Begin with eligibility and access.
Google’s rules determine whether a business is eligible. Check the actual business model and who is authorised to manage its profile before making changes. See Google’s eligibility guidance.
Check the essentials.
- Business name: use the real-world name, without adding promotional keywords.
- Location or service area: reflect the business accurately. Do not invent a customer-facing office.
- Category: choose relevant categories that describe the actual business.
- Hours and contact details: keep them accurate, including changes to availability.
- Photos and information: use current, relevant material you have permission to publish.
These checks follow Google’s business representation guidelines. Available features and requirements can change.
Keep review requests genuine.
Ask for honest feedback from real customers without incentives. Do not buy reviews, discourage negative feedback or request only positive reviews. See Google’s review and content rules.
Use the measures available to you.
Verified profiles can show performance information, but not every metric applies to every business. Website clicks, call-button clicks and direction requests describe actions, not confirmed sales. Read Google’s performance guide.
Assign someone to keep it current.
Decide who checks changes, supplies accurate information and approves responses. Record the next review date. Profile maintenance does not establish a guaranteed ranking or verification outcome.