How to Add Your Business to Google Maps.

With a whopping 93% of online experiences starting with a search engine, having a strong presence there is essential for promoting your small business. Google, the most popular search engine of them all, allows you to do this by adding your business directly into Google Maps.

Keep reading to learn how to add your business to Google Maps and more search engine optimization (SEO) tips to help promote your pet care business online.

How to add a business to Google Maps in 5 easy steps.

1. Create or claim your business on Google. 

To claim your business on Google, go to Google Business Profile and sign in with your business account. If your business is already listed, you can claim it by searching for your business name and selecting it from the results.

Alternatively, you can search for your business on Google Maps and click on “Claim this business” on the listing.

If your business is not listed, in the Google Maps sidebar, click “Add your business.” Or head straight to Google Business Profile and add your business name to the search bar to start the process.

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2. Fill out your profile.

Once your business is created or claimed, fill out your profile with all relevant information. This includes your business address, contact details, website, business hours, and a description of what your business offers.

Be sure to update this if anything changes in the future. 

3. Validate your address with Google’s verification process.

Google will need to verify your business address. While common practice was to send a postcard to the business address, it can now be done via phone, text, email, or video.

Verification can take up to five days but if Google is unable to verify the business, you will need to go through the process again. 

4. Add media to your profile.

Add high-quality photos and videos of your business to make your profile better for potential customers. This can include images of your storefront, interior, products, services, and team.

If you are a dog groomer, before and after pictures are great for showcasing your talents!

5. Create a review program.

Encourage reviews from customers and make sure to respond so feedback always looks valued. Respond gratefully to positive reviews and constructively to negative ones. 

Google themselves has said that businesses that respond to reviews are seen as 1.7x more trustworthy than those that don’t. 

Why is search engine optimization (SEO) important for small businesses?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a strategy to help a business appear in online search results. For pet businesses, SEO involves optimizing various elements of a website or Google Profile to ensure it’s easily accessible and attractive to both search engines and users.

This means ensuring the website and Google Profile are optimized for certain keywords and phrases, helping you get in front of more customers’ eyes to achieve your business goals. 

What is the difference between SEO and local SEO?

SEO is all about making your website more visible on search engines like Google. It's a broad strategy that helps your site rank higher in search results on a national or global level. 

This involves things like creating great content, improving your site's speed, making sure it works well on mobile devices, and getting other reputable sites to link back to yours. The goal is to make your site as search-engine-friendly as possible so more people can find you online.

Local SEO is focused on making your Google Business Profile show up in local search results. This is super important for businesses that rely on local customers, like boarding services or grooming services. 

With local SEO, your goal is to optimize your Google Business Profile to show up when keywords like ‘dog groomer near me’ are searched online. To do this ensure these keywords are in your profile and your business info (like your name, address, and phone number) is accurate. Additionally, local SEO also includes gaining lots of customer reviews on your profile. 

You can also optimize your website for local SEO by creating content that's relevant to your local area and getting links from local websites. The idea is to make it easier for people nearby to find and choose your business.

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6 benefits of creating a Google Business Profile.

If you are still on the fence about creating a Google Business Profile for your pet business, here are 6 benefits to help you decide.

1. Increased visibility.

A Google Business Profile helps your business listing appear in local search results and Google Maps. This increased visibility makes it easier for potential customers in your area to find you, your business details, and your business location when searching for pet-related services or products.

2. Improved local SEO.

One of the biggest perks of setting up a Google Business Profile is how much it boosts your local search engine optimization. 

When people in your area search for products or services you offer, your business listing is more likely to pop up at the top of their search results. This makes it way more likely that they'll click on your business before even looking at your local competition.

Having a well-maintained Google Business Profile means you could end up in the Local Pack, which is that special section with the top three businesses that shows up right under the map in Google search results. 

Being in the Local Pack is prime real estate and can make a huge difference in how many people find and click on your business.

3. Better customer communication.

Another benefit of having a Google Business Profile is how it improves communication with your customers. Customers can reach out to you directly through phone calls, messages, or even book appointments right from your profile. This makes it super convenient for them to get in touch and do business with you.

But it's not just about them reaching out to you—you can also actively engage with your customers through your profile. 

You can respond to their reviews, answer their questions, and even post updates about your business. This two-way communication makes it easier than ever to build relationships with your customers and keep them in the loop about what's happening with your business.

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4. Business trust.

When your business listing is completely filled out with accurate business details, it signals to customers that you're a legitimate and trustworthy business. This can make them more likely to choose your services or products over others.

It’s not just about customers, Google also values businesses that provide comprehensive information. A well-maintained profile with verified details like your address, phone number, and business hours shows Google that you're serious about what you do. 

This can improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for customers to find you in search results.

5. Analytical insight for your business.

One of the best features of a Google Business Profile is the insights it gives you into your customers' behavior. You get to see how people are finding your business listing, what they're doing once they land on your profile, and other useful data points. 

This kind of information is gold when it comes to figuring out what's working and what you might want to tweak in your marketing strategies.

Understanding these insights can help you make smarter decisions for your business. For example, if you notice that a lot of people find you through a specific search term, you can focus more on optimizing for that term.

6. It’s free advertising.

One of the best parts about setting up a Google Business Profile is that it's totally free. This means you can get your business out there and in front of potential customers without having to dip into your budget and decrease profitability.

Plus, once your profile is set up, you can update it whenever you want. Whether you're adding new photos, updating your hours, adding a new location, or promoting a special deal, it's all fair game without costing your business anything. 

How do you outrank competitors on Google Maps?

While getting your business online on Google Maps is a start to visibility, there are over 200 million businesses on there, some of them pet businesses so it’s important to stand out against the competition. Here’s how. 

• Get more reviews: Getting 5-star reviews signals to Google that you’re a legitimate and trusted business in the community which will push you higher in search rankings.
• Include important keywords in your Google Business Profile: Including important keywords like ‘dog grooming,’ ‘dog boarding,’ or ‘dog walking’ in your profile also pushes you higher in rankings when that keyword is searched by a potential customer.
• Ensure Your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) are consistent: Consistency across contact details helps Google verify the legitimacy of the business and means it trusts it more. Google’s trust in a business is everything in terms of how it ranks the company, so ensuring these are up-to-date and the same across multiple platforms is very important when attracting new customers.
• Submit your business to local business directories: Being listed on multiple local business directories also increases credibility, as the more listings you have, the more legitimate the business address seems to both Google and customers. 
• Create content to earn local links to your website: Backlinks have been named as one of the most important ranking factors Google considers in its algorithm. Creating educational blog posts and articles that other websites link to in their own content will increase how authoritative your business seems.

Organize your business with PetExec software.

At PetExec, we know all marketing is connected. Make sure your business is set up on Google Maps and we can do the rest, including SMS and email marketing, managing appointments, deposits, and contracts so you have more time to dedicate to other areas of the business (like SEO).

If you want to minimize the time you have to spend pouring over numbers so you can focus on everything else, check out a demo of our software today, and let us know if you have any questions!

Commonly asked questions.

How do I get my small business on Google?

There are a few steps to ensuring your business appears on Google, including registering a Google Business Profile and filling it out to make sure you appear on Google Maps, utilizing SEO (both local and national) so your business shows up in search results, and working to increase the credibility of your business across the internet. 

Can I list my business on Google for free?

Yes, creating your business profile on Google is completely free. You can reach new customers without having to dip into your budget. 

Why doesn’t my business show up on Google?

There are a few reasons your business may not be showing up on Google, including that it’s not been claimed and verified on Google Business Profile. It’s not on Google Maps yet or your business is new and you don’t have much of a web presence yet.