Google Business Profile
(GBP)Definition
A Google Business Profile is the free business listing on Google that appears in Google Search, Google Maps, and the Local Pack, and serves as the central control surface for a local business's presence on Google.
A Google Business Profile — historically called Google My Business until November 2021 — is the verified record a business owner controls to appear on Google. It includes the business name, address, phone, hours, website, photos, posts, products, services, and crucially, reviews.
Claiming and verifying your Google Business Profile is the first and most important step in local SEO. Without a verified profile, customers can't leave reviews, your business won't appear in the Local Pack, and Google has no canonical record to use when answering queries about your business.
The profile is managed from business.google.com. Verification typically happens via a postcard mailed to your business address, by phone, or — for some categories — by instant video verification. After verification, the business owner can respond to reviews, post updates, add photos, and view profile insights including how many people searched for the business, how they found it, and what actions they took.
Related terms
Local Pack
The Local Pack is the cluster of three local business results that appears at the top of Google's search results page for queries with local intent, accompanied by a map and a "View all" link.
NAP Consistency
NAP consistency is the exact-match alignment of a business's Name, Address, and Phone number across every place those details appear online — including the business website, Google Business Profile, Yelp, Facebook, citation directories, and review sites.
Review Velocity
Review velocity is the rate at which a business accumulates new reviews over time, measured in reviews per week or month, and is widely understood to be a Local Pack ranking signal independent of total review count.