Vizibilio.roA starting guide for local businesses
Create or claim the correct profile, complete verification and publish information customers can use. Follow the recommended order, troubleshoot common problems and use the final checklist.
Updated 18 July 2026 · based on official Google Business Profile documentation
A Google Business Profile is intended for businesses that make in-person contact with customers during stated hours. Check the location type, address and service model before creating a profile. Online-only businesses and virtual locations are not eligible under Google's guidelines.
Search for the exact name with the city, phone number or address. Check whether a profile already exists, even if the information is old. Creating a new profile over an existing one may produce a duplicate and split reviews or business signals.
If you see “Claim this business” or “Own this business?”, the profile may be claimed. If Google says someone else manages it, use the official access request.
If no profile exists, use Google's official business addition page and enter the real activity. If it exists, claim it instead of creating another profile. Adding or claiming a Business Profile is free.
Available methods are determined automatically by Google and may include video, phone or text, email, live video or postcard. You cannot select a method that is not shown, and more than one method may be required.
For video, prepare continuous evidence of the location, equipment and management authority. Never share a verification code. Google states that review can take up to five business days after you complete the steps.
Add the real name, primary and relevant secondary categories, address or service area, map pin, phone, website and hours. Use special hours for holidays and temporary changes.
Complete relevant services or products and write a clear description for people. Show the exterior, entrance, interior, team and real work. This helps customers recognise the location and decide whether the business meets their needs.
Avoid unrelated stock imagery and do not publish personal customer information or images without the necessary rights.
Use the official review link and neutrally invite every real customer. Do not buy reviews, offer rewards or send only satisfied customers to Google. Respond professionally without disclosing personal information.
See our guide to requesting authentic Google reviews.
Google explains local results through relevance, distance and prominence. Complete information can help Google understand the business, but distance from the person searching cannot be “optimised”. Prominence may include reviews, ratings and information about the company across the web.
Confirm that verification is complete, the profile complies with the rules, no duplicate exists and core information is not under review. If someone else owns the profile, request access; the current owner normally has three days to respond.
A profile may appear for its name but not for every service or in every area. This does not automatically mean it is broken: relevance, user location and competition vary with each search.
Track calls, website visits, direction requests, bookings and messages. Compare similar periods and record what changed. One search from your own phone is not a sufficient measurement.
| Check | Desired result |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | The business follows the rules and serves customers directly |
| Ownership | You manage the official profile without a duplicate |
| Verification | Google has verified the profile |
| Information | Name, category, address, phone and hours are accurate |
| Actions | Calls, directions and the website work on mobile |
| Presentation | Services and photos represent the real activity |
| Reputation | Feedback is requested ethically and receives responses |
| Measurement | Customer actions are reviewed monthly |
Adding, claiming and managing a Google Business Profile is free. Professional setup or management services may be purchased separately.
There is no universal time. Verification methods and reviews vary. Google says verification may require up to five business days after the steps are completed, and later edits may have their own review times.
No one can guarantee first position. Results depend on relevance, distance, prominence and the context of the search.
Use Google's official access request. Do not immediately create a duplicate and never send verification codes to an unknown person.
We checked the steps and limitations against Google's documentation. Interfaces may change, so use these pages for current instructions:
Vizibilio editorial guide. This is not official Google documentation and does not guarantee indexing or ranking.
Enter the company name and location for a free initial assessment.
Check the Google Maps profile