How To Create a Google My Business Listing
To add your business information to Google Maps, Search and other Google properties, create a Google My Business listing (or get access to one, if it exists). Use Google My Business for free to manage how your business information appears across Google, including Search and Maps.
Follow the steps below to add or claim your business listing:
Using A Desktop or Laptop
To add or claim your business profile, follow these steps:
- Open Google My Business.
- In the top right-hand corner, click Start now.
- Sign in to your Google Account, or create one if you don’t already use Google services.
- Enter the name of your business and click Next.
- Choose whether you want your business location to appear on Google Maps.
- If you serve customers at your business address:
- Choose Yes, then click Next.
- Enter your business address, then click Next.
Note: If you also serve customers outside your business address, you’ll have the option to list your service areas as well.
- If you don’t serve customers at your business address:
- Choose No, then click Next.
- List your service areas, then click Next.
- If you serve customers at your business address:
- Use the search field to select a business category, then click Next.
- Enter a phone number or website URL for your business, then click Next.
Note: You’ll also have the option to create a free website based on your information. - To complete sign-up and verify your connection to this business, click Finish.
- Select a verification option.
- To verify at another time, under ‘Verify later’, click Later. If you’re not authorised to manage the business, find the person in your organisation who’s authorised and continue the process.
Note: If you see a page that says ‘This listing has already been claimed’, click Request access and follow the directions to claim your business. Learn more about how to request ownership.
Using A Mobile or Smart Device
- Open the Google My Business app.
- Sign in with the Google Account that you’d like to use to manage your business.
- If this is your first time adding a business to Google, sign in with the Google Account that you’d like to use to manage your business and tap Continue.
- If you’ve added a business before, tap More, then tap the name of your business to reveal a list of all listings in your account. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select + Create new business.
- If you see a dialogue letting you know that someone else has verified the business, follow these steps.
- Enter your business name and information and agree to the Terms of Service. Tap Continue when you’re ready to create a listing for your business.
Note: Use a computer to use more advanced editing features, including adding service areas to your Google My Business listing.
Use Google Maps to claim your business
To claim your business on Google Maps, follow these steps:
- Open the Google My Business app.
- Search for your business.
- Open the business information panel, then scroll down and tap Claim this business
.
.Further Information
If you’d like to speak to us regarding this or any of our services, including our WordPress web designs, please give us a call on 01883 372488 or contact us via Facebook and we’ll be happy to talk you through your options.
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Have You Updated Your Whatsapp App Yet?
If you have seen the news today, you will know that WhatsApp has urged its 1.5 billion users to ensure they have the latest update of their incredibly popular app installed after a security breach by hackers resulted in the development of software which allowed them to listen in on your phone.
Once the software has been installed on your phone, the Pegasus spyware has the ability to turn on the phone’s camera and microphone, read emails and messages and collect information about the location of the person using the phone.
In a statement, WhatsApp said: “This attack has all the hallmarks of a private company known to work with governments to deliver spyware that reportedly takes over the functions of mobile phone operating systems.”
How do I update WhatsApp on my phone?
The good news is that you can easily update WhatsApp from your phone’s application store. Please note if you received a message that isn’t supported by your version of WhatsApp, these are the steps which you must follow to update WhatsApp.
- Android: Go to Play Store, then tap Menu > My apps & games. Tap UPDATE next to WhatsApp Messenger.
- Alternatively, go to Play Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap UPDATE under WhatsApp Messenger.
- iPhone: Go to App Store, then tap Updates. Tap UPDATE next to WhatsApp Messenger.
- Alternatively, go to App Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap UPDATE next to WhatsApp Messenger.
- Windows Phone 8.1: Go to Store, then tap Menu > my apps > WhatsApp > update.
- Alternatively, go to Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap WhatsApp > update.
- Windows Phone 10: Go to Microsoft Store, then tap Menu > My Library. Tap Update next to WhatsApp.
- Alternatively, go to Microsoft Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap WhatsApp > Update.
- KaiOS: Press JioStore or Store on the apps menu. Scroll to the side to select Social, then select WhatsApp. Press OK or SELECT > UPDATE.
We encourage you to always use the latest version of WhatsApp. Latest versions contain the newest features and bug fixes.
Have you been hacked?
It’s too early to say. WhatsApp believes only a handful of people, including human-rights activists and a UK-lawyer, were targeted. Citizen Lab, a research group at the University of Toronto, said: “We believe an attacker tried (and was blocked by WhatsApp) to exploit it as recently as yesterday to target a human rights lawyer.”
Further Information
If you’d like to speak to us regarding this or any of our services, including our WordPress web designs, please give us a call on 01883 372488 or contact us via Facebook and we’ll be happy to talk you through your options.
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Becoming A Google Local Guide
The creation of the ‘Google Local Guides’ programme offers a great way of being able to review local businesses on a regular basis whilst also developing a level of trust with Google.
In order to become a ‘Local Guide’, you will need to sign up at maps.google.com and then take a proactive approach in regards to uploading images, reviewing local businesses, updating business details which you know to be incorrect and many more.
Earning Perks As a Local Guide
Google Local Guides unlock Google perks like access to new features as they earn points.
As a Local Guide, you earn points for sharing reviews, photos and knowledge on Google Maps. Those points lead to higher levels of the programme as well as benefits such as early access to Google features and special perks from partners. At Level 4, you also unlock your first Local Guides badge, which helps your contributions to places get noticed.
Make sure you’ve signed up for updates by reviewing your email preferences on your Local Guides settings page.
Points, Levels and Badges
Earn points by contributing content to Google Maps. Score a place with ratings, describe your experience with reviews, share photographs and videos, provide insights with answers, respond to questions about a place, update information with place edits, add missing places or verify the information by checking facts.
| Maps contribution | Points earned |
|---|---|
| Review | 5 points per review |
| Review with more than 200 characters | 5 bonus points per review |
| Rating | 1 point per rating |
| Photo | 5 points per photo |
| In-stream video | 7 points per video |
| Answer | 1 point per answer |
| Respond to Q&As | 3 points per response |
| Edit | 5 points per edit |
| Place added | 15 points per place added |
| Fact checked | 1 point per fact-checked |
Local Guides levels
Reach higher levels as you earn points for your contributions.
Please Note – Points and levels can take up to 24 hours to be updated. Points do not expire, though they may decrease if the content is removed for violating Google’s policies. Remain an active contributor on Google Maps to be eligible for perks and early access to new features.
Contact Us
If you would like any further information regarding becoming a Google Local Guide, Footprint Web Design have been at the forefront of web design and Social Media development for nearly 20 years. If you are looking for a website that truly represents your business, or advice on how to make your site stand out, then contact us today on 01883 372 488, or via email at info@footprint.co.uk.
