To claim your business profile on Google’s search engine, take just a few simple steps: To get started, all you need to do is create a Google account. To get this setup, please follow the eight steps below:   1. If you already have a Google account for your business, go to Google.com/business.   2. Once you have your account, go to www.google.com. Type your business name and city/town into the search bar and search. Then click on the “Maps” tab below the search bar to search for it on Google Maps. (In this example, we’ll use a fictional business called Whitney’s Pet Store.   3. The map will display your region (city/town) based on the search results. Now find your business, but if your business does not show up, Google doesn’t know about it yet.   4. To add Whitney’s Pet Store as a Google My Business account, click on the parallel horizontal lines (displayed as ≡ a hamburger menu) within the search results bar. This is the drop-down menu.   5. Go down to the menu until you see “Add a missing place.” Please click on it.   6. You can now add a place and use the box to add in your business’s details, including its name, category (type it in), hours, contact, website, and opening date. Please note this is the primary category of the business. There are over 4,000 categories, so for Whitney’s Pet Store business profile, we would choose “Pet Shop”. We can add more categories later.   7. Please review all the contact details to ensure they are correct; then click “Claim this business.”   8. Your business profile will be added to Google’s business listings almost immediately. However, it may take up to 24 hours to show up. You’ll receive an email confirming your Google business listing is active, along with a link to it.   To verify that you are the business owner, you will need a verified Google My Business listing. This will then allow you to read and respond to Google reviews left by customers. Plus, add or edit changes to your GMP page that customers can view.   To verify your Google business page on the Google search engine, Google will send you a PIN verification code, which you must enter online. The PIN code can be sent in a few ways, either via:   • Postcard to the physical business address • A phone call or text to the business phone number • Email to the email address listed for the business • Instant verification process if the business listing on Google has already been validated in Google Search Console.   Note: It may take a few weeks for your new business listing to appear.