Google Business Profile is the free listing that lets a business appear on Google Search and Google Maps. It shows your name, address, phone number, opening hours, photos, reviews and more, and it is the listing that powers the local “map pack” you see at the top of local searches. It was called Google My Business until 2021, so you may still hear both names.
What the profile controls
Your profile is the single most important asset in local search because it feeds the information Google shows about you at the exact moment someone is looking for what you offer. A complete, accurate profile influences the details a searcher sees before they ever reach your website.
- Your business name, category, address and service area
- Opening hours, including special hours for holidays
- Phone number, website link and booking or enquiry options
- Photos, posts, products and services
- Customer reviews and your replies to them
Why local businesses need one
For any business serving a specific area, the profile is often where a customer decides whether to call, visit or move on. It is free to claim and verify, and Google explains the process in its own guide to adding or claiming a Business Profile. Once verified, the profile becomes a core part of local SEO for Galway businesses, sitting alongside your website rather than replacing it.
Claiming the listing is only the start. Keeping the information accurate, adding photos, answering questions and responding to reviews all help Google understand and trust your business, which is the ongoing work of Google Business Profile optimisation. A neglected profile with wrong hours or unanswered reviews can quietly cost you enquiries, so it is worth treating as a live part of your marketing rather than a set-and-forget listing. If you would like to know how your current listing compares with competitors in your area, our free SEO audit reviews your profile and the wider local signals around it.
