Updated on: October 20, 2023
“I can be Googled, therefore I am.”
It’s not quite as eloquent as Descartes’ version, but it’s perhaps equally important in 2023. All business owners know the power of Google for visibility and searchability, especially considering it accounts for 80% of the search engine market worldwide.
Your Google Business Profile (formerly called “Google My Business”) functions as an important part of reach.
But, there are some specific and tricky rules and regulations that ensure your business is compliant with Google’s guidelines. This is particularly true for businesses that don’t have a physical office or storefront and use virtual office services and a coworking space address for their business.
So, let’s explore what your Google Business Profile is all about and how you can ensure you’re checking all the boxes to meet their compliance requirements.
What is a Google Business Profile?
Your Google Business Profile is what comes up on Google’s SERP (search engine results page).
For example, type in something like, well, “The Post Workspaces,” and you’ll see a panel on the right side of your screen with information about us. You’ll see some photos, contact information, reviews, and more. A full profile includes:
- Address, location, and Google Maps location with the option for directions.
- Photos and videos.
- Hours of operation.
- Contact information.
- Google Reviews (an important small business KPI should you be collecting!).
- Products, services, and events.
- Social media profiles.
- Q&A with customers.
This Google Business Profile is simply the fastest way for potential customers and clients to learn more about and contact your company.
It’s a free service to use and, honestly, such an important one that it really deserves a spot on our list of business management tools we couldn’t live without.
The benefits of your Google Business Profile go beyond just the visibility of your company in Google searches. It essentially becomes a second “home page” for your business. Instead of going to your website to learn about your services, hours of operation, or upcoming events, potential customers get everything they need from your profile.
Other benefits of your Google Business Profile include:
- Aggregated information that customers want to know.
- Easy ability to contact your business via phone, email, or social media.
- Integration with Google Maps for easy navigation.
- Showcases customer reviews, which 76% of consumers look at when searching for local businesses.
- Showing busy times at your business for customers to choose when to go.
- A complete profile boosts your business’s SEO ranking.
Because of these many benefits, the question is not if you should create a Google Business Profile, but how to ensure you’re in compliance and using it to your full advantage.
Understanding Google Business Profile Requirements
To have a Google Business Profile, you’ve got to be a legitimate business. Google will verify your business and ensure you’re meeting its compliance regulations. This is important to ensure accuracy and that no one is claiming to be something they’re not.
There are a few general eligibility guidelines to represent your business on Google:
- One business per profile.
- Representation of your business online matches the real-world experience (i.e., signage and branding—this is important, we’ll talk more about this shortly).
- Properly categorized to describe your core business.
- Accurate address and service area.
- Must be available for in-person contact with customers during stated hours.
If your business meets these eligibility requirements, you can move on to getting your profile verified (more information below) before setting up a profile and completing it with your business’s information.
To maintain your Google Business Profile, you need to stay active. Google’s help page explains that ownership of an account can be revoked due to inactivity or if they aren’t able to get in contact with you.
So, prior to setting up your Google Business Profile, ensure that you are able to keep it up-to-date by adjusting profile information (i.e., hours of operation and contact information) as relevant.
Verifying Your Google Business Profile
Before your Google Business Profile goes live, Google will verify your business. This is typically done by mail, phone, text, video recording, or live video call. Google support provides more information on verification options.
If you have an office or storefront, verifying your business is easy—enter your address for verification, wait for the postcard in the mail, enter the code, and away you go!
It gets a bit trickier when you don’t serve customers from a specific location and don’t have a specific business address. For example, if you’re a solopreneur who works from home or runs an entirely online business, you won’t have a physical address to use in your Google Business Profile.
But if you use virtual office services through a coworking space, you may be eligible for a Google Business Profile. Here are Google’s guidelines about co-working spaces:
“Businesses can’t list an office at a co-working space unless that office maintains clear signage, receives customers at the location during business hours, and is staffed during business hours by your business staff.”
This means that to operate out of a coworking space and be eligible for a Google Business Profile, businesses must:
- Maintain clear signage for your business.
- Receive customers at that location during listed business hours.
- Be staffed during listed business hours.
Through our virtual office services and coworking memberships at The Post, we offer the option for a specific assigned address with business name signage so you can be in full compliance with these rules.
In addition to a professional address in compliance with Google Business Profile, virtual office services include:
- Mail forwarding or open-and-scan services.
- Package drop-off and pick-up services.
- Live call answering service.
- Access to meeting rooms, community events, and member portal.
There are tons of great reasons to use virtual office services, including lower costs, administrative support, and a professional image. And if you need more private office time in a week, you can consider opting into a part-time private office membership plan.
Professionals looking for full-time workspace may also be interested in a dedicated desk or private office, both of which can help fulfill your address requirements for a Google Business Profile.
Thanks to flexible work solutions, there’s no need to rent traditional office spaces to “legitimize” your business. Instead, you can take advantage of coworking memberships and virtual office services to establish your online presence to continue growing and scaling your business.
If you’re looking for a professional address for your business and its Google My Business profile, get in touch with us today.