Maybe you run a shop in Marbella, offer a service that covers the Costa del Sol, or you have just opened and want people to find you on the map. Before thinking about ads or a brand-new website, there is one step that changes a lot: getting your Google My Business listing created and verified. Here we explain what it is, how to create it step by step, how verification works and which mistakes are worth avoiding — no hype and no promises nobody can keep.
What Google My Business is and what it is for
Google My Business — officially called Google Business Profile today — is the free listing that puts your business on Google Maps and in the "local pack", the block with a map that appears above the results when someone searches for a service nearby. It shows your name, category, address or service area, phone number, opening hours, photos and reviews.
What it does for you, in practice:
- It helps people find you on the map. Someone searching "plumber near me" on their phone sees the map before any website.
- It lets them call with one tap. It includes call, directions and website buttons.
- It builds trust. Opening hours, real photos and reviews answer questions before the customer gets in touch.
- It shows you what is happening. The dashboard tells you how many calls, direction requests and clicks you get each month.
Mind you, not every business can have one. You need direct contact with customers (you serve people at a premises or go to their address; a business that only sells online does not fit), a real location or service area, and you must be able to prove the business exists. For the bigger picture, see what local SEO on Google Maps is.
How to create your listing step by step
It is all done from a single Google account and takes no more than fifteen minutes:
- Sign in with your Google account. Use a business account, not your personal one, so you do not lose it when you change device.
- Add the business. Its real name, exactly as on the sign. No keywords: that is grounds for suspension.
- Choose the primary category. The most important decision. It must describe exactly what you do ("dental clinic", "plumber", "Italian restaurant"), because it tells Google which searches you are relevant for.
- Set location or service area. If you receive customers, show your address; if you go to their home, pick areas and hide it (you will give a reference location to verify).
- Fill in phone and website. A local number you can answer and your site if you have one. Without a website, the listing works just the same.
- Configure opening hours. Include public holidays and one-off closures: wrong hours lead to missed calls.
When you finish, Google will ask you to verify the listing before it goes live.
How to verify your listing: Google decides the method
This is the part that raises the most questions. You do not choose how to verify: Google looks at your business, its category and its area, and offers you one or several methods:
- By postcard. They mail a code to your address; it can take several weeks. The classic option for premises with a visible address.
- By phone or SMS. You get a code on the number you declared. Only offered when the number can be checked.
- By video. You record the premises, the sign, the interior and your tools. Usually resolved within a few days.
- Instant. With data already consistent, the listing goes live straight away and there is nothing to do.
While you wait you can keep completing photos, description and services. The listing will not show publicly until the process is finished; if it takes longer than expected, check your address and phone number.
Unverified listing vs verified listing
Verification is not a decorative formality: it completely changes what you can do. This table sums it up:
| What we compare | Unverified listing | Verified listing |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility on Google Maps | Does not show publicly | Can appear on the map and in the local pack |
| Editing your data | Limited while it is under review | Full control of every field |
| Photos and posts | Not published | You can upload photos, offers and news |
| Managing reviews | Not applicable | You can reply to them and ask for more |
| Statistics | No useful data | Calls, directions, clicks and searches |
| Customer messages | Inactive | Customers can message you |
Common mistakes that sink a listing
Almost every problem we see has the same root: inconsistent data. The four that come up most often:
Wrong address
A missing street number or a changed postcode sends customers somewhere else, and Google loses confidence in your data.
Wrong category
Listing yourself as a "renovation company" when you are an electrician takes you out of the searches that really bring you customers. It is the strongest relevance signal you control.
Duplicate listings
This happens after a move or when someone creates a second listing "just in case". Two listings split reviews and confuse Google: the extra one has to be reported.
Suspended business
Keywords in the name, an address that is not yours or odd changes can trigger suspension. You appeal from the dashboard, with evidence, and it takes time.
Reviews and posts: keeping the listing alive
A verified listing is the foundation, but it goes cold if you do not feed it. Two levers make the difference:
- Reviews. Ask when a job is finished and always reply, including to bad ones: a calm reply to a criticism says more than ten perfect reviews.
- Posts. Offers, news and photos keep the listing active and give Google reasons to consider it relevant.
We cover it in more depth in how to get Google Maps reviews.
How much it costs to optimise the listing
Creating and verifying is free — you do it yourself in an afternoon. Keeping it optimised month after month is another matter. At Solaris we do it with two fixed packs, with no lock-in:
Local Pack
€150 /month + VAT
- Full optimisation of your Google listing
- Review management and replies
- Regular posts and photos
- Monthly report on calls and directions
Content Pack
€250 /month + VAT
- Everything in the Local Pack
- Monthly articles on your website
- Extra strength for your local presence
- Monthly report
Do the maths: if a single new customer a month leaves you €150, the Local Pack has already paid for itself.
What results to expect (and what not to)
Let us be honest: nobody can guarantee you a specific position on the map. Google decides by combining relevance, distance and prominence, and two of those three are not up to you. What you can expect from consistent work:
- More visibility in your area for the searches your customer makes.
- More calls and direction requests from the listing, which is what really gets measured.
- A better reputation with fresher, well-answered reviews.
- Progressive results: the first changes show within weeks, but consolidation takes months and depends on your sector and your street.
Why Solaris
We work on Google listings every day, and we do it differently:
- Specialists in local businesses. We know the ground in Marbella and the Costa del Sol. You can see how we apply it in how to appear on Google Maps in Estepona.
- Fixed, published prices. €150 or €250 a month, with no "request a quote" and no surprises.
- No lock-in. You stay because it works, not because a contract ties you down.
- We explain what we do. Every month you get a report and you know where your money has gone.