Get found for free with a Google Business Profile

January 2026

Table of Contents

If you want more local customers, you need to show up when they search on Google and Google Maps. One of the best free ways to do that is with Google Business Profile.

It is your listing on Google. It helps people find you, trust you, and contact you fast.

A lot of searches are local. Google has shared in the past that 46 percent of searches are looking for local information.

What is a Google Business Profile ?

Google Business Profile is a free tool that lets you manage how your business appears on:

Google Search
Google Maps

It can show your opening hours, phone number, website, photos, reviews, and more.

It used to be called Google My Business. You may still see people call it that.

Why should I use a Google Business Profile

A good profile can help you:

Show up for local searches
Stand out from competitors
Build trust with reviews
Get more calls, messages, and visits
Answer key questions before someone even clicks your website

Is It Another Time Suck?

It takes some effort, especially at the start.
But once your basics are right, it is mostly light upkeep:
Share updates when you have something worth saying
Keep details up to date
Add new photos now and then
Obtain & Reply to reviews
Check any automatic updates Google does all by itself !

Do I already have a Google Maps presence ?

Some businesses already have a profile, even if they never set it up. Google can create listings from public information.

To check, search your business name on Google. If you see a business panel with your details, you likely have a profile.

You may also find duplicates. These can confuse customers and hurt performance, so they are worth fixing.

Why having a profile matters

The main benefit is simple. It points customers to your business with correct, accurate, up to date information.

A strong profile also builds trust. People can see reviews, photos, and your contact details in seconds.

You also get useful insights, like what people searched for, how many called you, and where they came from.

What your profile includes

This depends on your business type, but most profiles include:

Service areas for mobile businesses
Business name, address, phone number
Opening hours
Website link
Services or products
Photos
Reviews
Map location

How to set it up Google Business Profile

The steps can vary by industry, but the basics are:

Sign in with a Google account
Find your business or add it
Choose the best category
Add your details
Verify the business
If you want to get started on your own check out this trusted resource from Bright Local.

How your profile helps customers

A good profile makes it easy for customers to choose you.

They can quickly see:

What you do
Where you are
When you are open
What people say about you
How to contact you

Less friction means more enquiries.

What insights you can get

Once your profile is running, you can see useful data like:

How many people viewed your profile
What search terms they used
How many called you
How many asked for directions
How many clicks to your website

This helps you learn what people want, and what is working. Below is one of the kind of reports we can provide to show your visibility in your area.

A map displays a grid of green squares with the number 1 and a highlighted marker listing three heating and plumbing services by Julian Bland in the center. — Local Map Pack Rank & Local Search Results

Can I list products and services

Yes.

Adding products and services helps customers understand what you offer before they contact you. For some businesses, this can also show prices and short descriptions.

If you have a service that is popular or limited, add it early.

How important are photos

Photos matter because people want proof you are real and professional.

Aim to add:

An exterior shot if customers visit you
A few interior shots if you have a space
Product or job photos
A team photo, or a clear head and shoulders photo if you are the face of the business

If you have professional brand photos, even better. No stock photos, this goes against Google guidelines.

How to get Google reviews

The simple answer is to ask.

Most happy customers will not leave a review unless you prompt them. Make it easy with a direct link.

Then do two things:

monitor reviews
reply to reviews

A calm, polite reply shows you are present and you care. Do not incentivise your customers – it’s a big Google no-no !

Why Google posts matter

Google Posts are like short updates on your profile. They help keep your listing active and useful.

Use them for:

New services
Seasonal offers
Events
New blog posts
Important changes to opening hours

Even small updates can help.

Can customers contact me through the profile

Yes. People can contact you in several ways, depending on your setup:

Call
Website click
Directions
Messages in some cases

The key is keeping your details correct and responding quickly.

How to add service areas

If you travel to customers, add the areas you cover. Start with your main area, then expand to nearby towns if it makes sense.

Do not add areas you cannot realistically serve. It leads to poor enquiries and weak conversions.

Common mistakes to avoid

Choosing the wrong primary category
Out of date opening hours
Duplicate listings
Missing photos
Never replying to reviews
Stuffing keywords into the business name

A clean and accurate profile nearly always performs better long term.

Need help with a Google Business Profile suspension ?

If your profile has been suspended, we can help with the reinstatement process and the fixes that often sit behind the issue. Take a look at this case study where it took 3 months to recover a suspended profile for a Manchester plumber > https://bloomdigitalmarketing.uk/results/jb-plumbing-and-heating/

a black work van of JB Plumbing and Heating in Manchester

Prefer a one off job

Some businesses just want a clear audit and a one off optimisation. We can do that.

Want ongoing support

If you are on our Business Amplifier Growth Plan, Google Business Profile work is included as part of your wider local SEO. That means we keep improving it month after month, not just once.

Get in touch

If you want more local visibility, start with your Google Business Profile. It is free, it is powerful, and it is often the quickest win in local SEO.

Get in touch today!

Share Now

What our clients say about their dedicated Digital Agency in Cheshire

We partner with our clients for the long haul, so we can deliver them ongoing results that help their business grow and thrive online.

Nathan S.

20:37 23 Dec 25

Bloom Digital Marketing have been brilliant to work with on SEO for my photography business. They’re genuinely invested in understanding my business, really listen, and the whole team is always on hand when needed. Professional, approachable, and easy to recommend

AGM Products L.

19:38 22 Dec 25

We've been using Bloom for the last couple of years and it's been a pleasure working with such a professional and friendly company. The whole team have been so helpful in looking after our website, offering great advice and prompt support. With their wide range of knowledge and expertise, we know we are in safe hands. Highly recommended!

B S.

13:49 08 Dec 25

We've worked with Bloom Digital Marketing since mid 2022. Our website now consistently delivers quality removal enquiries. The bi-weekly calls keep everything on track, and we never miss a lead thanks to the systems they've put in place. They're proactive, reliable, and genuinely feel like part of our team

Peter H.

12:59 25 Jun 25

We’ve worked with Bloom since 2019, started as a one man band to a team of ten. We’ve grown our revenue 10x and we can say we wouldn’t be where we are without the team at Bloom.

Darren A.

14:44 12 Jun 25

Fantastic people at Bloom. They do what they say they are going to do. Hit deadlines, continually communicate and deliver on the project. Sometimes you just want a capable team to take on your project and Bloom are capable and then some. Highly recommended.

Response from the owner 19:03 16 Jun 25

Thanks Darren. Much appreciated. Looking forward to watching the results. You and the whole team at Amita have been a dream to work with and that's enabled us to deliver. We now say we want more Darren's please.

Agostino F.

21:04 02 Sep 24

I moved my website and digital marketing to Jeanette and the team in March this year, after being taken for a ride from another company. The changes I have seen in traffic and the comments made on the new website are amazing. Working with Jeanette is like having another wife, ( Unlike a wife though you don't have to go home to her! But be rest assured she is in the background getting ready to set more tasks!).... she is constantly on the case demanding information and doesn't let go ... in order to do the best possible job. Other companies I have dealt with don't have the same passion and enthusiasm . I cant recommend them highly enough, all the team are a dream to work with, very professional and enthusiastic, making it their job to know my business

Response from the owner 10:33 03 Sep 24

Thank you Ago and of course Milo ha ha ! I like being Chief Nag but on a serious note, I am happy we have been able to provide you with a website that works and support you with the business growth. Now to plan the next few months out for your ongoing marketing.

Sarah H.

14:02 31 Jul 24

Tsiantar Architects have been working with Jeanette and the team since the beginning of last year on the design and launch of our new website, which we are absolutely delighted with and has been a great success. Jeanette spent a lot of time finding everything out about us and our business, the way that we work, and what we were trying to achieve. She is fantastic to deal with, and goes above and beyond to help us and make sure we are getting the best results for our business. Not only are the team at Bloom really creative and talented, but they’re also great to work with. We get quick responses to queries and any amendments we require, monthly updates, plus in-person meetings. If you are looking for someone to design your website and provide on-going SEO and marketing support, then we would not hesitate in recommending Bloom Digital Marketing.

Response from the owner 14:12 31 Jul 24

What a wonderful review, Sarah! We're over the moon to hear how happy you are with the website and our services. Your respect for our work motivates us to continue striving for excellence. Feel free to reach out if you need any further assistance. We're just one call away. Thank you so much for your recommendation!

Hannah G.

20:26 27 May 24

As a small business owner, I've worked with about 5 companies over the last 7 years. Each of them has made promises, and unfortunately most have failed to deliver. Many have taken advantage of my lack of knowledge about websites and have taken significant sums of money from me.

When I reached out to Jeanette, I was rather fed up, and also had a lack of faith and trust.

I can't thank her and her team enough for their support over the last 6 months. I have really values that Jeanette doesn't want to keep me in the dark, quite the opposite she has wanted to help me understand things better.

She has been mindful of my limitations of funds, and has given me sound advice on what I'm spending on and when.

Having someone that is straight forward and cares seems to be rare in this industry, so I consider myself very lucky.

I've also seen actual results, so this team actually do what they say!

Response from the owner 12:40 28 May 24

Hi Hannah, thanks for the amazing review. We were aware of your journey so far and it was more important than ever that we looked after you. We are proud of our commitment to transparency, value for money, and most importantly, generating tangible results for our clients. Your trust in us means a lot.

Queries JB Plumbing & H.

07:52 11 Apr 24

We cannot speak highly enough of the team at Bloom. As a plumbing company, having a visible online presence is crucial, and when our Google Business profile was suspended, we were understandably worried and it affected our business massiveley. However, Jeanette and her team truly went above and beyond to resolve the issue.

Throughout the entire process, they kept us informed and provided regular updates. Their efforts ultimately resulted in the successful reinstatement of our Google Business profile, for which we are incredibly grateful.

We highly recommend Bloom Digital Marketing to any business seeking outstanding digital marketing services. Thank you for your exceptional support !

Response from the owner 08:48 11 Apr 24

Thank you so much JB Plumbing & Heating! We really appreciate your kind words and recommendation. We definitely celebrated resolving the issue with your Google Business profile and that it’s live again !

Tsiantar A.

15:42 13 Mar 24

We have been working with Jeanette and the team since the beginning of this year on the design and launch of our new website, which we are absolutely delighted with and has been a great success.
Jeanette spent a lot of time finding everything out about us and our business, the way that we work, and what we were trying to achieve. She is fantastic to deal with, and goes above and beyond to help us and make sure we are getting the best results for our business.
Not only are the team at Bloom really creative and talented, but they’re also great to work with. We get quick responses to queries and any amendments we require, monthly updates, plus in-person meetings. If you are looking for someone to design your website and provide on-going SEO and marketing support, then we would not hesitate in recommending Bloom Digital Marketing.

Response from the owner 10:02 21 Nov 23

Thanks Tsiantar Architects! We appreciate your kind words and are thrilled that you are delighted with your new website. It was a pleasure working with you to understand your business and goals. We're glad that our team's creativity and responsiveness have been valuable to you. We look forward to continuing to provide ongoing support for your SEO and marketing needs. Thank you for recommending Bloom Digital Marketing!

John G.

16:47 10 Jun 23

Great service and very helpful

Response from the owner 14:07 12 Jul 23

Thanks John, much appreciated. Glad to be supporting local family businesses.

Claire N.

08:48 11 May 23

I am new to the business world and Jeanette came highly recommended for support with the technology side ( I am terrible!) The company is highly responsive and keep you updated regularly to help you understand the process and aims of the work they are doing. Her communication is amazing and not full of technological terms which really helped me. I would highly recommend using this service.

Response from the owner 10:40 11 May 23

Thanks so much Claire and I'm glad we have made it easier to understand on the tech front. Looking forward to following your new aesthetics business and seeing it grow.

Lee V.

08:19 13 Mar 23

Over the years we've worked with Bloom Creative on a number of projects and always found them, professional, friendly, focused and extremely knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.

Response from the owner 12:28 19 Apr 23

Thank you Lee !

Abby W.

22:19 20 Sep 22

I've worked with Jeanette and the team on a number of projects together and can't recommend them highly enough. Jeanette is absolutely lovely to work with, and genuinely cares about delivering the best results to her clients.

If you're looking for a web design and marketing expert who really knows how to deliver results, Bloom is your only option: their work is great, they're fantastic to work with, and they treat every project like it's their own.

Their dedication to great customer service really makes a difference - I highly recommend Jeanette and the crew at Bloom Creative Design.

Response from the owner 20:41 25 Sep 22

Thank you Abby - we love working with you guys on our projects.

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