Google My Business is now called Google Business Profile. Google retired the old name in 2021, and the tool was rebranded as Google Business Profile. Businesses with a single location can now manage their profile directly in Google Search and Google Maps, while businesses with multiple locations use Business Profile Manager. Older guides that mention Google My Business are referring to this same tool.

Google Business Profile optimization is the process of improving your business listing so it ranks higher in Google Maps and the local pack and generates more calls, direction requests, and website visits. It typically covers choosing the right primary and secondary categories, writing a keyword-rich business description, adding services and products, uploading fresh photos, posting regular updates, collecting and responding to reviews, answering questions in the Q&A section, and keeping your name, address, and phone number consistent across the web.

Google Business Profile Manager is the dashboard used to manage a Google Business Profile. You use it to edit business information, respond to reviews, add photos, publish updates, view performance data, and add or remove managers. Businesses with a single location can also manage most settings directly in Google Search or Maps, but Business Profile Manager is especially useful for handling multiple locations under one account.

To create a Google Business Profile, sign in with a Google account at google.com/business, enter your business name, and choose the category that best matches what you do. Add your address (or your service areas if you visit customers), phone number, hours, and website, then complete verification. Verification may be done by video recording, postcard, phone, or email depending on your business type, and your profile becomes fully visible on Google Search and Maps after it is approved.

A Google Business Profile login problem is usually caused by being signed in with a different Google account than the one that holds owner or manager access. Try every account you may have used originally, and check whether the profile was set up by a former employee or agency that still holds the owner role. If you cannot regain access, use the "Own this business?" option on the listing to request ownership, and recover the Google account itself through Google's account recovery process.

Google Business Profile support is available through the Business Profile Help Center, which offers help articles, a community forum, and — depending on your issue and region — chat, email, or callback options after you sign in. Response times can be slow, and complex problems like suspensions usually require detailed evidence. Many business owners also bring in an experienced Google Business Profile consultant when standard support cannot resolve the issue.

A Google Business Profile is usually suspended because it breaks Google's guidelines. The most common causes are adding extra keywords to the business name, listing an address where the business does not actually operate, using a virtual office or P.O. box as a physical location, creating duplicate listings, using a redirected URL, or selecting a category that does not match the real business. Suspensions can also happen by mistake, so review your profile against the guidelines carefully before submitting a reinstatement request.

To reinstate a suspended Google Business Profile, submit a reinstatement request through Google's reinstatement form and describe your business honestly. Before submitting, fix whatever triggered the suspension, such as a keyword-stuffed business name or an incorrect address, and gather proof that your business is real, such as a storefront sign, business license, or utility bill. Do not create a new profile while you wait, because duplicates can delay reinstatement. Decisions can take a few days to several weeks, and rejected requests can be appealed.

Google Business Profile verification confirms that you own or legitimately represent the business. Depending on your category and location, Google may ask for a short video showing your storefront, signage, and proof that you control the business, or it may offer verification by postcard, phone, email, or instant verification through a connected service. Make sure your business name, address, and category exactly match reality before you start, because mismatches are the most common reason verification fails or gets stuck.

You cannot fully delete a Google Business Profile if the business physically exists, but you do have options. If your business has closed for good, mark the profile as permanently closed so customers stop receiving wrong information. If you only want to stop managing it, you can remove yourself or other managers, or transfer ownership to someone else. In some cases you can remove the profile content from your account, but the listing itself may still appear on Maps because the place exists.

The most common reasons a business is not showing up on Google Maps are an unverified or pending verification status, a suspended profile, a category that does not match what the searcher is looking for, or the search being performed outside the area you serve. Start by searching your exact business name on Google and checking your verification status in the dashboard. If the profile is verified and active but still not ranking, the issue is usually relevance, distance, or prominence rather than a technical fault.

To improve local SEO, start with a fully optimized Google Business Profile, since it drives the map results most local customers see. Keep your name, address, and phone number identical across your website and all directories, collect genuine customer reviews and reply to them consistently, build location-specific pages on your website, and earn links from local organizations and news sites. Track your map rankings and profile performance each month so you know what is actually working.

Local SEO in digital marketing is the practice of optimizing your online presence so your business appears when people search for products or services in a specific city or area. It combines your Google Business Profile, your website content, online reviews, and directory citations to compete for map pack results and location-based searches like "plumber near me." Any business that serves customers at a physical location or within a service area benefits from it.

Local SEO services for small businesses usually include a profile audit, Google Business Profile optimization, citation and directory cleanup, review management, local keyword research, and content or landing pages for each location. They are typically offered as one-time projects, monthly retainers, or hourly consultations. Many small businesses start with a one-time audit or a consultation call to identify quick wins before committing to a monthly plan.

A local SEO agency is usually the better fit when you need ongoing work across many areas, such as content, links, and multiple marketing channels at once. An independent consultant is often the better choice when your problem is specific, such as a suspended or unverified Google Business Profile, because you work directly with the specialist and typically pay far less than agency retainer pricing. Match the decision to your budget and whether you need continuous campaigns or focused expert help.