How to check if you show up on Google

Most local business owners know they should "be on Google," but many have never searched for themselves the way a customer would. Here is a quick way to see where you stand.

1. Search the way a customer would

Open a private or incognito window in your browser (so your past searches don't change the results). Type what a new customer would type — your trade and your town. For example: "plumber Trussville AL" or "pest control near me." Scroll through the results and look for the name.

2. Check the map section

Google often shows a small map with three businesses on it. If your business is one of them, you are in good shape. If it is not, your Google Business Profile may be missing, incomplete, or unclaimed.

3. Look at what Google shows about you

Search for the exact name of the business. If Google shows a panel on the right side with hours, phone number, address and reviews, there is a Google Business Profile. Check that every detail is correct — wrong hours or an old phone number sends customers away.

4. Claim or create your profile

If nothing shows up, go to business.google.com and follow the steps to create a free listing. If a listing exists but you don't control it, you can claim it. Google will verify that you own the business, usually with a phone call or a postcard.

5. Keep it up to date

A listing that hasn't been touched in a year tells Google (and customers) that you might not be around anymore. Update your hours for holidays, add a photo now and then, and reply to reviews — even the short ones.