When someone in Thrissur needs a dentist or a birthday cake, they rarely type a website address. They open Google Maps and call one of the first few names they see. If your business doesn't have a verified profile, you aren't on that list at all.
This guide takes you through Google Business Profile creation, from a blank screen to a verified listing. Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the free tool behind those Maps results, and I set up and fix these profiles for Kerala businesses every week.
Give yourself about 30 minutes to build the profile. Verification usually takes around a week, and I'll show you how to avoid the common delays.
What Is a Google Business Profile and Why Does It Matter?
A Google Business Profile is a free listing that puts your business on Google Search and Google Maps. It's the panel people see when they search your name.
From that one listing, a customer can call you, get directions, read reviews, browse photos and even message you on WhatsApp. In my experience, many small shops get more calls from this listing than from their website.
That's why a Google Business Profile for local SEO is the first thing I set up for every new client. If you'd like the bigger picture, here's how local SEO works.
Before You Start: What You Need for Google Business Profile Creation
You need a Gmail account and a handful of business details. Keep these ready so you don't stop halfway:
- A Gmail account the owner controls, not a staff member's personal ID
- Your exact business name, as written on your signboard
- Your address, or the areas you serve
- A phone number you answer during business hours
- Your main business category, such as "Bakery" or "Dental clinic"
- Opening hours for each day of the week
- 5 to 10 clear photos of the outside, inside, products and team
- Time at your premises to film the verification video
How to Create a Google Business Profile, Step by Step
You create a profile by signing in and answering a short series of questions. Here's how to make a Google Business Profile, one screen at a time.
Step 1: Go to Google Business Profile and Sign In
Open business.google.com and click "Manage now". Sign in with the Gmail account you picked earlier. No account yet? This is where you create your Google My Business account, which is just a regular Google account.
Pro tip: I regularly meet owners locked out of their own listing because a former employee or web designer set it up on a personal Gmail. Use the owner's email.
Step 2: Enter Your Business Name
Type your business name and watch the dropdown. If your business appears, a listing already exists. Select it and request access instead of making a duplicate. Otherwise, type the name exactly as it appears on your board.
Pro tip: Don't write "Sweet Crumbs Bakery Best Cakes Thrissur". Keywords in the name break Google's guidelines and are one of the quickest routes to a suspension.
Step 3: Choose the Right Primary Category
Pick the category that describes what you are, not everything you do. A dental clinic in Kochi should choose "Dentist", not something broad like "Health". From what I've seen, this field shapes which searches you appear in more than any other.
You can add secondary categories later. Unsure which words customers use? Read my guide on choosing the right keywords for your business.
Pro tip: Search your service on Google Maps and note the category under your top competitors' names.
Step 4: Add Your Location or Service Area
Google asks whether customers can visit you. Choose "Yes" for a shop or clinic and enter the address. Choose "No" if you go to customers, like an electrician, and add the towns you cover.
For Indian addresses, put the building name and floor first, add a landmark such as "Near Vadakkunnathan Temple" and double-check the PIN code. Then drag the map pin to your entrance, as the automatic pin often lands a few buildings away.
Step 5: Add Your Phone Number and Website
Enter a number someone actually picks up. Use the same number as on your website and signboard, so your details match everywhere. Add your website if you have one, or skip it for now.
Pro tip: Pick a number that can receive SMS. Landlines can't, which rules out a faster verification option.
Step 6: Add Hours, Description and Services
Set your hours day by day, including any lunch break. Wrong hours send customers to a closed shutter, and they tend to leave angry reviews.
Your description can be up to 750 characters. Write it the way you'd explain your business to a new customer at the counter. Then list your main services or products.
Step 7: Upload Photos, Logo and Cover Photo
Upload your logo, a cover photo and at least five photos of your signboard, interior, products and team. Real phone photos beat stock images.
- Logo: square, at least 250 x 250 pixels
- Google Business Profile cover photo size: 1024 x 576 pixels (16:9)
- Other photos: at least 720 x 720 pixels, JPG or PNG, between 10 KB and 5 MB
Pro tip: Shoot the exterior in daylight from across the road, so the signboard and entrance both fit.
How to Verify Your Google Business Profile
You verify your profile by proving to Google that you run a real business, using a method Google offers you. Once the profile is created, a "Verify" button shows your options, and every business sees a different set. Google My Business verification is where most owners get stuck, so here's how each method works.
Video Verification
Video is what most of my clients are offered now. You record one continuous video of 30 seconds to 2 minutes on your phone and upload it. No cuts, no editing.
Your Google Business Profile verification video needs to show three things in a single take:
- Where you are: start outside with the street, a nearby landmark and your signboard in view.
- What you do: walk in and show the counter, products, tools or equipment.
- That you manage it: open the shutter with your key, step behind the billing counter or show a staff-only area.
Most rejected videos I see are too short or never show the signboard. Film in daylight and walk slowly.
Phone or SMS Code
Google sends a Google My Business verification code by call or text to your profile's number. Type it in, and you're verified or sent for a short review.
Google emails a code to the address shown on screen. Enter it, and check spam if it doesn't turn up within minutes.
Live Video Call With Google Support
Sometimes Google offers a live call with a support agent, who'll ask to see the same things as a recorded video. Take it from your premises with a strong signal.
Postcard (Verification Letter)
The Google My Business verification letter is a postcard mailed to your address with a five-digit code. It's rare now, and the code expires after 30 days. Skip the postcard if you're offered video, as it's faster.
Instant Verification
If you've already verified your website in Google Search Console with the same Google account, Google may verify your profile instantly. Brands with 10 or more locations, like a pharmacy chain, can request bulk verification.
| Method | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Video recording | About 5 days for review |
| Phone or SMS code | Code in minutes; review up to 5 business days |
| Code in minutes; review up to 5 business days | |
| Live video call | During or soon after the call |
| Postcard | About 2 weeks in total |
| Instant verification | Immediate |
Verification Problems and How to Fix Them
Most verification problems come from details that don't match or a video that misses something, and both can be fixed.
- Code not received: Confirm the phone number or email on the profile, then request it again or pick another method.
- Video rejected: Record again in one take, showing the signboard, the inside and proof you manage the place, and make sure your profile address matches.
- "Verification pending" for weeks: Don't edit your name, address or category during review, because changes can restart it. If weeks pass, contact Google Business Profile support.
- Suspended after verifying: This usually follows keywords in the name, a virtual office address or a sudden change to core details. Fix the cause, then file a reinstatement request with photos of your signboard and a document such as your GST certificate or shop licence. Here's the full guide on fixing a suspended Google Business Profile.
Verified but still invisible? Read why your business isn't showing on Google Maps.
5 Things to Do Right After Verification
Right after verification, add the extras that help customers contact and trust you. I do these five for every client:
- Add a WhatsApp link to your Google Business Profile in the contact section (wa.me/91 followed by your number).
- Ask your first 10 customers for a review by sending them your review link on WhatsApp.
- Publish a first update post, like an Onam pre-order offer from a bakery.
- Add your products or services, with prices where you can.
- Link your website, and put your Maps link on your website's contact page too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Google Business Profile is completely free to create, verify and manage. Google doesn't charge for the listing, posts, photos or reviews. Be wary of callers who ask for money to "verify" your profile; they aren't from Google.
Up to 5 business days for most methods, according to Google. Video reviews usually take about 5 days. A postcard takes about 2 weeks in total, while instant verification through Google Search Console is immediate if you qualify.
Yes. If you work from home and don't receive customers there, such as a home baker or a visiting tutor, set up as a service-area business and hide your address. Google may still need it for verification, but customers only see your service areas.
Show your signboard and street outside, then the inside of the business, then proof you manage it. Record it in one continuous take of 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Opening the shutter with your key or entering a staff-only area works well as proof.
Check that the phone number or email on your profile is correct, then wait a little and request the code again. If it still doesn't arrive, go back to the verification screen and choose another method, such as video, if Google offers it.
Get Your Profile Live This Week
Google Business Profile creation takes about half an hour, and verification usually follows within a week when your details match your signboard. After that, regular reviews, photos and posts help more customers find and choose you.
Want it done for you? I set up, verify and optimise Google Business Profiles for businesses in Thrissur and across Kerala. You can also see my SEO services in Thrissur.