Register Your Business with Google

You need more than just a website, you need to actually register your business with Google to be listed in local search results.

68% of searchers contact a business directly from Google results.

Register your business by adding a physical address where you can receive mail. Google will send a verification code in the mail to verify your physical location.

Go to Google and set up a business profile. I’ve included images below of all the steps using a client’s business that doesn’t have a listing.

1st Screen

Just write your business name next to the magnifying glass icon.

Screen 2

If there’s no (unclaimed) listing found, it will ask if you want to create a business with this name.

Screen 3

Google will give you a second chance to enter the name of your business- don’t know why they don’t capture from previous page.

Screen 4

There are limited, predetermined categories. Just choose whatever is closest to your businesses offerings.

Screen 5

Even though you enter a physical location on Google, you can set your listing so it just shows an area on the map (like your city), not an actual address.

Screen 6

This is where they add your listing to local results. If you travel to Honolulu occasionally, you can enter here and even though your business isn’t in Hawaii, you will show in local results there.

Screen 7

Screen 8

Screen 9

This is where you enter information so they can send you a physical postcard.

Google Business Registration Page

What’s next?

Now, get ready to play catch up.

If you don’t have a list, now’s the time. Offer your customers a free cookie if they join your list. The more people on your list, the more reviews you can generate.

PLEASE NOTE: You can reward people for joining your list, but if you are found out rewarding customers to leave reviews, Google will wipe every review you have. Be careful!

Want us to help? Getting reviews can be an emotional process. Regardless of how many happy clients you have, most of them won’t take the time, or don’t know how to leave reviews. If you know you want to start strong, gather your list and email us with the subject line “Start Strong”.