Google Maps is a revolutionary navigation and mapping tool that has been around since 2005 to make going to places easier and quicker. Furthermore, using Google Maps has become the default behavior for a lot of people who are looking to go somewhere. In addition, it is also possible for business owners to register a business on Google Maps, and thus increase their visibility on Google platforms.
Therefore, in this article, we will be explaining how you can register a business on Google Maps.
If you would like to know about the alternatives to Google Maps, we recommend giving this article a look: “Ultimate Google Maps Guide For Beginners”
Why Register a Business on Google Maps?
Before we explain how to register a business on Google Maps, let’s take a look at a few reasons why you should register a business on Google Maps.
Google Maps has thousands, if not millions, of registered businesses that show up on the main map. When you register a business on Google Maps that belongs to you, you will gain a lot of benefits.
Firstly, when you register a business on Google Maps, you will increase the overall visibility of your business. This means that more and more people will become aware of your business if they happen to come across it on Google Maps.
Secondly, you will potentially see an increase in sales when you register a business on Google Maps, because once people become aware of your business, at some point, they might decide to do business with you, and this can potentially lead to more sales.
Lastly, you essentially set the foundation for the growth of your business when you register a business on Google Maps. When people visit your place of business, and if they are satisfied with your services or products, these people have the option to leave a positive review on Google Maps. Moreover, when other people read these positive reviews they will be assured that your business is reliable, and this will make more people visit your place of business.
For more information on Google Maps And Google Earth, please see the below article “Google Maps VS Google Earth: Ultimate Comparison Guide”
How to Register a Business on Google Maps
In this section, we will explain step by step how you can register a business on Google Maps.
To register a business on Google Maps, please follow the below steps:
- Sign in to Google Maps with your Google account to register a business on Google Maps.
- Click on the menu button, and select “Add your business”, you will be taken to the Google Business Profile Manager
- Follow the on-screen instructions and provide all the information you are asked for such as business name, address, contact information, delivery option, etc.
- Next, you will receive a postcard at your place of business with a verification code. This postcard usually takes 25 days to reach you and is needed to register a business on Google Maps.
- Enter the verification code to complete the registration
- Once the registration is complete, your business will be visible on Google Maps
Congratulations, you have successfully registered a business on Google Maps. Furthermore, you will get the following benefits when you register a business on Google Maps:
- Enable new customers can find you across all Google search platforms
- Access to your business analytics data
- Create promotional posts
- Reply to customer reviews
Moreover, now you can go to Google Business Profile Manager to:
- Complete your profile (which is created when you register a business on Google Maps) by updating or adding information such as opening hours, customer messaging, a business description, photos, etc.
- Claim free advertising credit that can be used to advertise your business using Google Ads
- Share news with your customers after you register a business on Google Maps
How to Claim a Business Already on Google Maps
In some cases, a business might already be listed on Google Maps (for some reason!) that belongs to you. In this case, you don’t need to register a business on Google Maps from scratch, because you can simply claim the existing business. Provided you are truly the owner of this business. Therefore, before you register a business on Google Maps, check to see if your business already exists on Google Maps.
One of the reasons why your business might already be on Google Maps (In which case you don’t need to register a business on Google Maps from the start) is that a customer might have visited your place of business, and he/she decided to add your business to Google Maps so that he/she could leave a review or upload a photo of your business. However, this person can not add any other information to your business listing, because they did not claim your business, all they did was create a listing. In this case, you don’t need to register a business on Google Maps, all you need to do is claim the business.
To claim a business already on Google Maps (in which case there is no need to register a business on Google Maps), please follow the below steps:
- Go to your already-created business listing on Google Maps, and click on it
- On the listing panel, click on “Claim this business” right above “Suggest an edit”
- On the next page, click on “Manage now”
- You will be asked to verify your business by receiving a postcard with a 5-digit code on it
- Once you enter the code, your business claim will be successful
Now that you have claimed the listing as your own business, you will now be able to edit and update your business profile using Google Business Profile Manager. Furthermore, you will not need to register a business on Google Maps from the start.
Verifying Your Business on Google
Whether you want to register a business on Google Maps or claim an already existing business, for both these procedures you will need to verify your business. Furthermore, verifying your business is one of the most important parts of registering a business on Google Maps.
Verification of your business, usually after you register a business on Google Maps, can be done in several ways, such as by phone, email, or through the Google Search Console. However, the most common way to verify your business on Google Maps is by having a postcard, containing a 5-digit code, delivered to your business address. Furthermore, all you have to do is send a request for the postcard along with a contact name. The postcard will arrive in about 25 days, and once you receive the postcard, enter the code in Google Business Profile Manager, and you will be good to go.
For more information about how to register a business on Google Maps or how to claim your business on Google Maps, please give this support article by Google a read.
Optimize your Registered Profile on Google Maps
Now that you know how to register a business on Google Maps, let’s discuss how you can take your business profile to the next level. It’s fairly obvious that a complete and detailed profile will gain the attention of more people. Therefore, in this section, we will show you how to optimize your business profile after you register a business on Google Maps.
1- Provide as Much Information as Possible
People are drawn to stuff that does not have any hidden details, and the same can be said about businesses that are displayed after owners register a business on Google Maps. Moreover, according to Google, people are 50% more likely to buy something from a complete profile. For example, if a business does not show its opening hours, this may discourage customers from coming to this business. As a result, this business will lose sales.
However, by providing all the necessary information to your customers, such as locations, address, prices, opening hours, directions, photos, etc. You provide a clear image to your potential customers about your business, and this can cause people to do business with you.
If you are a physical store owner, and you also have a website, then there is another way to provide all of your business information to your customers, besides having to register a business on Google Maps. And that is to use a product/store locator, such as WP maps, on your website. Furthermore, a store/product locator is an excellent way to guide online people who are interested in your business to your store or office by providing them with a map and accurate business information such as directions, address, timings, etc.
Moreover, most store/product locators use Google Maps as a map provider. However, the main benefit that users of store/product locators get is that they remain in control of all the information they post about their business. Whereas, in Google Maps, there is always the chance that your business information will get outdated without constant updates.
2- Highlight Your Special Features and Attributes
In the vast and overpopulated online world, besides taking the step to register a business on Google Maps, standing out from the crowd is one thing that can immensely help your business get noticed and attract more customers. Therefore, to catch the eyes of online traffic you will need to highlight your special features and attributes, these are things that add more value for your customers and provide them with another reason to pick your business over your competitors.
For example, a café that has free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating, and a detailed menu is more likely to be visited by more people than a café that does not have these features.
This goes to show you that starting to register a business on Google Maps is only the first part of increasing your business’s visibility.
3- Connect with Your Customers
After you register a business on Google Maps, connecting with your customer by sharing a post or providing them with news about your business is another great way to optimize your business profile.
Responding to reviews is also another great way to keep in touch with your customer base. In addition, taking the time to respond to a good review (through appreciation) is something that can encourage your existing customers to become recurring customers. Furthermore, responding to a negative review with an apology will go a long way in getting the customer to give your business another try.
Connecting with customers (after you register a business on Google Maps) makes them feel like you care about them, and it allows you to form a more personal relationship with them. Furthermore, having a more personal relationship with your customer is a vital ingredient for business growth.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to register a business on Google Maps, and how to optimize your profile, we recommend you get started as soon as possible to register a business on Google Maps, and then use one of the optimization techniques, mentioned in this article, to supercharge your business.
Good Luck!