When someone searches “printing near me” or “plumber Midrand”, the map with three businesses at the top of Google is often where they click first. Those listings come from Google Business Profile, and it’s free. Here’s how to set yours up properly.

1. Claim or create your profile

Go to google.com/business, sign in with the Google account you use for your business, and search for your business name. If it already exists, claim it; if not, create it. Google will ask you to verify that you own the business, usually by phone, email, video or a postcard.

2. Choose the right categories

Your primary category matters most. Pick the one that best describes what you do, then add secondary categories for your other services.

3. Fill in everything

  • Address, or service area if you visit customers
  • Phone number and website
  • Opening hours, including public holidays
  • A clear description of what you do and where (up to 750 characters)
  • Your services, with prices where you can

4. Add real photos

Profiles with photos get far more clicks and direction requests. Add your logo, your storefront, inside your business, your team and your work. Add new photos regularly.

5. Get reviews, and reply to them

Reviews are one of the biggest factors in who appears in the map results. Ask every happy customer, and make it easy by sending your review link on WhatsApp. Reply to every review, good or bad, politely and quickly.

6. Post updates

Use posts to share offers, new products and finished jobs. A short post with a photo once a week shows Google and customers that you’re active.

7. Link it to a fast website

Your profile and your website work together. A mobile-friendly site with your services, prices and location helps Google trust you and helps visitors choose you. See how much a website costs.

Want us to set it up for you?

Setting up a profile properly takes time, and small mistakes (the wrong category, a missing service area, an unverified listing) can keep you out of the map results. We set up and optimise Google Business Profiles for Midrand businesses, so you can get on with running yours. It’s a once-off R1,500.

  • Create or claim your profile and help you through verification
  • Choose the right categories and write your business description
  • Add your services, hours, photos and logo
  • Set up your review link, ready to send to customers
  • Connect it to your website

See everything included on our Google Business Profile setup page, or WhatsApp us to get started. Need a website too? We build fast, Google-ready websites from R3,000: see our website design in Midrand.