Guide · Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile, set up for you.
We create it and fill it in. You record one short video, or we come to you. You stay the owner, and we look after it every month.
Who does what
We create it
From your details we create the profile and fill in everything: services, hours, photos and the towns you cover.
One short video
Google needs a short video at your premises or with your van. Record it on your phone in a minute, or we come to you and record it as your authorised representative.
You stay the owner
You're the profile's primary owner. We're added to look after posts, reviews and your monthly figures, and you can remove us at any time.
What we need
Reply to our email with these and we'll do the rest.
- Your business name, exactly as on your sign, van or invoices
- Your address if customers visit you, or the towns you cover if you go to them
- Phone number, website (if you have one) and opening hours
- 5–10 photos: your place, your work, your team or van
- The email of your Google account (your Gmail is fine), so we can make you the owner
Prefer to do it yourself? 10 minutes.
Three short steps on your phone or computer. Then add us and we do the rest.
- 01
Create the profile
Go to business.google.com/create, signed in with the Google account you want to own the profile (your business Gmail, or any Google account you'll keep). Then follow the questions:
- Business name: exactly as it appears on your sign, van or invoices. No extra words like a town or “best”: Google can suspend profiles for that.
- Category: the one that describes what you are, e.g. “Electrician” or “Hairdresser”. You can add more later; we'll fine-tune them.
- A location customers can visit? Say yes if customers come to you (a shop, salon, café or office) and enter that address. Say no if you go to them (trades, mobile services): add the towns you cover instead. Google still asks for your address to verify you, but won't show it.
- Phone number and website: the ones customers should use. No website yet? Leave it blank.
Already have a profile? Search your business name on Google Maps. If it shows “Own this business?” or “Claim this business”, tap it and carry on from step 2.
- 02
Verify it, first time
Google needs to know you're real before your profile shows to customers. Tap “Get verified” on your profile. You'll usually be asked for a short video; sometimes a phone call, text or email code instead. For a video:
- Record it on your phone, straight from your profile, in one take: live, no editing, at least 30 seconds.
- Where you are: start outside with a street sign, building number or landmark in shot.
- That the business exists: your sign or shop front with the business name, or for trades your tools, equipment or branded van.
- That you run it: go behind the counter, open the till, the kitchen or the stock room, or unlock your van. You can also show an invoice, utility bill or permit with the business name on it.
- Keep out of shot: bank or tax numbers, ID documents and other people's faces.
Plan your 3 shots before you press record, and film in daylight. If it isn't accepted, tap “Review issues”, then record again with everything from the first video plus what was missing.
- 03
Add gb.social as a Manager
Once you can open your profile, give us access so we can look after it. You stay the owner, and you can remove us at any time.
- Open your profile (search your business name on Google, or go to business.google.com).
- Open the menu (⋮, it may be called “More”), then “Business Profile settings”, then “People and access”.
- Tap “Add” (it may be called “Invite new users”) and paste our business group ID: 5695890664. Google may call it a “business group ID” or an “organisation”.
- Under Access choose “Manager”, then “Invite”.
- Screen won't take an ID? Enter hello@gb.social instead, as a Manager. Either way works.
Only an owner can add people. Keep yourself as the primary owner: a Manager can run the profile day to day but can't add or remove people or delete the profile. New managers wait 7 days before Google lets them do a few account-level things, so add us as soon as you can.
Stuck? Reply to us.
Send a screenshot of where you are to hello@gb.social and we'll tell you the next tap. Not sure your profile is pulling its weight? Ask for a free Google profile check: we'll show you what to fix first. See what we do every month on Local: Google & Maps.
Good questions
How long does it all take?
With us: a few minutes to send your details, and a minute for the video. Doing it yourself: about 10 minutes. Google's review of a video can take up to 5 working days; you get an email when it's done.
Who owns my profile?
You do, either way. When we create it, we make you the primary owner and stay on to look after it. You can remove us at any time in People and access.
Do I have to record the video myself?
Google asks for the video to be recorded at your business by the owner or an authorised representative. Most owners record it on their phone in a minute; if you'd rather, we come to you and record it as your authorised representative.
Will my home address show on Google?
Not if you choose no for “a location customers can visit”. Google uses your address to verify you but only shows the towns you cover.
What if the video isn't accepted?
Tap “Review issues” on your profile to see what was missing, then record a new video with everything from the first one plus the missing part. Or send us the message and we'll talk you through it.
What does gb.social do once we're added?
We fill in your description, services, photos and opening hours, post updates every week, ask your customers for reviews and reply to each one, and send you your monthly figures: calls, directions and website visits.