How to Add Your Business Location on Google Maps
Adding your business to Google Maps provides visibility and helps customers find your physical location. With over 1 billion monthly active users, Google Maps is the most popular online mapping service. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to add a business location on Google Maps to boost visibility and drive customer traffic.
Having an accurate and complete Google Maps listing is crucial for any brick-and-mortar business. According to a study by Search Engine Land, 97% of customers use online searches to find local businesses to patronize. Additionally, another survey found that 89% of smartphone users rely on search engines like Google when looking for business locations nearby.
With Google Maps being the most popular mapping service, adding your business ensures visibility in local searches. A Google study found that listings with complete information like images, street view, and accurate map pins get up to twice as many clicks as those without. Having your business properly displayed on Google Maps makes it easier for potential customers to learn about your company and visit your premises.
This article will guide you through the entire process of adding a business location on Google Maps, from creating a Google account to verifying your listing. Follow these steps, and you’ll have your company displayed accurately for customers searching locally.
Prerequisites
- A Google Account
- Ownership or Administrative Access to the Business
- Accurate Business Information
Step 1: Sign in or Create a Google Account
To get started, you’ll need a Google Account. If you already have one for services like Gmail, you can sign in with those credentials. Otherwise, go to google.com, and click “Sign In” at the top right. Then click “Create account” to set up a new profile.
Follow the prompts to add your basic information. Make sure you use a professional email and password you can remember. This same account will be used to manage your Maps listing moving forward.
Step 2: Search for Your Business on Google Maps
Before adding new information, you’ll need to check if your business already has an existing listing. Open Google Maps and enter your complete business name and location in the search bar. For example, “John’s Pizza Shop Los Angeles”.
If Google finds your business name at the correct address, click on the map pointer to open the information card. There will be options to suggest an edit or claim ownership of that listing.
If there’s no map pointer at your business location, it means your listing doesn’t yet exist. You’ll then need to add your location to Google Maps.
Step 3: Claim Your Business Listing
If Google Maps already had your business name and address registered but just needed more details added, then try claiming ownership of that profile.
On the listing card, click “Suggest an edit” and then “Claim this business” on the next page. This allows you to request admin access to make instant updates anytime.
You’ll need to verify ownership through one of these options:
Postcard Code Verification
Google will mail a postcard containing a PIN code to confirm you have access to that mailing address. Once received, enter the code to instantly verify.
Phone Verification
Receiving an automated call from Google to the official business phone number associated with your Google Maps listing.
Email Verification
Follow the email verification link sent to the business email address.
Instant Verification
In some cases Google can immediately confirm based on existing information pulled from sources like business directories.
Once your ownership claim request passes verification, you’ll receive an email granting access to instantly edit, add photos, update business hours, and more.
Step 4: Manually Add Your Business
If your business did not yet have any listing on Google Maps to take ownership of, then you’ll manually add your location.
On Google Maps access the side menu, and click the “Add a missing place” option. You can also get there from maps.google.com/addplace.
Enter your official registered business name and complete street address information. Avoid informal names or abbreviations. List the city, state, ZIP code, and country accurately.
Next, select your main category and any additional offered services. Add a business phone number that customers can call with questions.
Double check all details before submitting the new listing. You’ll need to go through a verification process within 14 days to confirm you have authority to represent that business location. Once the listing gets verified, you can add more details like photos, hours, and a website.
Step 5: Expand Your Business Listing Details
Now it’s time to make sure your Google Maps listing contains helpful information that presents your business positively. The more complete and accurate the details, the better.
Here are crucial things to include:
Photos and Virtual Tour
Add high-quality images showing your business location, both inside and out. Give potential customers a preview of what they can expect. Embed an online virtual tour for companies with large spaces.
Business Hours
Keeping the opening and closing times accurate helps visitors plan trips. Customers can save locations as favorites to always have those hours handy.
Services Offered
Include all products sold and services provided. If your offerings don’t fit in prescribed categories, check “Other services” and manually fill in.
Location Attributes
Share details like Wi-Fi availability, parking options, seating capacity, languages spoken, etc. Helpful for travelers making plans.
Website + Contact
Add URLs to your business website and social profiles so customers can learn more online. List phone numbers and email addresses for easy communication.
Step 6: Get Customer Reviews
One of the first things potential new customers will look at on your listing is the average star rating and Google reviews. Therefore, focus on providing excellent service that will prompt patrons to leave constructive feedback about their positive experience.
The best way to get more Google reviews is simply to ask happy customers to take a minute and write something online. Give them the direct URL (maps.google.com/addreview) or QR codes to make it fast and convenient. Patrons are usually willing to help when you make a request after they complete a purchase.
Step 7: Verify Your Listing
Finally, complete the verification process to confirm administrative access to the listing and unlock extended editing features. If you originally claimed an existing listing, then hopefully you already confirmed ownership.
If you manually added a new place, here are some common ways Google will verify before publishing:
Postcard With PIN
A verification postcard containing a PIN code will get mailed out for you to enter within 14 days. Government postal service takes time, so order immediately.
Phone Call
An automated call is placed to your official listed main business phone number. Press 1 to connect and verify ownership.
Check notifications for an email sent to your listed address asking to click a confirmation link. May end up in spam or promotions folders.
Video Chat
A live Google Maps associate may video chat to confirm location details and ownership legitimacy before final approval.
Step 8: Keep Information Updated
Your responsibility managing your Maps listing continues even after initial verification. Remember to promptly update anything that changes for your business. Keep photos, descriptions, hours, and other details accurate to avoid confusing potential patrons.
Refresh customer reviews regularly by asking satisfied clients to take a minute to leave feedback. Positive recent reviews with high star ratings will catch the eyes of prospective customers searching the area.
Setting up your Google Maps business listing takes effort upfront but saves new visitors time finding your location or researching your offerings. Completing and verifying your Maps profile establishes your location as legitimate and transparent to local searchers. Just follow our guide to start driving customer traffic from Google searches mapping directions straight to your front door today!
FAQ
Here are some common questions people have about adding their business location to Google Maps:
1. Is having a Google Maps listing important for my business?
Yes! 97% of customers search online to find local businesses, so having an accurate and complete Google Maps listing is crucial for visibility in their search results and driving directions. This increases your chances of them visiting your physical location.
2. What happens if I don’t verify my listing?
Without completing verification, your listing will remain unpublished. Customers searching Google Maps won’t find your business or be able to get directions to your address. Verifying confirms your listing’s legitimacy so customers can trust it.
3. Can I add multiple locations?
Yes! If your business has several locations, each address can have its own listing on Google Maps. Just repeat the steps in this guide to create and verify a profile for every premises. Make sure to train staff at each store to keep their respective listings updated.
4. Is there a fee to create and manage a listing?
No. Creating, updating, and claiming an existing Google Maps business listing is free. The service is designed to help customers find locations to visit, so it’s worth providing complete and accurate information about your company.
5. What happens if my business address or phone number changes?
It’s crucial you immediately update either of those critical contact details when they change. Log into Google Maps, visit your business listing, and submit edited address, phone, or other information to keep customers informed. An out of date location or disconnected phone number could negatively impact your visibility.
Conclusion
Having a verified Google Maps listing gives potential customers visibility of your business location and key information to contact you. Complete all the steps properly, from initial setup to undergoing verification, and keep updating details as needed. Accurately representing your business on Google Maps, the world’s most popular mapping service, drives positive exposure, website traffic, and new visitors to your door.
