When you open a new business, Google is often the first place people check to see if you’re real. Are you open? Where are you? Do other people trust you? Your Google Business Profile answers all three, and the first month is when you set the foundation for everything that comes after.
Here’s the order I’d tackle it in if I were opening a business in Sumter tomorrow.
Week 1: Claim and verify your profile
Go to Google Business Profile and create your listing using your exact business name, the way it appears on your sign and paperwork. Don’t add keywords or your city to the name. Google can suspend profiles for that.
Verification can take a few days, and Google may ask for a video of your location, your signage or your tools. Start early. Our free Google Business Profile setup guide walks through every screen step by step, including what to do if you work from home and serve customers at their location.
Week 2: Fill in every field
A half-finished profile looks like a half-finished business. Once you’re verified, fill out:
- Categories. Your primary category matters most. My post on picking the right Google Business Profile categories covers how to choose.
- Hours, including special hours for holidays. Here’s my holiday hours guide.
- Service area, listing the towns you actually serve.
- Services and products with short, plain descriptions.
- Business description that says what you do, who you serve and where.
- Photos of your storefront, team, vehicles and work.
Week 3: Connect it to a real website
Your profile links to your website, and Google compares the two. If your hours, phone number or address don’t match, that’s a trust problem. Make sure your site lists the same name, address and phone number as your profile, word for word.
It also helps to add local business schema to your site. That’s a bit of code that tells Google your business details in a format it reads directly. Our free local business schema generator creates it for you. If you don’t have a site yet, see how we handle web design in Sumter.
Week 4: Start posting and asking for reviews
Google Business Profile posts show up on your listing and tell customers you’re active. You don’t need to be clever. Share an opening announcement, a photo of a recent job or a seasonal tip. If you’re stuck on what to write, our free Google Business Profile post generator gives you three ready-to-post options in a few seconds. For more ideas, see what to post on your Google Business Profile.
Then start asking happy customers for reviews. Make it easy by sending them your review link right after the job. Reply to every review, good or bad. Here’s how I recommend responding.
After the first month
The profile isn’t a one-time setup. Keep posting, keep collecting reviews and keep your hours current. As you grow, you’ll want to show up in the map pack for more searches. My guide on how to show up in the Google map pack covers the next steps, and our local SEO service handles it for you if you’d rather focus on running the business.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Google Business Profile free?
Yes. Creating and managing your profile is free. Be careful with anyone who calls claiming to be from Google and asking for payment to keep your listing active.
Can I have a profile if I work from home?
Yes. Service-area businesses can hide their address and show the areas they serve instead. The setup guide covers this.
How long until my new business shows up on Google?
Once your profile is verified it can appear fairly quickly, but ranking well for competitive searches takes time, reviews and a solid website behind it.
Do I need a website if I have a Google Business Profile?
The profile gets you seen. A website gives people the details they need to choose you and gives Google more reasons to trust you. Most local businesses need both.
Not sure where your profile stands? Request a free audit or browse all of our free tools and guides.