When someone searches “coffee near me,” “dentist in Mérida” or “auto repair shop in north Mérida,” the first thing they see isn’t websites: it’s a map with three featured businesses. Showing up there can bring you customers every day without paying for a single ad.
You earn that spot with your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). Here’s how to make the most of it.
Step 1: create and verify your profile
- Go to Google Business Profile with your business’s Google account.
- Enter your business name exactly as your customers know it.
- Choose your primary category carefully: it’s one of the biggest factors in showing up for the right searches.
- Add your address or, if you go to your customers, your service area.
- Verify your business. Google will ask you to confirm you’re the owner; the verification options vary by business, and Google shows you which ones are available to you.
Always use a Google account in your business’s name, not a vendor’s or an employee’s.
Step 2: fill in everything
Complete profiles show up more often and are more convincing. Make sure you have:
- Up-to-date hours, including holidays.
- Phone number and WhatsApp.
- Website or booking page.
- Services or products with descriptions.
- Real photos: storefront, interior, team, products. Stock photos don’t build trust.
- A clear description of what you do and who it’s for.
Step 3: reviews, the most convincing factor
Reviews affect two things: whether Google shows you, and whether the customer picks you. A business with lots of recent, well-answered reviews earns instant trust.
To get them consistently:
- Ask at the right moment: right after a good experience.
- Make it easy: share the direct link for leaving a review.
- Reply to all of them, good and bad, kindly.
- Never buy reviews or offer discounts in exchange for positive ones: it goes against Google’s policies and can hurt your profile.
Asking for reviews automatically
With a WhatsApp automation, every customer gets a friendly message after their purchase or appointment, with the link to leave a review:
Hi, Ana! Thanks for visiting us today. Would you help us out with a Google review? It takes a minute and helps us a lot.Automated message · after the visit
Of course! I loved the service
Thank you so much! Here's the direct link to leave it.
That way reviews keep coming in steadily, without you having to remember to ask. If you want to know how it’s set up, I explain how to automate your business WhatsApp.
Step 4: keep your profile active
- Post updates and promotions on your profile.
- Upload new photos regularly.
- Answer the questions people leave you.
- Keep your information identical (name, address, phone) across your profile, your website and your social media.
What makes you show up first
Google combines three main factors:
You can’t control distance, but you can control relevance and prominence: a complete profile, a steady flow of reviews and a good website make the difference.
How I can help
As part of a complete strategy, I set up and optimize your Business Profile, automate review requests over WhatsApp and connect your profile with your website and your content, for businesses in Mérida and across Mexico. If you also want a website to back up your profile, I explain what determines the cost of a website.
Message me and we’ll look at how your business shows up on Google today.