How to Update or Edit My Google Business Profile?

Your Google Business Profile (erstwhile known as Google My Business) is a free listing on Google that you can build to help your business reach more customers and rank higher than your competitors. However, just how you keep updating and optimising your website, similarly you need to keep updating your Google Business listing too as and when needed to stay on top of the game. This is not a one and done process.

Why your Google Business Profile is important for local SEO

Updating your Business Profile on Google is one of the best ways to boost your local SEO. According to this research posted on Google’s blog, your updated Google Business Profile:

1. Is 2.7 times more likely to be regarded as trustworthy.
2. Gets 7 times the amount of clicks.
3. Is 70% more likely to draw visitors to the physical location.
4. Is 50% more likely to result in a buy.

First of all, how do I list my business on Google?

You might be a business owner who hasn’t listed their business yet on Google and wants to first start off with listing their business in the first place. We will lay down the step-by-step process to help you with just that:

1. Make an account on Google.
2. On Google Maps, search your company or business.
3. No action is required if your business appears. This means that your listing has already been created.
4. Click the “add a place” option if your business is not listed.
5. Fill in the blanks, then hit “submit.”
6. Check your email inbox!

What can I do to claim my Google Business listing?

In the previous section, if point 3 applies to you, that means someone else has already created a listing for your business on Google. In that case, if you want to make any changes or edits to your listing, first you need to claim it, which means you have to verify that you own that listing. Here’s how to claim it:

1. On Google Maps, search your business.
2. Select your business.
3. Choose “Claim this Business” from the drop-down menu.
4. If you created the listing, you may claim it and gain immediate access to your profile by clicking “claim.”
5. You must verify ownership via postcard, phone call, or email if you did not create the listing.

Google Business Profile has some new features

You already had the option of editing your Business Profile information directly from Google search. However, now you can also complete your verification and also resolve issues with your Business Profile directly from search.

You can do this by simply searching your business name on Google or Google Maps and you’ll find the option to verify your Google Business Profile or to resolve other issues.

Do I really need to update my Google Business Profile?

Here are a couple of reasons you should update your Business Profile:

1. Attract your customers

According to Google’s analysis on local search behaviour, 88% consumers now use smartphones to search for local businesses online. You can only reach these customers if you keep your Google Business Profile updated. 

2. Improve SEO

Updating your business profile helps a lot with making your SEO, especially local SEO better. One thing that we know for sure about Google is it loves up-to-date information and prioritises it. Keep your profile in all your online listings consistent to up your points with Google.

3. Increase exposure

Updating your listing not only wins bonus points with Google and ups your chances of ranking higher in searches, but your listing also gets referred to and replicated in numerous directories and local maps’ sources people look for on the internet. You can keep your listing accurate and updated to help this cause which in turn helps you.

How do I edit and update my Business Profile on Google?

Here’s how you edit or update your business information on Google Business Profile:

1. Go to google.com/business and make sure you’re logged into the Google account you made for your company or your business.
2. Choose the “Info” option.
3. Choose the section you want to change.
4. To add or change something, click the pencil symbol.
5. Make your changes.
6. Select “Apply”.

You can check this blog post by Google to get more information on updating your Business Profile. For detailed steps on how to do it and additional information on how to manage your profile, check this link.

Is there anything I can’t change on my Business Profile?

Yes, there are some things which you can’t change, edit or update on your Google Business Profile, such as your customer reviews. Also, you can’ change the editorial summary of your business profile that the writers from Google draft for you. 

Additionally, you also don’t have authority over the keywords that show next to your business name. These are the keywords taken from the information you give to Google as well as the information provided by the customers and any third party, whatsoever. This aims to remove bias and give a fair picture of your business. 

With that being said, if there’s anything inaccurate displayed about your business in the fields that you can’t change, you can always contact Google Business Profile Help and Support by filling up this form. You can also contact Google My Business through their Twitter or Facebook handles.