Learn the basics of getting your business online.

Join us in supporting and celebrating Black-owned businesses this holiday season.

Get your business online with Google

Making your business stand out online doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. You can attract more customers with free, easy-to-use digital tools.

create a business google

Suzie Mills, Founder & Owner, Honest Soul Yoga

Today, most of us use Google to search for places to go, services we need, and things to buy. Turn those searches into customers by claiming your free Business Profile on Google Search and Maps.

Find the right tools for your small business

Get started with your step-by-step Digital Essentials Guide.

STAND OUT ON SEARCH

Claim your free Business Profile

Let’s talk about what a business looks like on Google Search and Maps. When you search, you’ve probably seen something like the image below. That’s a free Business Profile on Google. You can add photos, update hours, and more to customize how your Business Profile appears. Your profile shows up whenever someone searches for your business or businesses like yours.

Keep your info current

Update your hours and phone number so customers can find you.

create a business google

Respond to reviews

Engage with your customers to build loyalty.

create a business google

Post updates

Offer promos to generate excitement and sales.

create a business google

Your business may already have a basic profile on Google. The key is to claim your profile so you can take control and keep it fresh with useful content for your customers. If your business doesn’t have a profile yet, you can create one.

TELL YOUR STORY

Create a free, professional website

create a business google

Building your first website doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In just a few minutes, Google can create one for you for free with a professional look and feel.

KEEP IMPROVING

Measure your success

A complete Business Profile allows customers to connect with you through calling or messaging, visiting your website, or getting directions to your location. You can see your insights and see how they are interacting with your profile in dashboard view.

How many times people have seen your profile

create a business google

The number of searches for your business

create a business google

How many times people have interacted with your profile, like getting directions

create a business google

Ready to get started?

Get your free guide to stand out online.

Learn how to build your online presence with our step-by-step guide.

How to Set Up and Optimize Google My Business in 5 Minutes [2024]

Make the most of your free Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) to get more visibility, traffic, and customers.

Table of Contents

What if I told you there’s only 5 minutes standing between you and powerful Google marketing tools? I’m talking about Google My Business. It’s free, easy to set up, and can drive serious traffic to your website or store from Google Search and Google Maps.

Let’s set up your Google Business Profile (as it’s now called) together in less than 30 seconds (yes, I timed it) and fully optimize it in 4 minutes and 30 seconds. You’ll also find out how to keep your profile updated and where to fit it into your marketing strategy.

Bonus: Get the free template to easily craft a detailed profile of your ideal customer and/or target audience.

What is Google My Business (now Google Business Profile)?

Google Business Profile is a free marketing tool provided by Google. It allows business owners to manage how they appear in online tools like Google Search and Google Maps.

When you set up a Google Business Profile, the photos and other details of your business — including location, services, and products — are used across Google, increasing your visibility to prospects in online search.

Most businesses are eligible for Google Business Profile. This includes those without a physical address location, e.g. businesses that sell products through a website.

create a business google

Create. Schedule. Publish. Engage. Measure. Win.

The 3 most important benefits of Google Business Profile

Get discovered in google search and maps.

When putting together search results for someone’s location-based search query (e.g. “bike shop Lower East Side”), Google uses Google Business Profile information — location, phone numbers, descriptions, etc. — to decide which businesses best fit the searcher’s intent. The best matches show up in the top positions on the search results page.

The same goes for surfacing local businesses in Google Maps searches:

Thai restaurant search on Google Maps in Vancouver

Source: Google Maps

Congrats! Now you have a basic understanding of local SEO.

Manage your online business information

You can update your Google Business Profile information at any time. That means you’re always in control of how your business hours, phone number, and other attributes appear online — which helps potential customers get in touch with you via the most recent contact information.

Besides serving as a central place of information for search engines and Google Maps, you can also use your Google Business Profile as a bulletin board of sorts. You can make a post to share key business information, like unexpected closures or temporary business hour changes — or provide some details on your services. Posts are part of your profile, visible to anyone who looks you up in Search or on Maps.

Peak Dental Arts Lonsdale latest posts

Build trust with Google Reviews

Reviews are a key element of social proof and a meaningful way to build trust and credibility online.

Even if searchers aren’t clicking through to read the content of your reviews, the 1-5 star rating prominently visible beneath each business result does impact their likelihood of checking you out.

Worried you can’t keep up a string of solid 5-star reviews? Don’t sweat it. Google sees a mixture of positive and negative reviews as being more authentic and trustworthy, and ranks you better because of it.

How to set up a Google My Business listing

Step 1: log in to google business profile.

You need a Google account to use Google Business Profile, so go ahead and create one if you haven’t already.

I recommend not using your personal Google account to set this up, as you may want to give others access to your Google Business Profile later and that’s better to do from a dedicated work account (no one needs to see your weird Reddit notifications, okay?).

Step 2: Add your business information

Once you’re signed in, Google Business Profile asks you for your business name. Enter one and click Continue .

Get Your Business discovered on Google Search maps and more

Step 3: Select your business type

You can sign up for Google Business Profile as long as you either sell directly to customers online, have a physical location, or provide a service in-person to your customers. You can select all options that apply to you.

Click Next when you’re done.

Choose your business type online retail local store or service business

Step 4: Enter your location and/or location targeting

If you’re an online-only business, Google asks for your website.

Add your online store

For both online and offline businesses, you’ll need to enter the country you’re registered in. This may or may not also be the country where your location is.

Select the country where your business is registered

If you have a physical location, you’ll enter that instead (with the ability to add your website URL and more information later). You may also be asked to position a marker for the location on a map for accuracy. If your business does not have a location customers can visit but offers in-person services or deliveries, you can list your service areas. Then click Next .

Where do you serve your customers optional

If you didn’t enter a physical address, Google will ask you to specify which region you’re based in. Choose from the drop-down menu and click Next .

create a business google

Step 5: Add contact information

You can add either a website, phone number, or both. These are publicly viewable on your profile.

choose contact details to give to customers

Step 6: Verify your business

Even if you don’t have a physical business location, you need to enter a mailing address to become verified.

enter mailing address to verify

After that, you can choose to receive a verification code via email or the exciting option of recording a short video showing you working in your business and basically proving that you have a business. I’m not sure why anyone would choose that over a simple email code but sure, more power to ya.

select a way to get verified

I chose the email code. Wait for it to arrive, enter it, and click Verify .

enter your verification code

Becoming verified allows you to publicly reply to customer reviews, use messaging features, and more.

Step 7: Optimize your profile

Now, add all the extra details that will get the most out of your profile. All of these are optional, but if they apply to you, be sure to fill it out.

You can add:

  • Business hours
  • Chat, where users can send you a message directly from Google search
  • Description of your business

customize profile and add business hours

There are many more ways to optimize your Google My Business profile than the options you get in the setup screen. The next section covers everything else you should optimize.

How to optimize your Google My Business profile

Filling out your profile information isn’t a fast track to the top of search results. But, completing your Google Business Profile makes it much more likely you’ll stand out — 2.7 times more likely actually. Plus, people are 70% more likely to visit a business with a complete profile vs. an incomplete one.

Google determines local search ranking based on three factors :

  • Relevance : How well your profile matches search intent.
  • Distance : How far your location is from the user.
  • Prominence : How well-known your business is (based on factors like number of reviews, review score, and other SEO ranking factors ).

Use special attributes, if applicable

Some business types — restaurants, hotels, and services — have access to special features, like:

  • Hotels can display star-class ratings, sustainability information, on-site amenities, check-in and out times, and a direct booking link.
  • Restaurants and bars can upload menus , dish photos , and accept reservations and online orders directly from search.
  • Service businesses can display a list of services offered .
  • Healthcare providers in the U.S. can show health insurance information and accept online appointment bookings.

In addition to those specific examples, there are a range of other types of buttons most businesses can use, including appointment booking, reservation links, and online ordering.

You can also add attribute “labels” to your listing to communicate key information about your business, like if you are open by appointment only. Or, to ensure everyone feels welcome. For example, you may want to share information about wheelchair accessibility, free Wi-Fi, or outdoor seating. You can even share that your company is women owned and/or 2SLGBTQI+ friendly.

To edit these labels, visit your dashboard and click Edit profile . Scroll down to the More section to find these attributes.

Business information Add more hours Crowd Payments Planning and Service Options

Add real images of your business

Photos help generate interest and catch people’s eye in search results. For physical locations, this is easy: take some great photos of your business in operation.

Not great at photography? Hire a professional to do a photo shoot and use those amazing images across your social media profiles, including Google Business Profile, and on your website. Or run a contest by giving away a gift card or product in exchange for your customers submitting their best photos.

According to Google, businesses with photos receive more requests for directions and more clicks to their websites.

You can add a cover photo and additional images during the setup process:

Customize profile and add photos of your store

Or add or edit photos anytime from your Google Business Profile dashboard :

Add photo option Your business on Google

Add a custom description

You can add a custom description up to 750 words which appears across Google services, including search and Maps. Use this space to showcase what’s truly unique about your business rather than simply stating what you do.

Customize profile and add business description

Include keywords in your profile

Adding relevant keywords to your Google My Business profile increases the likelihood of people finding you. Not sure what keywords to include? Check out popular searches with Google Trends and see if any apply to your business, or do things the “new Gen Z way” with TikTok Keyword Search .

A good place to start is with the keywords people are already using to find you. Snag these from Google Analytics reports for free, or use Hootsuite Insights and advanced social monitoring tools to uncover even more terms people type in to find you.

The idea isn’t to stuff your profile full of a bunch of keywords just for the sake of rankings. It’s important to naturally weave them into your sentences. Keyword stuffing hasn’t been cool since 1999 (and can actually hurt your rankings).

Encourage and answer reviews

A good review can be the deciding factor that tips prospective customers in your favor.

Customers can review your business directly from your profile or Google Maps, but the most effective way to get more reviews is to share your review link. Add it to your email marketing templates, share it on social media, or create your own shortened link to display on in-store signage.

To find your unique Google Reviews link:

  • Go to your Google Business Profile dashboard and click Ask for reviews .

Ask for reviews on Google

  • Copy your link and spread it far and wide!

Pro tip: Use a URL shortener to turn this into an on-brand custom link that’s easy to type, like “www.hootsuite.com/review”.

Give customers a link to review your business on Google

You can, and should, respond to all reviews, both positive and negative. According to research by Ipsos, customer reviews are still the most trusted information source when it comes to evaluating a product or business.

For positive reviews, take the time to thank your customer for sharing their experience. For negative reviews, also thank your customer and address their issue in a tactful, honest way and try to offer a solution or fix, if warranted.

Afraid of troll reviews from fake people? Don’t worry, you can report inappropriate or malicious reviews and have them removed from your profile.

Find your current reviews under the Reviews tab (once you have at least one).

Steve's Poke bar google maps

Verify your street address

If you didn’t already do so during setup, verify your business now. This is especially important if you have a physical location, since verified locations are more likely to show in Google Maps searches.

Not sure if you’re verified? Check your verification status.

Regularly update your information

Make sure to keep your Google Business Profile up to date. Edit your profile if your business hours change, you get a new phone number, etc. Nothing annoys a customer more than looking up your hours online, then making the trek to your location only to find that you’re closed.

For things like operating hours, edit that directly in your profile. For temporary or special updates, create a post to go on your page instead.

To edit your hours or other profile information, click Edit profile .

Your business on google edit profile

To create a post to share in your Google Business Profile feed, click on Add update .

You can choose to add an update, offer, or event. Each post type has different attributes to help spread your message.

add update offer or event

For this example, I chose Add update . You can add up to 1500 characters, one or more photos, and attach a call to action button.

add update and button

Post something promotional like your new product launch, or use this space to communicate holiday hours (in addition to changing it on your profile!) or special parking instructions while construction is happening nearby.

Link for your button

Import your products

Last but not least, if you sell physical products via your website, add those products to your Google Business Profile. In addition to appearing on your profile itself, your products can appear in Google Shopping, the most popular price comparison portal in the United States.

Q&A Ikea and in-store  products

Source: IKEA Coquitlam on Google

To manually add products to your Google My Business profile, click on Edit products from your dashboard.

Your business on Google edit products

From here, a popup will appear where you can add your first product, including its title, category, price, description, URL, and a photo.

add product name price and item description

If you only sell a few products, it may be easiest to add them this way. But for anything more than a dozen or so items, there’s an easier, automated way with the delightfully named Pointy app.

You can either connect Pointy to your point-of-sale (POS) system or scan products with the Pointy scanner. Then your products will show up in Google search, Shopping, and on your Google Business Profile.

However, there are certain eligibility criteria to use Pointy, including requiring UPC barcodes on your products.

How to manage Google My Business with Hootsuite

Yep, you can update and manage your business profile on GMB in the same place you manage all your other social media accounts.

You’ll need to create and verify your Google Business Profile first before you can manage it inside Hootsuite.

Install the Google My Business app

Once you have your profile set up, install the free Google My Business app from the Hootsuite app directory.

To finish installing, choose whether to create a new Streams board or add your Google Business Profile data to one of your existing Stream boards. Choose an option and click Add to Streams .

Google my Business app settings Hootsuite streams

Setup your Google My Business Stream

Next, go to the Streams tab in your Hootsuite dashboard.

Welcome back Hootsuite dashboard

If you don’t already see the three columns for Posts, Reviews, and Questions, use the Add a Stream box on the right and click to add them.

Google my business reviews on Hootsuite dashboard

Try Hootsuite for free

Click Login to Google My Business to connect the app to your Google Business Profile account. Of course, make sure to login with the Google account you use to manage your profile.

Confirm your business profile by selecting it then clicking Confirm .

reviews posts questions Hootsuite

If you just created your Google Business Profile, you likely won’t have any customer questions or reviews to reply to, but having this Stream built into your Hootsuite dashboard makes it so easy to stay on top of them once they start rolling in.

Stream layout on Hootsuite

Post business updates from Hootsuite

Create new posts and publish directly to your Google Business Profile account from Hootsuite Streams by clicking the New Post icon in the Posts Stream.

Posts Google My Business

Additionally, you can reply to reviews and answer questions, which both show up in Google search results and on your public profile, and help persuade new customers to visit you.

Haven Kitchen and Bar

Source: Haven Langley on Google

For a full overview of everything this integration can do, check out this quick 3 minute overview:

Google My Business FAQs

Is google my business completely free.

Yes, creating a Google Business Profile is free. As long as you have a physical location, sell goods online, or meet customers in person, you can create a free Google My Business account.

How do I access my Google My Business page?

Access your Google Business Profile dashboard at https://business.google.com by logging in with the Google account you used to create your Google My Business account.

You can also search your business name and, as long as you’re logged in, your business profile dashboard shortcuts will appear at the top of the search results page.

Furnace room print shop Google my business profile

Is Google My Business still active?

Yes, Google My Business is now called Google Business Profile. It’s the same free service, now with additional features for restaurants, hotels, healthcare, and service businesses, plus new ways to get discovered across Google search and Google Maps.

Use Hootsuite to communicate with your customers via Google Business Profile and all your other social channels. Create, schedule, and publish posts to every platform, plus get valuable analytics, performance reports, and more. Try it free today.

Get Started

Do it better with Hootsuite , the all-in-one social media tool. Stay on top of things, grow, and beat the competition.

Become a better social marketer.

Get expert social media advice delivered straight to your inbox.

Tras haber trabajado en agencias de estrategia, Michelle incursionó en el mundo del freelance para volverse un ícono de la moda WFH (trabajo en casa) y una apasionada de ponerle un toque pícaro al contenido SaaS. Es conocida por entender y sintetizar rápidamente temas técnicos complicados para convertirlos en copys conversacionales que dan excelentes resultados. Ha escrito para compañías y startups de la lista Fortune 500 y sus clientes han aparecido en artículos de Forbes, Strategy Magazine y Entrepreneur.

Related Articles

Google my business messaging 101 (includes examples).

Learn how to use Google My Business Messaging to help customers get in touch with you in real time, straight from your Google Business Profile listing.

cover image

25 Social Media KPIs You Should Be Tracking and When

Setting smart social media KPIs will help your team focus on the metrics that really matter and track performance over time.

How to Create a Social Media Marketing Strategy in 9 Easy Steps (Free Template) | Hootsuite

How to Create a Social Media Marketing Strategy in 9 Easy Steps (Free Template)

Creating your social media marketing strategy doesn’t need to be painful. Create an effective plan for your business in 9 simple steps.

A man wearing sunglasses pops his collar and suspenders.

What is Social Commerce and Why Should Your Brand Care?

Social commerce is what happens when savvy marketers take the best of eCommerce and combine it with social media.

Hootsuite Offer

The Ultimate Guide to Google My Business

Aja Frost

Updated: October 10, 2022

Published: April 27, 2018

What is Google My Business?

GMB is a free tool that lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps. That includes adding your business name, location, and hours; monitoring and replying to customer reviews; adding photos; learning where and how people are searching for you, and more.

Google-My-Business-compressor

If you're just getting started with local SEO, your Google My Business listing is a great place to focus your early efforts. After all, when people search for a product or service near them, they're usually very close to making a purchase -- one in two people who conduct a local search (think "watch repair near me") visit a store that day. So it's important the information about your business that shows up when people search Google is as accurate, complete, and optimized as possible.

Get HubSpot's Free CRM to Start Your Business

To learn how to create your Google My Business account, verify your business, and make its listing as strong as possible, read on. 

  • Create an account and claim your business
  • Verify your business
  • Optimize your listing
  • Download the GMB app
  • Know the difference between Google My Business, Google Places, and Google+

Is Google My Business free?

GMB is completely free to use. The only requirement for using it is that you must have some face-to-face interaction with your customers -- in other words, you can’t operate 100% online.

Create a Google My Business Listing

  • Step 1: Log into the Google Account you want associated with your business (or create a Google Account if you don’t already have one).
  • Step 2: Go to google.com/business and select “Start now” in the top right-hand corner.
  • Step 3: Enter your business name.

Google My Business business name.

  • Step 4: Enter your business address. 

Google My Business business location.

  • Step 5: If you go to your   customers ’ locations, rather than having them come to you, check the box “I deliver goods and services to my customers.” And if you work out of your house or another address you don’t want publicly shown, Check “Hide my address (it's not a store) Only show region.” Finally, select your Delivery area.

Google My Business delivery area

  • Step 6: Choose your business category. Try to choose the most accurate category possible -- you’re essentially telling Google which type of customers should see your business listing.
  • Step 7: Add your business phone number or website.
  • Step 8: Choose a verification option. If you’re not ready to verify your business yet, click “Try a different method” → “Later.”

create a business google

Free Business Startup kit

9 templates to help you brainstorm a business name, develop your business plan, and pitch your idea to investors.

  • Business Name Brainstorming Workbook
  • Business Plan Template
  • Business Startup Cost Calculator

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

How to Verify Your Business on Google

There are several ways to verify your GMB listing:

  • By postcard

Instant verification

Bulk verification, postcard verification.

  • Step 1: If you aren't already logged into Google My Business, sign in now and choose the business you want to verify. (If you're already logged in, you'll be at the verification step.)
  • Step 2:  Make sure your business address is correct. Optional: Add a contact name -- that's who the postcard will be addressed to.

postcard verification.

  • Step 3:  Click "Mail." The postcard should reach you in five days -- make sure you don't edit your business name, address, or category (or request a new code) before it comes, because this could delay the process.
  • Step 4:  Once you've gotten the postcard, log into Google My Business. If you have more than one business location, select the location you want to verify. If you only have one, select "Verify now."
  • Step 5: In the Code field, enter the five-digit verification code on your postcard. Click "Submit."

If your postcard never shows up, or you lose it, you can request a new code by signing into Google My Business and clicking the "Request another code" blue banner at the top of the screen.

Phone verification

Google lets some businesses verify their location by phone. If you're eligible, you'll see the "Verify by phone" option when you start the verification process.

  • Step 1:  If you aren't already logged into Google My Business, sign in now and choose the business you want to verify. (If you're already logged in, you'll be at the verification step.)
  • Step 2: Make sure your phone number is correct, then choose "Verify by phone."
  • Step 3:  Enter the verification code from the text you receive.

Email verification

Google lets some businesses verify their location by phone. If you're eligible, you'll see the "Verify by email" option when you start the verification process.

  • S tep 1: If you aren't already logged into Google My Business, sign in now and choose the business you want to verify. (If you're already logged in, you'll be at the verification step.)
  • Step 2:  Make sure your email address is correct, then choose "Verify by email."
  • Step 3:  Go to your inbox, open the email from Google My Business, and click the verification button in the email.

If you've already verified your business with Google Search Console (a free tool that lets you manage your website's search performance and health), you might be able to instantly verify your email.

  • Step 1:  Sign into Google My Business with the same account you used to verify your business with Google Search Console. (Some business categories aren't eligible for instant verification, so if you don't get a notification asking you to verify the listing, you'll have to use a different verification method.)

If you operate more than 10 locations for the same business -- and you're  not  a service business or an agency managing locations for multiple businesses -- you might be eligible for bulk verification.

  • S tep 1:   If you aren't already logged into Google My Business, sign in now and choose a location. Click "Get verified" next to its name.
  • Step 2:  Click "Chain."
  • Step 3:  Fill out the verification form with your business name (as well as the parent company, if applicable), country or countries where you operate, all contact names (i.e. everyone who will be using the Google My Business account), contact phone number, business manager email (someone at the business who can verify you're a representative of that business), and the email address of your Google Account Manager. 
  • Step 4:  Submit the verification form. It can take up to a week for Google to review and process your claim.

How to Optimize Your GMB Listing

Once you've verified your business, it's time to finish fleshing out your profile. 

Go to the Google My Business dashboard, click the listing you'd like to work on, select "Info," and then choose a section to fill out or update.

edit info.

Add as much information and media as you can, including a business profile photo, the area you serve, your hours, attributes (e.g. "wheelchair accessible," "free wifi"), the day and year you opened, and a public phone number and website URL.

Anyone can "suggest an edit" to your listing, so it's important to A) get everything right the first time (so you don't encourage random people to make their own changes) and B) periodically log into your GMB dashboard and make sure all the details look right.

suggest-edit.

At any point in time, you can edit your business profile by logging into your GMB dashboard, clicking on "Info," clicking the pencil next to the field you'd like to edit, making your change, and then choosing "Apply."

info

Google My Business Photos

According to Google, businesses with photos see 35% more clicks to their website and 42% higher requests for driving directions in Google Maps. 

Photos should be at least 720 pixels wide by 720 pixels high and JPG or PNG files. 

Not sure how many pictures to add -- or what they should be of?

Cover photo

Your Google My Business cover photo is one of the most important, as it shows up front and center on your listing. 

cover-photo

Profile photo

Your profile photo is what appears when you upload new photos, videos, or review responses.

photos

Along with your profile and cover photos, you can and should upload other pictures to make your listing more informative and engaging.

Google My Business Videos

You can also add videos. Videos must be:

  • 30 seconds or shorter
  • 100 MB or smaller
  • 720p resolution or higher

Videos can add some variety to your profile and make you stand out among other businesses in your category; however, don't worry if you don't have any -- unlike photos, they're not a "must have."

Google My Business Reviews

One of the best ways to encourage future customers to leave positive reviews? Respond to current ones. Not only does leaving an appreciate response show the original reviewer you're thankful for their support, it also makes that positive review stand out on your listing  and  influences people to leave their own reviews.

Here's a sample reply to a satisfied customer:

Thank you for your business, [name]! We're so glad you enjoyed [product, e.g. "the blueberry pie"] -- it's one of our favorites, as well. Hope to see you back at [business name] soon. 

You should also respond to negative reviews to show you take them seriously and placate the unhappy buyer. But make sure you're extremely courteous -- attacking them back will only make you look unprofessional and their review more credible.

Thank you for the feedback, [name], and I'm incredibly sorry [product/experience] did not meet your expectations. [If you've made a change, mention it here -- e.g., "We're now double-checking orders to make sure everyone gets exactly what they asked for."] If you'd like to come back in, we'd be happy to give you [product] on the house. In any case, thanks for your business, and I hope we can do better next time.

Google My Business App

Google My Business is also available in app form for both   iOS   and   Android .

You can use the app to:

  • Update your business hours, location, contact information, and description
  • Post statuses and pictures
  • View search insights

You cannot use the app to:

  • Delete your business listing
  • Change its settings
  • Give ownership of the listing to another user

Google My Business vs. Google Places for Business vs. Google+

If you're confused about the many names and options for managing your Google presence, you've got a right to be. Google Places  used  to be Google's tool for owners to manage their  business  profiles, but it was retired in 2014. Now Google My Business is the central hub to manage how your business appears on Google Search, Maps, and Google+.

So, what's Google+? It's Google's social network (the closest example is probably Facebook). You can join or start Communities -- public or private groups organized around a theme, like Knitting -- and follow or create Collections -- think Pinterest boards. 

A Google+ account for your business lets you interact with niche groups and post pictures and updates. In other words, it's like a Facebook page for your business. You can access your Google+ account from your Google My Business dashboard (but a Google+ account isn't necessary to have a GMB account).

Here's the TL;DR:

Do you need a Google+ account? No -- and if you're short on time, it might be better to focus on other marketing and/or social media channels. 

Do you need a Google My Business account? If you're targeting local customers, I highly recommend it.

Apply for a job, keep track of important information, and prepare for an  interview with the help of this free job seekers kit.

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

How to Use Google's Website Builder to Create a Free Site for Your Small Business

How to Use Google's Website Builder to Create a Free Site for Your Small Business

A Few Quick SEO Wins Your Google+ Page Needs

A Few Quick SEO Wins Your Google+ Page Needs

How to Add Google Authorship for Multiple Websites to Google+ [Quick Tip]

How to Add Google Authorship for Multiple Websites to Google+ [Quick Tip]

Google+ for Lead Gen: A Simple, 6-Step Process

Google+ for Lead Gen: A Simple, 6-Step Process

Google+ Update Makes It Easier to See What Your Friends Like, and Other Inbound Stories of the Week

Google+ Update Makes It Easier to See What Your Friends Like, and Other Inbound Stories of the Week

Google Launches Dramatic Redesign of Google+, Emphasizing Context and Content Discovery

Google Launches Dramatic Redesign of Google+, Emphasizing Context and Content Discovery

4 Excellent Examples of Creative Google+ Business Pages

4 Excellent Examples of Creative Google+ Business Pages

The Ultimate Google+ Cheat Sheet

The Ultimate Google+ Cheat Sheet

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

A Step-By-Step Guide to Google Business Page Setup

Google Business Page Setup in 2023

Synonymous with online searches, Google is the go-to site for consumers looking to find almost anything. The site currently holds a market share of 92.47% , making its top search page positions invaluable to businesses in all sectors.

While many companies are already focused on promoting their site via SEO strategies, there are a few other ways to get the word out about your business on Google, and Google Business Profile is one of them.

Google Business page setup is relatively simple and worthwhile.

In this article, we’ll show you how to set up a page for your company before taking you through some of the key benefits of doing so.

Benefits of Using Google Business Page

When companies create a Google Business Profile account, they’ll instantly benefit from some of the advantages of this free listing.

A Google Business Profile improves visibility on the search giant and shares information with other Google products, meaning the company and its products will appear on Google Maps and Google’s shopping pages.

Let’s take a closer look at some benefits of using a Google Business Profile account.

1. Enhances Visibility in Online Searches

Many customers go to Google to search for products or services, with no specific brand or company in mind.

If companies have a Google Business Profile, they are far more visible in search results, and that enhanced visibility could sway customers’ toward their brand.

Donna Evans, Founder and business owner of She Moves, said, “Our Google Business Profile is one of the main places people find us, with over 40% of our leads coming directly through there.”

Enhances Visibility

Here is more about how the company boosted its visibility using Google Business Profile.

2. Ensures Consistency of Business Details

Google Business Profile allows companies to detail all the information customers might be searching for, from their website and phone number to their opening hours.

Not only is this convenient for customers, but it also makes it easier for businesses to ensure consistency across business details available online.

3. Opportunity to Showcase Customer Reviews

Customer reviews can be a powerful marketing tool, so anything that helps brands show off those glowing reviews can easily increase sales. Google Business Profile does just that, and there’s no cost involved in setting it up.

Kelly Montague of luxury jewelry brand Stephen Einhorn said, “Google Business Profile reviews are key to our success, providing brand acknowledgment and giving customers the confidence to purchase.”

stephen einhorn

Read more about how the brand benefited from Google Business Profile here .

4. Businesses Benefit From Customer Insight

Not only are customer reviews great from a marketing perspective, but they are also enormously helpful for brands looking to improve their offering.

Google Business Profile collects customer feedback in a quick, simple, and user-friendly format.

5. Google Business Profile Is Great for SEO

SEO strategies get a helping hand from Google Business Profile because companies that take the time to complete a profile will instantly benefit from better SEO across Google search results.

Now let’s talk about google business page setup.

How to Set Up Your Google Business Page?

Setting up Google Business Profile is simple. It won’t be long before your listing is up and running, attracting the attention of potential new customers.

Here are 8 simple steps to set up your Google Business Profile.

1. Open Google Business Profile Manager

All businesses with a Google account will have access to Google Business Profile Manager , which is what you need to set up your Google Business Profile page.

If you already have a Google account, it’s just a case of logging in and opening Google Business Profile Manager. If you’re logged into Google, it will open without you having to enter any further information.

If you don’t yet have a Google account, you’ll need to start by setting one up. This is a quick and simple sign-up that takes a matter of minutes.

2. Add Your Business to Your Account in Google Business Profile Manager

Once you’ve got Google Business Profile Manager open, you’ll see an option to add a new business to your account.

Google Business Profile Manager

Find your business and select its name, or click ‘add your business’ if your company’s name doesn’t appear automatically in the drop-down options.

3. Request to Add an Existing Business

In some cases, a Google Business Profile might have already been set up for the brand in question. If that’s the case, you’ll simply need to request access to the profile that already exists. You can click ‘request access’ and simply follow the steps on the screen.

Add an Existing Business

4. Add Your Business Name and Choose a Category

If your business profile is new, you’ll need to input the business’s name. Use the name your business is commonly known by, avoiding any unnecessary additional information.

Add Your Business Name and Choose a Category

Once the business name has been added, you can choose a category for your company.

If you’re unsure about the best category at this point, don’t worry, you’ll be able to edit this later if you find one that fits your brand better.

Click ‘next’ to move on to the next step.

5. Choose Your Location

One of the key benefits of Google Business page setup is providing your customers with detailed information on your location.

At this point, the setup process will require you to state whether or not your company has a physical premise that customers can visit.

If it does, you’ll be asked to input your business address. The site may then ask you to approve the positioning of a marker for your business, which Google Maps will use.

Choose Your Location

Businesses without a physical store or HQ that customers can access can still proceed through this step. Instead of inputting your location, you might be asked to list the areas your business covers.

6. Add Your Contact Information

All Google Business Profiles have contact information for companies, so you’ll add this in the next step.

List your business phone number and the email address you’d like potential customers to use. If your company doesn’t have a staffed phone line, you can leave this blank. You’ll have the opportunity to add a website address here, too.

If you don’t yet have a website set up, there’s a tickbox you can use to tell Google you don’t have a website.

Add Your Contact Information

Of course, this information can be updated as soon as a website is created.

7. Choose Whether or Not to Receive Information From Google

At this point, Google will ask you if you want to sign up to receive information and updates.

While there’s no requirement to do so, there are significant benefits to ensuring you’re always in the know about the latest news from the search giant.

Choose Whether

So, we’d recommend you tick this box.

8. Verify Your New Business Listing

The final step is one of the most important. Google will now ask you to verify the accuracy of the information you’ve provided.

This is done via a verification process. It’s the only part of the setup that can take a little time.

You can verify your listing via phone or email if you don’t have a physical location. These options aren’t available to all businesses, but if you are eligible, you will see one of these or both.

Verify Your New Business Listing

Postcard Verification

Usually, Google sends a postcard to the provided address with a five-digit verification code. This will usually arrive within five working days. Once you’ve received the postcard and have the verification code, you’ll just need to input the number to verify your business.

Phone Verification

If you are eligible to verify your business via phone, you can select this option. You’ll receive an automated phone call, telling you your verification number over the phone . You can then input the number to verify your business similarly.

Email Verification

Email verification is another option which is available to some businesses. If you can verify in this way, you can choose to have the verification number emailed to you. The email address must be the same one that’s connected to your Google Business Profile account. Once you receive the number via email, you can input it to complete the verification process.

Best Practices for Google Business Page Setup

Setting up your business page is just the first step.

Once it’s up and running, you’ll be able to customize your information and add further details to attract more customers. Here’s how to do it.

1. Make Sure Your Profile Is Complete

A complete profile on Google Business can do wonders for your traffic and help you build trust.

apple fifth avenue

Data released by the search engine reveals that customers are 2.7x more likely to see a business as trustworthy and reputable if its listing is complete. They’re also 70% more likely to visit and 50% more likely to consider making a purchase.

There’s so much information that you can add beyond where your business is located and when it’s open.

Listings allow you to input information about the products and services offered, descriptions of your company, and even in-store photography to give customers an insight into what they can expect.

2. Add Photography and Videos to Inject Some Personality

When you create your Google Business Profile, you’ll be asked to upload your logo and an image for your cover photo.

We highly recommend doing so, as customers will be able to recognize your brand at a glance when they spot it on search results. But you can also go one step further by adding photographs and videos to your profile.

Head to the dashboard and select ‘photos.’ From here, you’ll be able to upload photographs from inside your store or your HQ, alongside images of the products or services you’re selling and videos of behind-the-scenes tours or product demonstrations.

the lvy

As you can see from the above example, Google Business Profile provides a golden opportunity to allow potential customers a glimpse inside your business.

High-end restaurants like The Ivy use it to showcase their decor and give future diners an idea of the atmosphere inside. Food photography is also used to tempt potential customers to make a booking.

3. Encourage Customer Reviews

Google Business Profile is a great way of drawing attention to the positive feedback your company has received.

It allows customers to leave star ratings and more detailed feedback about their experience.

If you’re providing a standout service and recent customers are prepared to share the good news about your company, this could make a huge difference to the growth of your brand.

Encourage Customer Reviews

The above example shows how Google Business Profile is being used for customer reviews by ZSL London Zoo.

The zoo invites its visitors to leave reviews of their day, with many uploading photos of their experience. This hugely powerful marketing tool makes a real difference when it comes to influencing future customers who may be unsure whether or not to visit the attraction.

Of course, even the best businesses will receive negative reviews from time to time. But companies shouldn’t be afraid of giving customers a chance to leave their reviews in such a public forum.

Instead, negative feedback should be seen as another opportunity . In this case, it gives businesses a chance to hear customers’ concerns, learn from them and make changes to enhance their offering in the future.

4. Use Keyword Research to Optimize Listing Copy

Relevance couldn’t be more important on Google Business Profile.

If you’re unsure how to ensure your listing is as relevant as possible, just use your existing keyword research.

No doubt, you’ll already have an idea of the keywords most important to your business and your customers. You can use these exact keywords to optimize your Google Business Profile .

If you’re unsure of the best keywords to use, it’s a good idea to research by monitoring social media and looking into data provided by Google Analytics.

Compile the best keywords for your listing page and incorporate them naturally into your listing copy for the best results.

5. Verify Your Listing

Verified businesses are far more likely to catch the eye of consumers. They appear more often in local search results, which is good news for your local SEO. Moreover, they tend to rank higher on general Google search results pages.

Get Started With Your Google Business Page Setup Right Away

Google Business Profile provides endless opportunities for companies hoping to get noticed.

Creating a listing is quick, easy, and free, so there’s no reason not to get one set up today.

Once your listing is up and running, inject some of your brand’s personality alongside your essential business information. This will ensure that all those who stumble upon it are interested enough to visit your website and learn more about your company.

Optimize your listing with keywords, photography, video, and more.

In no time, you’ll have a great Google Business Profile listing that’s working hard to pique the interest of potential customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

🌟 Is Google Business Profile free?

Yes. Google Business Profile is free to create and manage and a great way to promote your business online. You can add photos, hours, and information about your business, plus share news, create events, and more.

🌟 How can I get my Google Business Profile to 100% completion?

  • Make sure your business information is up-to-date
  • Make sure your business is verified
  • Ensure that your business is optimized for Google My Business

🌟 How do I verify a Google Business Profile?

You can verify your Google Business Profile via post, phone, and email. Follow our steps above to learn how to verify using your chosen method.

🌟 Can customers leave feedback on Google Business Profile?

Yes, customers can leave reviews on any Google Business Profile. Use your profile to show off great feedback from recent purchasers.

About the Author

Picture of Sean Begg

Sean Begg Flint is the founder and CEO of Position Digital , a digital marketing agency for ambitious start-ups and growing brands. They help companies get found online through SEO, creative content, and targeted outreach.

Related Posts

9 Low Budget Marketing Ideas for businesses to Grow Like Fire

Manage social media effortlessly.

  • Trial Begins Immediately
  • No CC Required
  • Change Plans Anytime
  • Cancel Anytime

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

  • © 2024 SocialPilot Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy & GDPR
  • Terms of Service
  • Follow us :
  • Help Center
  • Google Account
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Submit feedback
  • Improve your Google Account

Create a Google Account

A Google Account gives you access to many Google products . With a Google Account, you can do things like:

  • Send and receive email using Gmail
  • Find your new favorite video on YouTube
  • Download apps from Google Play

Step 1: Choose a Google Account type

Important: When you create a Google Account for your business, you can turn business personalization on. A business account also makes it easier to set up Google Business Profile , which helps improve your business visibility and manage your online information.

When you create a Google Account, we ask for some personal info. By providing accurate info, you can help keep your account secure and make our services more useful.

Tip: You don't need a Gmail account to create a Google Account. You can use your non-Gmail email address to create one instead .

  • Go to the Google Account sign in page .
  • Click Create account .
  • Enter your name.
  • In the "Username" field, enter a username.
  • Tip: When you enter your password on mobile, the first letter isn't case sensitive.
  • Optional: Add and verify a phone number for your account.
  • Click Next .

Use an existing email address

  • Go to the Google Account Sign In page .
  • Click Use my current email address instead .
  • Enter your current email address.
  • Verify your email address with the code sent to your existing email.
  • Click Verify .

Step 2: Protect your account with recovery info

If you forget your password or someone is using your account without your permission, updated recovery info makes it much more likely you’ll get your account back.

  • Add a recovery phone number
  • Add a recovery email address

Learn how to avoid getting locked out of your account .

If you signed in to any Google product before, such as Gmail, Maps, or YouTube, you already have a Google Account. You can use the same username and password you created to sign in to any other Google products.

If you can't remember that you signed in and would like to check if you have an account, enter your email address . You'll find a message if there isn't a Google Account associated with your email address.

You can sign in to an existing Google Account .

By default, account related notifications are sent to your new Gmail address, or to your non-Google email if you signed up with a different email address.

To change where you get notifications, edit your contact email .

Tip: You can also create a Google Account with a non-Google email you already own.

You can't choose this email address for a new account. If this email address is yours, it's possible that:

  • You’ve already signed up for a Google Account. Learn how to recover your Google Account .
  • You collaborated with a Google Workspace user with a visitor session linked with this email address. Learn how to delete your visitor session .

Need more help?

Try these next steps:.

Jump to Content

My Business

Stand out on Google with a free Business Profile

Electricians near me

Businesses map for search results

  • Open Closes 5 PM

Image of hands with electric gloves, pliers and a wire

Turn people who find you on Google Search and Maps into new customers with a free Business Profile for your storefront or service area. Personalize your profile with photos, offers, posts, and more.

Blue circle icon with a price tag

Create a Business Profile at no cost

Icon Easy to manage

Manage your profile from Search and Maps

Gear cicle icon with green background.

Personalized

Add hours, photos, posts and more

Take charge of your first impression

Highlight essential info and show what makes your business unique, right on your Business Profile.

Business profile UI with essential information added

Add essential info

Add information like your phone number, operating hours, and health and safety measures, so customers know what to expect.

Share photos, your logo, and more

Show your business’s personality with photos, a cover image, your logo, and more to stand out to customers.

Show who you are

Add attributes like Black-owned, women-led, veteran-led, and LGBTQ-friendly so people can learn more about your business.

Easily connect with customers

Update customers with the latest via posts, offers, direct messaging, and more.

Image of a Business Profile showing a post promoting a special offers, events, and updates. On the post, image of pillows on a living room and on a chair. post text: New pillow cover colors in stock.
 Order now.

Create posts, offers, and events

Add posts to your Business Profile to promote special offers, events, and updates to keep customers in the loop.

Respond to reviews

Reply to public customer reviews to build trust with new and returning customers.

Send and receive direct messages

Message with customers directly. You can pause messaging or create automated responses any time.

Post answers to frequently asked questions

List helpful business info upfront and save time by posting answers to common questions. Even let customers answer questions, too.

Show what you offer, from products to services

Whether you’re a restaurant, store, or service provider, your profile helps customers do business with you easily and directly with product inventory, ordering, bookings, quotes, and more.

Image of a Business Profile in a mobile device popping out the buttons for order pickup and order delivery

Accept food orders and more

Take orders for delivery and pickup and let customers make reservations. Even add your menu, so people can discover your best dishes.

Image of a Business Profile on a Mobile device with a list of products

List your products

Show what’s in your store, so customers know what you sell as soon as they find you online.

Image of a business Profile on a mobile device view, popping out the request a quote button

Offer your services

Show a list of your business services and provide online quotes, so customers get the info they need to choose you.

Image of a Business profile mobile device view with the Business Profile Performance tab showing All interactions graphics according to business period

Know how customers find your business

Discover what keywords people search to find you, and get insights on calls, reviews, bookings, and more to understand how your business connects with customers.

SUCCESS STORIES

Detroit Voltage—Detroit, Michigan

Photo showing an electrician working on a fuse box

Yogolandia Yogurt and Botana Bar—Chicago, Illinois

Image of two person enjoying in Yogolandia Yogurt and Botana Bar

Chicago Music Exchange—Chicago, Illinois

Photo of man with a guitar.

Honest Soul Yoga—Alexandria, Virginia

Image of People in Yoga practice

Show the best of your business

Reach more customers in three simple steps, with your free Business Profile.

Create a Business Profile, or manage an existing profile on Search and Maps

Personalize

Add hours, photos, and other details and get discovered by customers near you

Share updates, respond to reviews, and connect with customers on Google

Your questions, answered

Is a business profile on google free.

Yes, it‘s free to create your Business Profile on Google. Create your profile at no cost, and you can manage your business from Google Search and Maps to start reaching more customers.

My business doesn’t have a storefront. Can I still have a Business Profile?

Yes, you can have a profile if your business doesn’t have a physical address as long as you make in-person contact with customers. You can also have a profile if you’re a hybrid business that serves customers at your business address and visits or delivers directly to customers. You may also have a profile if you’re a service-area business that visits or delivers to customers directly, but doesn't serve customers at its business address, like a plumber or cleaning service.

Do I need to download the Google My Business app to create and manage my profile?

You can use the Google My Business app to manage your profile but it’s not required. You can also manage it directly from Google Search and Maps, or sign in on the Google My Business website.

Productivity

How to create a new business Gmail account for your team

The Gmail icon.

Google allows you to link your domain to Gmail via a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) account so that you can continue using Gmail with your fancy new @yourcompany.com email address.

Below, I unpack how to create a new business Gmail account with Google Workspace.

Table of contents:

How much does Google Workspace cost?

Creating a business gmail account vs. free gmail account, set up your google workspace account, verify your domain name.

Add MX records

Add team members to your account

How to manage your new workspace account, what is google workspace.

Google Workspace is Google's collection of cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools designed for businesses.

Just as a Gmail account lets you use all of Google's tools for your personal needs, a Google Workspace account gives you the business versions of the same tools with an email address that uses your company's .com or other domain address.

What makes Google Workspace so great isn't just its individual tools—Drive, Calendar, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Meet, and many more—but also the way these tools integrate with one another. For example, whether I'm reading emails or working in a Google Doc, I can click the Google Calendar icon on my right-side toolbar to check my schedule for the rest of the day without leaving my current tab.

In short, it's one of the best ways to get your business email on your own domain, along with the rest of Google's apps that'll help your company members collaborate.

While individuals can create their own account with Google and use the standard Google Workspace tools for free, businesses must pay monthly per user to use Google Workspace, with plans ranging from $6 to $18 or more per user per month.

Google also offers an "Enterprise" plan with custom pricing, providing advanced features like S/MIME encryption, unlimited storage, and enhanced support.

Anyone can create a personal Gmail account for free—it's just an email address created with the Gmail domain (for example, [email protected] ). With a free Gmail account, you can use Google's basic tools and services.

A business Gmail account is a paid plan that requires you to have your own domain. This makes sense—you don't want your business email address to end in @gmail.com . You want it to end in the domain name of your business. Business accounts also come with additional features, including significantly more storage than a free Gmail account, account access management, and advanced security measures.

Ready to make your company's Google Workspace account? Click the Get Started button on the Google Workspace site or under a specific plan on the Workspace Pricing page . Enter your company name, and select the number of employees your company has. Don't worry—you can always add more people as your team grows.

create a business google

Then, enter a current email address (where Google will send your account info after you sign up), enter your business's domain (or purchase one through Google on the spot), and provide your company's address for locale and billing purposes.

You can either enter your current domain name or search for a new one to use with Google Workspace if you don't already have one. Google charges $12 per year for .com , .net , and .org domain names and $30 per year for .co domain names. I used an existing domain rather than purchasing a new one through Google.

create a business google

All that's left is to make your own Google Workspace account. Enter an email address (username) you want to use for yourself with your domain, along with a password for your new Google Workspace account. You'll use this email address and password to log in to any Google apps in the future, so choose wisely.

create a business google

Google will prompt you to review your plan and enter your payment information. It defaults to the Business Standard plan, but you can upgrade or downgrade it during your trial.

create a business google

Submit your information, and you'll see a prompt to enter the Google Workspace setup screen. Google makes setting up the rest of your account as simple as filling out a Google Form.

Cue fanfare —you now have a business Gmail account! If you're using a domain you already own, you now have to prove ownership to Google so that nobody else tries to make an account with your domain. 

Once you click Protect , Google will detect where your domain name is hosted, if possible, and give you the link to log in to your domain management page. Depending on your DNS, you may be able to verify your domain and connect it to Google with the click of a button.

create a business google

GoDaddy is my domain's DNS, and after logging in, Google verified and protected my domain and activated Gmail in under five minutes. If Google doesn't do so on the spot when you log into your DNS, not a problem—I'll go over the steps to do this manually.

create a business google

One of the simplest ways to verify your domain manually is by adding a meta tag (provided by Google during setup) to your website's header section or uploading an HTML file to your website's server.

The first option is easy if your website is powered by WordPress. Just open your site's admin page at yoursite.com/wp-admin , click Appearance > Customize in the left-hand menu, and select Header in the file list on the right. Add the meta tag before the </head> tag in the code editor, and save your changes.

Add MX records 

Unless Google automatically connects to your DNS when you sign in—doing the techy work for you—you'll have to add mail exchange (MX) records in your DNS settings to permit Google Workspace to handle email functions for your domain. Google provides these during setup: all you have to do is navigate to your domain name registrar, hosting account, or server settings and add these records to your domain name settings.

In GoDaddy, for example, you'll find the DNS settings by signing into GoDaddy Domain Portfolio and clicking on the three dots next to the domain you're connecting to Google Workspace. Many other shared or VPS hosts use cPanel, which has a dedicated DNS settings page, for site management. Either way, add the DNS settings Google shows on your Google Workspace setup page, and save the changes.

create a business google

Unless you're a solopreneur, it's time to add your teammates, coworkers, and/or employees to your Workspace account. As you may have noticed above, you can add team members during the initial setup, but here's how to add users at any point after this:

Navigate to your Admin console, and select Directory .

Under Users , select the Add new user option, and create new business Gmail accounts for your team members.

create a business google

Now that you're finished with initial setup, you can customize your Workspace account to meet your business's unique needs. In your Admin console, navigate to the Apps tab, and select Google Workspace . This is where you'll find settings for all of your Workspace apps.

create a business google

For example, if you navigate to Gmail, you'll see options to modify user settings such as themes and read receipts, routing settings, safety settings, and more. Remember, adjusting these settings impacts everyone in your organization. They get pretty granular, so take your time acquainting yourself with your options.

create a business google

Whenever you want to make additional changes to any Workspace app, just log in to admin.google.com to access the Admin console.

Make Google Workspace work for you

Google Workspace tools are impressive, but it takes a helping hand to get them to handle repetitive tasks without you needing to lift a finger. Zapier makes automating Gmail and other Google Workspace tools easier than ever—no code, no hassle, just a lot of saved time. Learn more about how to power up your Google apps using automation .

Related reading:

The 5 best email hosting services for business

4 ways to automate Gmail

Why your business shouldn't use a Gmail.com address, and what to use instead

This article was originally published in May 2017. The most recent update was in February 2023.

Get productivity tips delivered straight to your inbox

We’ll email you 1-3 times per week—and never share your information.

Luke Strauss picture

Luke Strauss

Luke is a writer and content marketer from sunny San Diego. Since receiving his degree in International Management from Pepperdine University, he's channeled his passion for digital marketing and creative writing to create engaging content for organizations across a wide variety of verticals. When he's not at his desk, you'll find him at a music festival, thrifting, or spending time with his friends and family.

  • Personal productivity

Related articles

The Gmail icon.

How to automatically label emails in Gmail—and what else to do with Gmail labels

How to automatically label emails in...

A hero image for Discord app tips, with the Discord logo on a gray background

How to create a Discord welcome experience for new members

How to create a Discord welcome experience...

Hero image of the OpenAI app logo on a light purple background.

How to use ChatGPT

Hero image for Notion app tips with the Notion logo on a gray background

Notion CRM template: How to turn Notion into your CRM

Notion CRM template: How to turn Notion into...

Improve your productivity automatically. Use Zapier to get your apps working together.

A Zap with the trigger 'When I get a new lead from Facebook,' and the action 'Notify my team in Slack'

More From Forbes

4 lessons businesses can learn from google's evolution.

  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Linkedin

Person using search engine on laptop

In the business world, Google stands as a paragon of evolution, transforming from a humble search engine into a global tech giant. However, some are questioning if the tech giant has gone too far with their latest updates.

Google’s Search Generative Experience , which uses generative AI to ‘improve’ search has been a hot topic of discussion, especially in the marketing world. How will SEO tactics be impacted as the SERP real estate diminishes? Will Reddit become a more trusted publication because of its human content? Will Gen Z stop using Google and rely on TikTok to search for content? These are all real questions being asked by researchers and marketing professionals.

At the same time, from a business perspective, it’s interesting to look at Google’s progression and question if they’re correctly responding to consumers. Are the changes they’re making truly beneficial, and are they making the right choices? I’m not sure about that, but Google’s story offers invaluable lessons for businesses navigating this complex digital era.

1. Always Stay Adaptable

Google's remarkable journey from a simple search engine to a multifaceted tech company serves as a testament to their adaptability. Initially known for their clean and efficient search interface, Google adeptly recognized emerging trends and adapted their offerings to stay relevant.

The company expanded its scope beyond search, as they ventured into email, mobile systems, cloud computing, and so many other areas. This growth showcases their ability to navigate changing market dynamics and anticipate consumer preferences.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

Businesses can draw valuable lessons from that adaptability. Just because a strategy is working, that doesn’t mean there’s no reason to explore alternative approaches. New technology and consumer behaviors are constantly reshaping the competitive landscape. So, businesses must adapt to stay ahead. You can stay resilient by diversifying services, experimenting with new tech, and adjusting to user needs.

2. Ingrain Innovation Into Your Company’s DNA

Google's success and ability to constantly adapt can be largely attributed to their relentless pursuit of innovation. It’s ingrained into every part of the company. From the Harvard Business Review , “Google budgets innovation into job descriptions, eliminates friction from development processes, and cultivates a taste for failure and chaos.” It’s one of their defining features.

From their inception, they’ve consistently sought to provide cutting-edge solutions. One of the distinctive offerings that set Google apart in the early days was their groundbreaking PageRank algorithm. They revolutionized search by ranking web pages based on their relevance and importance rather than keyword density. In the end, they came out on top because they could deliver more accurate and valuable results to users.

Businesses aspiring to succeed can take away that staying ahead of the competition requires a commitment to pioneering solutions. You can’t simply get by doing what everyone else is doing. Instead, you must inspire a culture of innovation . Prioritize exploring new ideas and constantly refining your products and services. This proactive approach ensures relevance and positions companies as trailblazers in their industries.

3. Constantly Consider User Experience

An interesting phenomenon that’s happened as the internet has evolved is that Google has played a large role establishing what the web should look like . SEO optimization has encouraged web designers, marketers, and content creators to align their strategies with Google's algorithms. Rather than creating a website willy-nilly, they have rules to stick to. Creating a website involves incorporating relevant keywords, creating quality content, and ensuring mobile-friendly design.

In the worst cases, it’s led to uninspiring information repeated ad nauseum. When hundreds of companies are targeting the same keywords, hundreds of blogs and other pieces of content are created about the same topics. And if they’re following best practices and common strategies, that content will be formatted similarly and often include the same information (which isn’t even always accurate—scary). Some critics argue this homogenization dilutes the uniqueness of individual brands.

Because of this, businesses must find a balance between meeting Google's expectations and maintaining a distinctive online identity. Striking this balance takes work, but finding your brand’s voice is one of the most important steps. Determine your core values and make sure you stand for something. Those who succeed will maintain visibility and gain their audience’s trust.

4. Prioritize Transparency

As most marketers know, Google's algorithms and ranking systems are complicated. While they are designed to deliver the most useful content to users, there has been a growing call for increased transparency regarding exactly how these algorithms operate. The main complaint is that those who create algorithms are not directly held accountable to society . Yet, there should be some method by which they are.

One of the most prominent concerns is the potential for algorithmic bias . Even unintentionally, algorithms can favor certain types of content or perpetuate negative stereotypes when biases are present in the data used to train them. One of the most noteworthy examples involves searching names. A Harvard researcher found that searching racially associated names like Kareem or Keisha would yield advertisements that read “Arrested?” While looking up Brad or Katie would not.

That’s obviously problematic. Algorithmic bias can have significant implications when it comes to political discourse, social justice, and cultural representation. And these instances harm Google’s public image and trust amongst users as well.

Businesses can draw a valuable lesson from this conversation about transparency. Consumers today seek transparency from the companies they engage with more than ever before. To achieve long term success, be transparent regarding operations, communication, and decision-making processes. Being open and honest builds trust that can lead to customer loyalty and positive brand perception.

The main lesson for business leaders to takeaway from Google’s history is that it’s important to find a balance between innovation and user expectations. Adding features and services should always enhance, rather than compromise, your core business offerings. Google's journey highlights the importance of staying attuned to user needs, embracing simplicity, and ensuring that technological advancements are truly beneficial.

John Hall

  • Editorial Standards
  • Reprints & Permissions
  • Election 2024
  • Entertainment
  • Newsletters
  • Photography
  • Press Releases
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Russia-Ukraine War
  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • Asia Pacific
  • AP Top 25 College Football Poll
  • Movie reviews
  • Book reviews
  • Financial Markets
  • Business Highlights
  • Financial wellness
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Social Media

Google making changes after Gemini AI portrayed people of color inaccurately

Google's neon signage inside NYC office.

Google said Thursday that it would temporarily limit the ability to create images of people with its artificial-intelligence tool Gemini after it produced illustrations with historical inaccuracies.

The pause was announced in a post on X after the company acknowledged the issues in a statement the day before, writing: “We’re working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately. Gemini’s AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And that’s generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But it’s missing the mark here.”

Google announced its “next-generation” AI model, Gemini 1.5 , last week, touting it as its most capable yet. Google is one of many tech companies that are feverishly competing to develop the best generative AI systems that can create text, images and video from simple prompts.

After its launch, Gemini drew the attention of some pundits and technologists, including many on the right who have been critical of efforts to make AI more inclusive, with some leveling accusations that Google’s AI was a prime example of “ woke AI .”

The most widely noticed inaccuracies involved inserting people of color into places where they wouldn’t historically appear. For example, The Verge reported that asking Gemini to create an illustration of a 1943 German soldier resulted in AI-generated drawings of nonwhite people in Nazi uniforms. Gemini also created images of some nonwhite Founding Fathers and U.S. senators from the 1800s, when in reality they were all white men. 

Gemini’s racially diverse image output comes amid long-standing concerns around racial bias within AI models, especially a lack of representation for minorities and people of color. Such biases can directly harm people who rely on AI algorithms, such as in health care settings , where AI tools can affect health care outcomes for hundreds of millions of patients. 

Google isn’t the only Big Tech company addressing major issues with flagship AI tools this week — OpenAI, the company behind AI text generator ChatGPT, said Wednesday it had resolved an issue causing “unexpected responses” from ChatGPT. Users began noticing Tuesday that ChatGPT was malfunctioning, spitting out nonsensical sentences instead of its usual output.

“LLMs generate responses by randomly sampling words based in part on probabilities. Their ‘language’ consists of numbers that map to tokens,” OpenAI wrote in a status update on its website. “In this case, the bug was in the step where the model chooses these numbers. Akin to being lost in translation, the model chose slightly wrong numbers, which produced word sequences that made no sense.”

Kat Tenbarge is a tech and culture reporter for NBC News Digital. She can be reached at [email protected]

Google quietly launches internal AI model named 'Goose' to help employees write code faster, leaked documents show

  • Google has an internal large language model named Goose, designed to make employees more productive.
  • Goose is trained on "25 years of engineering expertise at Google."
  • The company is leveraging AI as part of a bigger efficiency push.

As Google injects artificial intelligence into every product it possibly can, it’s also turning to AI to make its business more efficient.

The company has launched a large language model named Goose that's just for employees. It is designed to assist with building new products, according to internal documents reviewed by Business Insider.

The documents describe Goose as a “descendant of Gemini,” its big new large language model . Goose is “trained on the sum total of 25 years of engineering expertise at Google,” one of the documents states.

“It can answer questions around Google-specific technologies, write code using internal tech stacks and supports novel capabilities such as editing code based on natural language prompts,” an internal summary of Goose reads.

Leveraging AI internally could be a key factor in Google’s new efficiency drive, which has resulted in leadership cutting thousands of jobs over the past 13 months and a number of team re-orgs. Google finance chief Ruth Porat hinted at initiatives like this during the company’s recent earnings call , telling analysts that Google was working to “slow expense growth” through a variety of tactics including “streamlining operations across Alphabet through the use of AI.” 

One internal document notes that Goose is part of a plan to “bring AI to every stage of the product development process.” 

A Google spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment.

Goose appears to be available for at least some employees to use right now, however, it’s not clear if it’s fully functional in terms of its abilities. One document notes that Goose “is also planned to be the first general-purpose LLM approved for internal coding use at Google.”

“Goose has a 28k token context window, which makes it particularly valuable for development tasks,” it adds. Token context windows refer to the amount of text, numbers, and other information a language model can take into account when processing a query. That's especially important for coding, which can include hundreds of thousands of lines of code.

The documents note that the creation of Goose was a collaborative effort between Google Brain, DeepMind, and Google's internal infrastructure teams. The company merged Brain and DeepMind last year to build Gemini, which was in turn named after the twin teams that created it.

Duck, Duck, Goose

Google isn't the only tech company using its own AI models and products to boost productivity. Microsoft recently rolled out its Copilot tool to internal teams , Business Insider reported.

And Goose isn't the only example of Google using AI to be more efficient.

The company uses AI to try to reduce the amount of energy required to cool its data centers, for example. It is also increasingly pushing advertisers to use AI automated products for deciding where their money should be spent across Google's products.

For now at least, Google insists that AI is not taking away employees’ jobs.

“We’re not restructuring because AI is taking away any jobs,” said Google’s chief business officer Philipp Schindler, after Business Insider’s reported layoffs in Google’s ad sales team as part of a re-org .

Goose could become increasingly useful for employees. The tool was designed with a "focus on new engineering-related capabilities," one of the documents reads, suggesting it could go well beyond the existing development tools offered to staff.

And if Googlers have specific development questions while using Goose, they're encouraged to turn to the company's internal chatbot, named Duckie.

Are you a current or former Google employee? Got something to share??

You can reach reporter Hugh Langley via encrypted messaging app Signal (+1 628-228-1836) or email ( [email protected] )

create a business google

Watch: Google's DeepMind AI just taught itself to walk

create a business google

  • Main content

IMAGES

  1. Google Business Account

    create a business google

  2. Create a Google Business Page: Step by Step Tutorial

    create a business google

  3. How to Set up Google My Business

    create a business google

  4. How to Get Started with Google My Business

    create a business google

  5. [Complete Guide] How To Properly Create Your Google Business Accounts

    create a business google

  6. How to Optimize Your Google My Business Page

    create a business google

VIDEO

  1. How to Make Your Google Business Profile More Clickable?

  2. Manage your Google Business

  3. Ultimate Google Business Profile Location Hack (part 1)

  4. What is Google My Business ?

  5. How to create Business Google Account (Paano gumawa ng Google Account)#gmail #business #paano

  6. How To List Your Business On Google Business Profile

COMMENTS

  1. $0

    Form your business & find all the permit requirements with our business license package. And keep your business compliant with a registered agent.

  2. Google Business Profile

    Create a Business Profile at no cost Easy Manage your profile from Search and Maps Personalized Add hours, photos, posts and more Take charge of your first impression Highlight essential info...

  3. Sign up for Business Profile

    Create a Business Profile on Google On your computer, sign in to your Google Account, or create one. If you create a new Google Account, sign up with your business email domain. Go...

  4. Get started with Google Business Profile

    1. Sign up and verify your business Learn how Business Profile can help you grow. Then, sign up and verify your business on Google. 2. Optimize your presence online Ready to take your...

  5. Welcome to a Business Profile on Google

    Ready to get started? Click the sign up button and proceed to the next page of this guide. Use Smart Campaigns for online-only businesses Business Profiles are only available for businesses that...

  6. How to add or claim your Business Profile on Google

    You can add your business in 3 ways: Enter your address in the search bar. On the left, in the Business Profile, click Add your business. Right-click anywhere on the map. Then, click Add your business. In the top left, click Menu Add your business. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish signing up for your Business Profile.

  7. Google My Business Questions and Answers

    What do I need to create a business website? Can I still use Google My Business if I don't have a business storefront? Why do I need to verify my business? How do I verify my...

  8. How to Start a New Business

    To help you get discovered online and showcase your business, you may want to create a website with a unique web address. (Don't worry, there are website builders for all skill levels.) If you're starting a local business, drive traffic by adding your website address to your Business Profile on Google. Choose a website builder that matches ...

  9. How to Set up a Google Business Profile

    [google-business-profile_step-1; Alt text: Google create an account page] 2. Go to the Google Business Profile page. Head to the Google Business Profile page and click the Manage now button. 3. Search for your business name. Check whether your business name has already been listed by entering the name of your business.

  10. Google for Small Business

    Get started Reach the goals that matter to you For retail businesses Establish your online presence and optimize it to help drive product sales. Get started For service businesses Attract potential customers and capture leads or bookings. Get started For restaurants Drive food orders, reservations, and foot traffic using digital tools.

  11. List Your Business Information Online

    In just a few minutes, Google can create one for you for free with a professional look and feel. KEEP IMPROVING Measure your success A complete Business Profile allows customers to connect with you through calling or messaging, visiting your website, or getting directions to your location.

  12. How to Set Up and Optimize Google My Business in 5 Minutes [2024]

    Install the Google My Business app. Once you have your profile set up, install the free Google My Business app from the Hootsuite app directory. To finish installing, choose whether to create a new Streams board or add your Google Business Profile data to one of your existing Stream boards. Choose an option and click Add to Streams.

  13. Google My Business

    Check-in on the go with the Google My Business app. With the Google My Business app, you manage your business on your time. You can check customer insights, update your business hours, and share ...

  14. The Ultimate Guide to Google My Business

    Google My Business vs. Google Places for Business vs. Google+. If you're confused about the many names and options for managing your Google presence, you've got a right to be. Google Places used to be Google's tool for owners to manage their business profiles, but it was retired in 2014. Now Google My Business is the central hub to manage how ...

  15. A Step-By-Step Guide to Google Business Page Setup

    Here are 8 simple steps to set up your Google Business Profile. 1. Open Google Business Profile Manager. All businesses with a Google account will have access to Google Business Profile Manager, which is what you need to set up your Google Business Profile page. If you already have a Google account, it's just a case of logging in and opening ...

  16. Make a business group

    If you have 2 or more locations, click the Create business group button in the top right corner of the page. Tip : If you can't find this button, click the 3 dash menu in the top left corner,...

  17. Create a Google Account

    Step 1: Choose a Google Account type For myself To manage a business Important: When you create a Google Account for your business, you can turn business personalization on. A...

  18. Google My Business

    Create a Business Profile at no cost Easy Manage your profile from Search and Maps Personalized Add hours, photos, posts and more Take charge of your first impression Highlight essential info...

  19. How To Create a Professional Business Email

    1 Sign up for Google Workspace During signup specify the domain you want for your business email. If you don't yet own the domain, you can purchase it from Google for an additional fee. 2 Set...

  20. Google Sites: Create & Host Business Websites

    Sites Effortlessly create impactful team sites Collaboratively create engaging, high-quality sites for your team, project or event. The sites look great on every screen, from desktop to...

  21. Create a Professional Business Email Address

    Pricing Admin console Create a business email address to stand out A custom email domain helps your business look more professional and stand out from the competition. With Gmail and Google...

  22. How to create a new business Gmail account for your team

    Creating a business Gmail account vs. free Gmail account. Anyone can create a personal Gmail account for free—it's just an email address created with the Gmail domain (for example, [email protected]).With a free Gmail account, you can use Google's basic tools and services.

  23. 4 Lessons Businesses Can Learn From Google's Evolution

    Person using search engine on laptop. getty. In the business world, Google stands as a paragon of evolution, transforming from a humble search engine into a global tech giant.

  24. Google Voice: Business Phone System & Plans

    Google Voice: Business Phone System & Plans Stay connected and save time with an easy-to-use business phone solution that fits organizations of any size. Get started. Contact sales. Work from anywhere Your Voice line works on mobile devices, laptops, and supported deskphones so you can stay connected at work, home, or on-the-go. ...

  25. Google to pause Gemini AI model's image generation

    Google is pausing the ability for its artificial intelligence tool Gemini to generate images of people, after it was blasted on social media for producing historically inaccurate images that ...

  26. Google suspends Gemini AI chatbot's ability to generate pictures of

    FILE - Google logos are shown when searched on Google in New York, Sept. 11, 2023. Google said Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, it's temporarily stopping its Gemini artificial intelligence chatbot from generating images of people a day after apologizing for "inaccuracies" in historical depictions that it was creating.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

  27. Gmail: Business Email Accounts & Service

    Gmail Secure business email, and so much more The latest Gmail makes it easier to stay on top of the work that matters. With secure, ad-free email as a foundation, you can also chat, make...

  28. Google making changes after Gemini AI portrayed people of color

    Google said Thursday that it would temporarily limit the ability to create images of people with its artificial-intelligence tool Gemini after it produced illustrations with historical inaccuracies.

  29. Google Launches Internal AI Model 'Goose' to Help Staff Code Faster

    Google has an internal large language model named Goose, designed to make employees more productive. Goose is trained on "25 years of engineering expertise at Google." The company is leveraging AI ...