briefly, offer a fix.
The reply isn't only for the person who wrote it. It's for everyone who reads it afterwards.
Posts, services and questions
These are the sections almost everyone leaves empty, so this is where you can stand out easily.
- Fill in the list of services or products, with short, clear descriptions
- Publish posts with news, offers or recent work
- Prepare answers to the questions you get most often and put them in your profile and on your website
- Tick the attributes that apply to you (parking, card payment, stroller access)
Check the profile once a month. Google changes options from time to time, and anyone can suggest edits to your business details.
The profile and the website work together
A good profile brings people to your door. The website convinces them and gives the details that don't fit on a map.
If you want to know how your profile compares to the competitors in your area, write to us. We'll look at it together and tell you what's worth changing first.