Go to Google Business Profile Home Page (opens in a new window). If you already have a Google account or email address, click on the sign in button; otherwise, click on Get on Google or Manage now and follow the prompts to create or claim your GBP Listing. Optimize your profile to appear on page one of Google by following these steps:

1. Fill out all your GBP fields fully. These fields contain information that people commonly look for in a business, like hours, services offered, etc. Google indexes this information for search.
2. In the GBP primary category field, type and select the primary category that best represents your business; the primary category is a major search signal to Google. In the GBP secondary category fields, type in and select any secondary categories that your business offers as well.  
3. Include keywords that people would likely search on to find your business into your description, service, product and business title. Google indexes keywords for search.
4. List your business website on local city directories, chambers of commerce, etc. Google considers any backlinks and citations to your website as a ranking signal.
5. Also, ensure that the name, address & phone number listed on your website and on websites linking to you matches the name, address & phone number you enter on your GBP.
6. Embed the Google Map Code of your location on your website.
7. Add local keywords on your website lets Google match for local searches done on it for your type of business, like mentioning the cities you serve.
8. Post photos and videos of your business, more the better. For video, at least one, if not more hosted from YouTube. Google will credit you as it owns YouTube. We offer a 1st Video Special Pricing and Vlogging for SEO.
9. Turn on GBP’s book, message, get a price quote and click to call functionality so that people can conveniently contact you from your profile.
10. Most people tend to choose businesses based on who has the most positive reviews. Also, Google ranks these businesses higher, so always be collecting Google Reviews for your profile. See our Online Reputation Strategy for maximizing Reviews on Google, Yelp, etc. for SEO.
11. Post news of your business, tips and especially your offers (Google serves up offers; they know people like deals) at least twice a week on your profile. Google ranks businesses higher who regularly post to their profiles. Here’s one way to come up with posting ideas.
12. Respond to any engagement to your posts and Googe Reviews signals to Google that you’re responsive. If any bad reviews, respond by inviting bad reviewers to contact you to address concerns. Visitors to your GBP then see that you take bad reviews seriously and could discount them.

Following the above steps, especially the last 3, gives your business a competitive advantage. Why? Most competitors never optimize or use their GBP; Google favours businesses that regularly use their tools like GBP and YouTube. You thus rank higher than them for location searches on Google, generating more traffic and customer calls to you. Here’s a link to a flowchart that walks you through the steps to optimize your GMP, get engagement, reviews and citations: