How to Actually Grow Your Google My Business Account (Without the Fluff)

Look, I’m going to be straight with you. Your Google My Business profile is probably sitting there right now, barely getting any attention. Maybe you set it up years ago and forgot about it, or maybe you’re checking it once in a blue moon when you remember it exists. Either way, you’re leaving money on the table.

Here’s the thing: when someone searches for a business like yours, your GMB listing is often the first thing they see. Not your fancy website, not your Instagram – your Google Business Profile. And if it looks abandoned or incomplete? They’re clicking on your competitor instead.

So let’s fix that. I’m going to show you exactly how to turn your GMB account into something that actually brings customers through your door.

Stop Treating Your Profile Like a “Set It and Forget It” Thing

The biggest mistake I see businesses make is thinking they can just fill out their profile once and call it a day. That’s like planting a garden and never watering it – nothing’s going to grow.

Your business information needs to be spot-on. I’m talking your name, address, phone number (the marketing folks call this NAP data, but whatever). Make sure it matches exactly what’s on your website and everywhere else online. Google gets suspicious when things don’t line up, and you don’t want that.

And please, for the love of all that is holy, update your hours. There’s nothing more frustrating than driving to a business only to find out they’re closed because their Google listing said they were open. Don’t be that business.

Your business description is where you can actually talk to people. You’ve got 750 characters – use them. Tell people what you do, why you’re good at it, and what makes you different. Skip the corporate jargon and just write like you’re explaining your business to a friend.

Pick Categories That Make Sense (Not Every Category Under the Sun)

When you’re choosing categories for your business, think about what you actually do. Your main category is huge – it tells Google what your business is about at its core.

Sure, you can add more categories (up to ten, actually), but don’t go crazy. I’ve seen pizza places try to list themselves as Italian restaurants, sandwich shops, and catering services all at once. Just stick to what’s accurate. If you make pizza, you’re a pizza place. If you also do catering, great – add that too. But don’t try to game the system by adding irrelevant stuff.

Photos Matter More Than You Think

Here’s something wild: businesses with photos get way more engagement than those without. People want to see what they’re getting into before they show up.

Take good photos. I don’t mean hire a professional photographer (though that’s nice if you can swing it), but at least use a decent phone camera in good lighting. Show the outside of your building so people can recognize it. Show the inside so they know what to expect. Show your products, your team, whatever makes sense for your business.

And keep adding new photos. Once a week is ideal, but honestly, even once a month is better than nothing. It shows you’re active and gives people fresh content to look at.

Videos work great too. Short clips work best – nobody’s watching a ten-minute tour of your store. Thirty seconds showing what you do? Perfect.

Google Posts Are Free Advertising (Use Them!)

Google Posts are criminally underused. They’re basically free ads that show up right on your Business Profile. You can announce sales, share updates, promote events – whatever you want.

The catch is that they expire after seven days (or on the event date if you’re posting about an event). So you need to post regularly. Once a week keeps you visible. Share a new product, announce a promotion, post about your holiday hours – anything that keeps your profile looking active and engaging.

Think of it like social media, except it’s right there when people are actively searching for businesses like yours. That’s powerful.

Reviews Are Everything (Yes, Really)

Let me tell you something that might sound harsh: if you don’t have reviews, people assume something’s wrong with your business. We’ve all been trained to check reviews before trying somewhere new.

So you need to ask for them. I know it feels awkward, but it works. When you have a happy customer, ask them if they’d mind leaving a review. Make it easy – send them a direct link. Put a QR code on your receipt. Whatever works for your business.

And here’s the part nobody wants to do but everyone needs to: respond to your reviews. All of them. The good ones deserve a thank you. The bad ones need a thoughtful response that shows you care about fixing problems.

I’ve seen businesses turn one-star reviews into returning customers just by responding well. Don’t get defensive, don’t make excuses – just acknowledge the issue and say what you’re doing about it.

The Questions Section Is Your Secret Weapon

Most businesses completely ignore the Q&A section on their profile. Big mistake. People ask questions there, and if you don’t answer them, random internet strangers will – and they might give wrong information about your business.

But here’s the smart move: don’t wait for questions. Add your own. Answer the things people always ask you – “Do you have parking?” “Do you take credit cards?” “Are you wheelchair accessible?”

This does two things: it gives people the information they need, and it helps you show up for more searches when people type those questions into Google.

Actually Look at Your Stats

Google gives you a whole dashboard of information about how people are finding and interacting with your profile. Most business owners never look at it. That’s like having a free consultant and ignoring everything they tell you.

Check your insights at least once a month. See what searches are bringing people to you. Notice when people are looking at your profile. Pay attention to whether they’re calling, asking for directions, or visiting your website.

This information tells you what’s working. If you’re getting tons of phone calls but no website visits, maybe your website link isn’t prominent enough. If people are searching for a specific service you offer, make sure that service is highlighted in your profile.

Keep Things Fresh

Your Google Business Profile isn’t a “set it and forget it” thing (yeah, I know I already said this, but it’s important enough to repeat). Businesses change. Maybe you added a new service. Maybe your hours changed. Maybe you’re closed for renovations or have special holiday hours.

Update your profile immediately when things change. Outdated information doesn’t just frustrate customers – it tells Google your business might not be active anymore, which can hurt your rankings.

The Bottom Line

Growing your Google My Business account isn’t rocket science, but it does take consistency. You can’t just optimize it once and expect magic to happen. You need to treat it like any other part of your marketing – it needs regular attention.

The good news? Most of your competitors probably aren’t doing any of this. So if you actually commit to updating your profile, posting regularly, getting reviews, and keeping your information current, you’re going to stand out. You’ll show up higher in searches, you’ll look more trustworthy, and you’ll get more customers.

Start with the basics: make sure everything’s complete and accurate. Then build the habit of posting weekly and asking for reviews. Check your stats monthly and adjust based on what you learn. Do that consistently, and your GMB account will become one of your best marketing tools.

It’s not complicated. It just takes a little time and attention. And trust me, it’s worth it.