Setting Up a Google+ Business Page
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The instructions below cover people who are setting up Google+ Business Pages through other means as well as through Google My Business.
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There are 2 kinds of Google+ pages: local business pages and brand pages. Brand pages don't include the address, hours, or other information that appears on Google Maps. They're more focused on engagement with customers, fans, and followers, Lots of businesses and brands don't primarily operate through a fixed physical location, making brand pages a better fit for them.
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If you don't yet have a Google+ page associated with the account you used in the setup process,Google My Business will automatically create one for you. So thoughtful! So insidiously thoughtful! See my warning above about duplicate Google+ pages.
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If you want to make sure you haven’t already set up a business page, or if you want to see all of your Google+ pages, you can navigate to the Create a Page screen by logging into your Gmail account, selecting the 3x3 block icon in the upper right, then selecting the Google+ icon.
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Then, at the upper left of your personal Google Plus homepage, click on the “Home” drop-down menu and select “Pages.”
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From there, you will be able to see all of the pages attached to your account. If you want to create a new one, select “Get Your Page.” Once you reach the Create page, you’ll see three options: Storefront, Service Area, or Brand. Select the kind of business page you want to start.
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You may also see this prompt while you're going through the GMB setup process. Here's what it looks like:
Storefront and Service Area are both types of local business pages, while Brand refers to the aforementioned Brand Page. If you're a brand, you’ll be asked to pick the page name and enter your website address; if you pick one of the other two options, you’ll be taken to the map search page, where you’re asked to type in the name of your business (unless you've already done so as a part of the GMB setup process).
If Google can find your business's location on the map, select it. If not, go to the option that says “Add your business.” Be sure to check the map carefully, including any old addresses or address variations, before adding your business. Once you click create, you may be asked to verify the page via text or phone call.
Next, add your information to the new page. There are lots of ways to optimize your Google+ profile, and there’s a blue progress bar on your new page to help
guide you through it. You’ll need a profile picture, a cover photo, a tagline and a keyword-rich introduction. You’ll also need to include the best contact information, and links to your website and social media platforms.
Keep in mind that any Google properties may influence your organic search results, so you’ll want to take every opportunity to optimize your Google+ business page.
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After you've filled in the basic fields, you may see a prompt at the top of the page that you're eligible for a custom URL. If so, be sure to take advantage of it! Otherwise, the URL of your Google+ business page will be a string of random numbers.
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According to Google, businesses that add photos to their listings receive 42% more requests for driving directions on Google Maps and 35% more clicks through to their websites than businesses that don’t.
The final step to making your page complete: Start sharing content, engaging with other people, joining groups, and connecting with friends and colleagues.
