How to get your business showing up on Google Maps

1. Claim and Verify the Right Profile

Search Google for your exact business name and town. If a profile already appears, use the “Own this business?” option and follow Google’s verification steps. If there is no profile, create one through Google Business Profile. Use the real-world business name shown on your signs, invoices, and website. Adding extra keywords such as “best plumber near you” to the name can create problems later.

Check for duplicates before making a second listing. Two profiles can split reviews and confuse customers. If you find an old profile, request access or follow Google’s process to remove or merge it rather than starting over.

Enter a local phone number, website address, and the most accurate street address. Businesses that visit customers—contractors, mobile detailers, cleaners, or home-care providers—can hide the home address and use service areas instead.

2. Choose Categories and Service Areas Carefully

Your primary category tells Google what the business is. Choose the closest specific option, not the broadest one. “Roofing contractor” is more useful than “Contractor” if roofing is the core service. Add secondary categories only for services you genuinely provide.

Service areas should describe where you actually travel. A contractor might list the city where they operate and the surrounding areas they regularly serve. Adding locations outside your operating area does not make the business relevant everywhere, and it can set the wrong expectation for customers.

Complete the Basic Information

• Hours: Enter normal hours and update holiday or seasonal hours before customers need them.
• Services: List the actual services people request, with short plain-language descriptions and prices when appropriate.
• Business description: Explain what you do, who you serve, and where you work. Keep it factual and readable.
• Links: Add the correct website, appointment, menu, or donation link. Test each one on a phone.

Consistency matters. Your business name, address, phone number, and hours should agree with the information on your website and other major listings.

3. Add Useful Photos and Ask for Reviews

Upload a clear logo, an exterior photo that helps people recognize the location, interior photos, team photos, and recent examples of the work. A restaurant should show current dishes and seating. A detailer should show real completed vehicles. A contractor should show finished projects and the crew safely at work. Use honest photos from the business, not generic stock images.

Then make review requests part of the normal customer handoff. Ask shortly after a completed job or appointment, while the experience is fresh. Google provides a direct review link you can copy into a text message, email, or receipt.

• Ask every satisfied customer instead of selecting only people you expect to leave five stars.
• Do not offer discounts, gifts, or contest entries in exchange for reviews.
• Reply to reviews calmly and specifically. Never reveal private customer information in a response.

A simple request works: “Thank you for choosing us. If you have a minute, would you share an honest Google review? Here is the link.”

4. Keep the Profile Alive

Check the profile at least monthly. Update hours, services, phone numbers, and links whenever they change. Add a few recent photos and answer new reviews. Google may also suggest edits from users, so verify that the public information remains accurate.

Posts can announce a seasonal service, event, menu change, completed project, or community update. One useful post every week or two is enough for many small businesses. Write for customers: say what changed, why it matters, and what they should do next. Avoid stuffing town names into every sentence.

Use the performance section to see how people find and interact with the profile, but do not expect one setting to guarantee a top position. Distance, relevance, competition, website quality, and real customer activity all play a part.

Today’s 30-minute checklist: verify the profile, choose the best primary category, correct the hours, add five current photos, test the website link, and save the review link somewhere your team can reach it. Those basics help customers find accurate information and make a confident next step.

For businesses in Maine

In many Maine towns, a handful of nearby businesses compete for the same Google Maps results, so a complete profile with accurate hours, photos, services and recent reviews can make the difference. If you serve several towns, add each one as a service area on a single profile rather than creating separate listings. Need a website that matches your profile? See our web design work for Maine businesses.