Google Business and Your Restaurant – What is it? Why is it important? And how do I do it?

Claiming your business listing on Google is a free and easy way to manage your business’s presence on the internet’s most prominent search engine. When you claim your business, you control what information is seen by consumers when they search online. Businesses that are not claimed lose this control, meaning information like phone numbers, hours of operation, and more may not be accurate. And inaccurate information could lead to lost customers. But claiming your business is simple. Read on to learn more.

Benefits of Claiming Your Business

When you claim your restaurant on Google, your business listing becomes verified. Verified listings are more likely to appear on local searches, leading to additional traffic in your store and on your website.

When you claim your business, you can add information and imagery that can help you secure new customers and build your brand your way! Here are a few examples of what information verified business owners can control:

• General Business Information including business description, phone number, website, hours, social profiles, and more
• Cover Photo – this is your main image for both Google Search and Google Maps
• Products such as your most popular menu items and limited time offers)
• Your logo and any other additional images
• Updates – Think of these like social media posts, complete with an image, caption, and a call-to-action

Verified business owners also can respond to reviews. Have a customer who wasn’t happy with their purchase? You can respond and let them know how you can make things right! Receive a glowing review on one of your pies? You can respond and thank them for stopping by. Cultivating these personal relationships is key to earning and maintaining loyal customers. Learn more about how to handle reviews with our infographic.

How to “claim your business”

• The first step to “claim your business” with Google is to log into your Google Account. If you don’t have a Google Account, you can create one at google.com. Simply click on “Sign Up” located on the top right corner of the page.
• Once you are logged in, simply do a quick search for your restaurant in Google by entering your business name, city, and state in the search bar.

• From there, simply click the “Own this business?” hyperlink. After clicking on the link, a pop-up will come up with more information
• Click “Manage now” and select a verification method. There are three options to pick from: phone call, text, or email (you can also verify via postcard if that works better for you).
• If you select the phone call, you will receive an automated call from Google to the phone number of your business
• On the call, you will receive a code (don’t forget to write it down). Enter the code into the text field and click the “Verify” button
• After you have entered the code and the verification process is complete, you will be able to edit your business’s profile
• You can edit your business’s information directly in the search results (See Below) or on the Google Business website (https://www.google.com/business/)

If you did not see a business listing when you did a search for your business, you can create one. Here’s how to do it:

• Open the Google Business website (https://www.google.com/business/)
• Click Sign in and sign into your Google Account. Simply click on “Sign Up” at the login screen located on the top right corner of the page. You will not be able to create a business listing without a Google Account.
• Next, add your business name and select your business type (as a restaurant owner, you should select local store) and business category (restaurant for example
• Then add your address (street, city, state, zip code), phone number and website if you have one.
• On the “Put your business on the map” screen, hit continue
• You will then be prompted to verify your business with the phone number you provided earlier
• Choose between text or call, then enter the code provided
• Once verified, you can add your open hours, dining modes (Dine-In, Takeout, Pickup, Delivery, etc.), and choose whether you would like to accept messages. You can also add a business description (why should a customer visit you?)
• Then you can upload photos such as your menu and a few of your top dishes
• You will then be prompted to register for a custom domain name. You can skip this step if you already have a website. If you don’t have a website, contact Grande Solutions @ Work [link to S@W page] to get started
• That’s it! After a short verification period, your business will appear on Google Maps and Google Search