Claim it, verify it, and get the basics exact

Before anything else, make sure the profile is yours, and that the details Google repeats about you are exactly right. Wrong hours or an old phone number cost you calls, and Google's AI repeats them too.

Own it, and don't own it alone

• Search “my business” on Google while signed in. If your profile doesn't come up, find your business on Google Maps and choose “Own this business?” to claim it.
• Google will ask you to verify. Most businesses now do it with a short video showing the business, your signage or your tools, and something that shows you run it.
• Add a second owner or manager you trust, so you're never locked out if someone leaves or an account is lost. Add people as users rather than sharing a password.

The basics, exactly

• Name: your real business name, as it appears on your sign, your van and your website. Adding keywords or towns (“Smith Heating | Best Furnace Repair Des Moines”) breaks Google's guidelines and can get a profile suspended.
• Address or service area: if customers come to you, show your address. If you go to them, hide it and list the towns you cover instead. Google allows up to 20 service areas; list the ones you really go to.
• Phone: your main local number, the same one as on your website.
• Website: your homepage, or each location's own page if you have more than one.
• Hours: your real hours, plus holiday hours before each holiday, so nobody drives over to a locked door.

One version everywhere

Use exactly the same name, address and phone on your website, your profile and every directory you're listed on. Small differences make it harder for Google and AI to be sure it's all the same business. The free listing check walks you through finding and fixing the old versions.