What You Can Do Right Now to Get Google Reviews

Google reviews play an important role in making your business look like a trustworthy source of information, both in the eyes of Google and your consumers.

Google My Business is a free tool that lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps. 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.

If you’re just getting started with local SEO, your Google My Business listing is a great place to focus your early efforts.

Create an Account and Claim Your Business

• • 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.
  • Step 4: Enter your business address.
  • Step 5: 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 6: 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.

• 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.”

How to Verify Your Business on Google

There are several ways to verify your Google My Business listing:

• By postcard
• By phone
• By email
• 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.
• 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.”

Optimize Your 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.

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 1) get everything right the first time (so you don’t encourage random people to make their own changes) and 2) periodically log into your Google My Business dashboard and make sure all the details look right.

At any point in time, you can edit your business profile by logging into your Google My Business dashboard, clicking on “Info,” clicking the pencil next to the field you’d like to edit, making your change, and then choosing “Apply.”

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.

Profile photo

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

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.”

Download the Google My Business app

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

• Manage how your local business appears on Google Search and Maps.
• Edit your business information (e.g. address, phone number, and hours).
• Respond to reviews, questions, and messages from customers.
• Share new photos and post updates on special offers and events.
• See how customers find and interact with your business on Google.

Mobile and computer feature differences