On the Map Business Page
The search benefits of setting up a Google Business Page are manifold. Especially with mobile search now surpassing desktop search, people look for businesses on the go.
A Google Business Page allows you to control the information they see. Things as simple as the business name, phone number, and address are under your control.
Without a Business Page, search engines can arbitrarily assign wrong information or, worse yet, your business may not show up.
For brick and mortar business the steps are simple.
Google has Guidelines for Google My Business set up. *
Does Your Business Qualify?
Eligible businesses In order to qualify for a local Google+ page, a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours.
Ineligible businesses The following businesses aren’t eligible for a local page: • Businesses that are under construction or that have not yet opened to the public. • Rental or for-sale properties, such as vacation homes, model homes or vacant apartments. Sales or leasing offices, however, are eligible for verification. • An ongoing service, class, or meeting at a location that you don't own or have the authority to represent. Please coordinate with your host to have your information displayed on the page for their business within their "Introduction" field.
Ownership Only business owners or authorized representatives may verify and manage their business information on Google My Business. If you wish to share access to your local page with others, you can do so by adding a manager. For best results using Google My Business: • Represent your business as it’s consistently represented and recognized in the real world across signage, stationery, and other branding. • Make sure your address is accurate and precise. • Choose the fewest number of categories it takes to describe your overall core business.
How to Complete your Business Information
Business Information
Name Your name should reflect your business’ real-world name, as used consistently on your storefront, website, stationery, and as known to customers. Any additional information, when relevant, can be included in other sections of your business information (e.g., "Address", "Categories"). Adding unnecessary information to your name (e.g., "Google Inc. - Mountain View Corporate Headquarters" instead of "Google") by including marketing taglines, store codes, special characters, hours or closed/open status, phone numbers, website URLs, service/product information, location/address or directions, or containment information (e.g. "Chase ATM in Duane Reade") is not permitted.
Address Use a precise, accurate address to describe your business location. PO Boxes or mailboxes located at remote locations are not acceptable. Website & Phone Provide a phone number that connects to your individual business location as directly as possible, and provide one website that represents your individual business location. • Use a local phone number instead of central, call center helpline number whenever possible. • Do not provide phone numbers or URLs that redirect or "refer" users to landing pages or phone numbers other than those of the actual business, including pages created on social media sites.
Categories Categories help your customers find accurate, specific results for services they’re interested in. In order to keep your business information accurate and live, make sure that you: • Use as few categories as possible to describe your overall core business from the provided list. • Choose categories that are as specific as possible, but representative of your main business. ◦ Do not use categories solely as keywords or to describe attributes of your business. ◦ Do not use categories that pertain to other businesses that are nearby or related, such as a business physically contained within your business or an entity that contains your business.
Chains, departments, and individual practitioners
Chains and brands Maintaining consistent names and categories across all of your business locations helps users quickly identify your business on Google Maps and search results. All locations must have the same name unless the business’s real world representation consistently varies from location to location. All locations must also have the same category if they provide the same service. Individual practitioners (e.g. doctors, lawyers, real estate agents) An individual practitioner is a public facing professional, typically with his or her own customer base. Doctors, dentists, lawyers, financial planners, and insurance or real estate agents all are individual practitioners. Pages for practitioners may include title or degree certification (e.g. Dr., MD, JD, Esq., CFA). An individual practitioner should create his or her own dedicated page if: • He or she operates in a public-facing role. Support staff should not create their own page. • He or she is directly contactable at the verified location during stated hours. A practitioner should not have multiple pages to cover all of his or her specializations.
Actation Now! Help
For most businesses, the steps are straightforward. If you are confused or need clarification get in touch.
503 468 7008
*I’ll cover brands, organizations, artists and other online-only businesses in a separate article. should create a brand page instead of a local page. Brand pages follow the Google+ page content guidelines.