How to Add Your Business to Google Maps (3 Steps) | ThriveHive

3 Steps to Putting Your Business on Google Maps

You may now be saying, “Alright, let’s do it. Tell me how to put my business on Google.” We’ve got you covered. We’ve outlined the process—which is FREE, by the way—in this easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide. Here is short, listed version. Below, we’ll go into more depth for each step.

1. Check to see if you are already listed
2. If you aren’t listed, create a place on Google Maps
3. Claim your listing through Google My Business

Here are the steps laid out in more detail.

1. Check to See if You are Listed Already

Search for your business on Google Maps. If it shows up, this means your business is already listed.

If your business does not show up, you’ll see a prompt to add a missing place.

2. If You Are Not Yet Listed—Create a Place

To add your business as a place, click the prompt that shows up in the search result.

Provide your name, address, and category. Your category selection is important as it enables your business to show up in results for searches other than your business name (like “appliance repair “). These are the searches being performed by potential customers!

In the category box, you’ll see a drop-down box with common categories, but you can also start typing in your industry keyword(s) to see the most closely matching categories.

3.  If/Once You Are Listed, Claim Your Google Listing

Adding your business as a place will put your business on Google Maps, but that doesn’t ensure you will rank on Google Maps. In order to rank for searches relevant to your business (and get new customers), you need to optimize your listing. This requires submitting accurate information and updating it as needed, which requires you to have ownership over your listing.

Anyone can add a place (which is why your business might show up on Google Maps even if you yourself haven’t added it.) In order to be able to add and update your information, you need to claim your listing.

To claim your listing, click on “Claim this business” once you’ve added your business as a place.

After you’ve filled in all your info and selected a business category, Google will verify your business’s address by physically sending a postcard to you.

This postcard is inscribed with a verification PIN, which you will then input online to complete the verification. Phone verification, email verification, and instant verification do exist but are only available for select businesses. Here is Google’s page on verifying your business listing.

Getting your business on Google Maps is only the first step in the process. Head to our page on How to Rank Higher on Google Maps to get your business showing up higher for relevant searches.