When someone in Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad searches "bakery near me" or "AC repair in DHA", Google shows a map with three businesses at the top. A free Google Business Profile is how you get on that map. Here is how to set one up properly, step by step.
Before you start
- A Google account for the business. Use a business Gmail, not a personal one you might lose.
- Your exact business name, as it appears on your signboard.
- A phone number customers can call or WhatsApp.
- Your address, or the areas you serve if you go to customers.
- A few real photos of your shop, work or team.
Step 1: create the profile
Go to google.com/business, sign in, and search for your business name. If it already exists (customers sometimes add businesses), claim it. If not, choose "Add your business".
Step 2: choose the right category
Pick the most specific primary category, for example "Bridal shop" rather than "Clothing store". You can add secondary categories later. This choice matters more than almost anything else.
Step 3: location or service area
- Customers visit you (shop, clinic, restaurant): add your address and place the pin exactly on your door.
- You go to customers (repairs, decor, home services): hide the address and add the cities or areas you serve.
Step 4: verification
Google needs to confirm your business is real. Options vary, and many businesses in Pakistan are asked for a short video. Plan to show, in one continuous clip:
- Your location: the street, a nearby landmark, and your signboard.
- Your business: equipment, stock, or your workspace.
- Proof you run it: opening the shop, a business document, or your tools.
Do not use a home address with no signboard if customers visit, and do not use a virtual office. Both often fail verification.
Step 5: complete everything
- Opening hours, including Friday prayer breaks if you close
- Every service or product, with prices if you can share them
- A description of what you do and which areas you serve
- WhatsApp, phone and website links
- At least 10 real photos to start
Step 6: keep it active
- Post an update, offer or recent work every week
- Ask every happy customer for a Google review and reply to each one
- Answer questions people ask on the profile
Common mistakes
- Adding city names or keywords to the business name, which can get the profile suspended
- Creating more than one profile for the same business
- Buying fake reviews
- Setting it up once and never posting again
Want it done properly? Our local SEO services in Lahore and SEO plans across Pakistan include Google Business Profile setup and management. For more detail, see our 25-step checklist.