Google Business Profile, formerly Google My Business, is a free listing that lets a business appear on Google Search and Google Maps with its name, address, phone number, hours, photos, reviews, products and posts. It is the main factor in local search rankings and can be managed from the Google Maps app or Search.
Why it matters for an Indian small business
For most Indian businesses with a physical location or service area, the Google Business Profile brings more customers than the website, Instagram and Justdial combined. It is what appears when someone searches your name, what shows in the map pack for near-me queries, and where the Call, Directions and WhatsApp buttons live. It is free, and an unclaimed profile can be edited by anyone, including a competitor or a disgruntled customer, which is reason enough to claim it today.
A complete profile with photos, services, prices and regular posts typically gets several times more calls and direction requests than a bare one, and the reviews it collects become the reputation customers check before visiting.
How it works
You create or claim the profile at google.com/business or through Maps, enter the business name exactly as it appears on your signboard and GST registration, choose a primary category and secondary categories, add the address (or service areas for businesses without a storefront), hours, phone, website and a description. Google verifies ownership by video, phone, postcard or email depending on the category.
After verification you add photos, a logo, products or services with prices, attributes such as UPI accepted or women-led, and you post updates and offers. Customers leave reviews you should answer, ask questions you should answer first, and message you if messaging is enabled. The profile's Performance tab shows searches, views, calls and direction requests.
Example: a Patna mobile repair shop
Gandhi Maidan Mobile Care fixes screens and batteries for walk-in customers. The owner finds an unverified profile already on Maps with a wrong phone number and old hours. He claims it, verifies by video walk-through of the shop, corrects the number, sets the category to Mobile phone repair shop, adds 25 photos including the price board (screen replacement from ₹1,200), lists services with prices, and enables messaging. He posts weekly about available parts. Within two months the Performance tab shows 1,900 profile views and 140 calls a month, up from 20, and the shop appears in the three-pack for mobile repair near Gandhi Maidan.
Common mistakes
- Stuffing keywords into the business name, which violates guidelines and gets the profile suspended.
- Leaving the profile unverified, so edits never go live.
- Wrong or missing hours, including festival days.
- Never answering reviews, especially negative ones.
- Creating multiple profiles for one location, which Google treats as spam.
How Neweb handles it
Neweb creates or claims your Google Business Profile during onboarding, fills categories, services, hours and photos from your site, guides you through verification, syncs changes between the site and the profile, and reminds you to post and respond to reviews.
Google Business Profile questions
Is Google Business Profile free?
Yes, completely. Google does not charge to create, verify or manage a profile, and anyone offering to sell you a listing is reselling a free service.
How long does verification take?
Video and phone verification can complete within a day or two; postcard verification takes one to two weeks. Some categories require extra review.
Can I have a profile without a shop address?
Yes. Service-area businesses such as tutors, caterers and repair services can hide their address and list the areas they serve.
What should I post on Google Business Profile?
Offers, new products or services, festive hours, event updates and photos of recent work. Weekly posts keep the profile active and give customers reasons to choose you.
What if someone else already created a profile for my business?
Claim it by requesting ownership through the profile. Google contacts the current manager; if they do not respond within a few days you can usually verify and take over.
Related terms.
Related pages.
Guide: get a Google Business listing
Setup and verification step by step with screenshots.
Business description generator
Write the 750-character profile description.
Write Google Business Profile posts
Post formats and a weekly posting routine.
Set business hours correctly
Regular, special and festival hours without errors.
Handle it for you? From ₹249/month.
Website, free domain, Google Business Profile, SEO autopilot and WhatsApp buttons, set up for your business by Neweb.