Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile is the free listing that shows a business's name, address, phone number, hours, photos and reviews in Google Search and Google Maps, managed by the business under Google's guidelines.
Also called GBP, Google My Business, Google Maps listing
- Last reviewed
- 2 sources, linked
- 4 related terms
What it means
Local searches such as detox near me or rehab in a named city often show a map with Business Profiles before the regular results. Google ranks those listings on relevance, distance and prominence, and says there is no way to pay for a better local ranking.
The guidelines are specific. The name must reflect the business's real-world name without added information, PO boxes and virtual offices are not eligible, the phone number should connect to the individual location and be under the business's direct control, and a local number is preferred over a central call center line.
Healthcare has its own rules: a practitioner should not create separate profiles for each specialty, and support staff should not create profiles of their own.
Why it matters for your website
Your website and your profile should state the same name, address, phone and hours, and the profile should link to the page for that location, not just the homepage.
Reviews feed prominence. Ask for them honestly and at the right moment, never pay or offer anything for them, and reply without revealing anything about the reviewer's care, including that they were a patient.
Sources
The facts on this page about a law, a regulator, a clinical standard or a platform come from these sources. Each link opens the original in a new tab.
- Google Business Profile HelpGuidelines for representing your business on Google (opens in a new tab)
- Google Business Profile HelpTips to improve your local ranking on Google (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed
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