How to Add Your Business to Google Maps (UK Step-by-Step)

If you want customers to find you when they search locally, you need to add your business to Google Maps. It's free, it usually takes around 20 minutes to set up, and it's one of the highest-impact actions you can take for local visibility.

This guide walks you through the full process — from claiming your Google Business Profile to verifying it, setting a service area if you're mobile, and avoiding the mistakes that stop businesses showing up properly.

Whether you run a local trade, a clinic, or a home-based consultancy, you'll know exactly what to do by the end.

Step-by-step: add your business to Google Maps

1) Go to Google Business Profile Manager

Visit https://www.google.com/business/ and sign in with the Google account you want to use to manage the listing. If possible, use a company email rather than a personal one.

2) Click "Add your business to Google"

If your business already exists on Google Maps (sometimes Google or customers create listings automatically), you'll be prompted to claim it instead of creating a new one.

3) Enter your business name

Use your real trading name. Don't add extra keywords like "Best Plumber + City" — that can trigger edits, suspensions, or verification issues.

4) Choose your primary category

This step is critical. Pick the closest match and keep it specific. You can add secondary categories later, but your primary category strongly influences what you appear for.

5) Add your location (or choose service area)

• If customers visit you at a shopfront or office, add the full address.
• If you travel to customers (or work from home), select the option that you deliver services and move to service-area setup (next section).

6) Add contact details

Add a phone number (a local UK number is ideal) and your website URL if you have one. If you don't have a website yet, you can add it later — but having one helps trust and tracking.

7) Request verification

Google will offer verification options depending on your business. In the UK, postcard verification is common. You'll receive a code by post.

8) Enter the verification code

When the code arrives, log back in and enter it. Your profile will usually become visible shortly afterwards (sometimes quickly, sometimes after review).

If you don't have a shopfront (service-area businesses)

If you're a plumber, electrician, mobile hairdresser, or you work from home, you usually shouldn't show your address publicly. Instead, you set a service area.

Here's how to do it correctly:

• Choose the option that you deliver goods and services to customers
• Enter your address for verification (Google may still need it for the code)
• Select "Hide my address" so it's not public
• Set your service area by town/city and postcode areas you genuinely cover
• Keep it realistic — don't claim the entire UK if you're a solo operator

Common mistakes that stop you showing up

Most businesses get a listing live, then lose visibility because the fundamentals are off. Avoid these:

Quick optimisation checklist (after you're live)

Once you're verified, don't stop there — a complete profile tends to convert better and can improve visibility.

• Add 10+ real photos (work examples, team, premises if applicable) and update regularly
• List your services properly (each service as its own item where possible)
• Write a clear business description (what you do, who you help, and where you operate)
• Set accurate opening hours, including special hours for holidays
• Enable messaging if it fits your business workflow
• Use Google Posts (even 1–2 per month is fine)
• Ask for reviews consistently (simple, ethical, repeatable)
• Monitor and answer the public Q&A section
• Add relevant attributes (where truthful)
• Use UTM tracking on your website link so you can measure traffic in analytics
• Check Insights to see what queries people used and what actions they took

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