Google My Business: What It Is and How to Use It

Applies To

• Business owners looking to increase online visibility
• Driving school owners who want to attract more local customers
• Affiliates and marketers who manage business listings

What Is Google My Business?

Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that allows businesses to manage how they appear in Google Search and Google Maps. Having a well-optimized GMB profile helps customers find you quickly and get important details about your business.

Google My Business is important because it:

• Increases your local visibility in search results
• Provides essential business information like your hours, location, and services
• Helps customers leave and read reviews, improving your credibility
• Allows businesses to respond to reviews and questions directly

To set up your Google My Business profile, visit: https://business.google.com/. 

How to Set Up Google My Business

1. Go to the Google My Business homepage (https://business.google.com/)
2. Click the “Get started” button
3. Enter your business name—if your business doesn’t appear as a result, create a new listing
4. Choose your business type (most likely “Local store”)
5. Choose your business category (most likely “driving school”)
6. Provide your address so customers can find you on Google Maps
7. Add your phone number and website URL
8. Google may send a verification code via mail, phone, or email—follow the instructions to complete verification
9. Optimize your profile by uploading photos, adding business hours, and writing a compelling business description

Best Practices to Optimize Your Google My Business Profile

Optimize your Google My Business profile to increase your online visibility and increase your odds of engaging with potential customers. Follow these tips to stand out:

• Upload high-quality photos
  • If you have a storefront, take a clear, well-lit picture of the exterior to help customers recognize your location
  • Post images of your classrooms, driving track, and training vehicles to showcase your services
  • Feature students who passed their driving test holding their certification (with permission) to build credibility
  • Add pictures of your staff and instructors to create a personal connection with customers
• Write a compelling business description
  • Clearly state what you do and what makes your business unique
  • Include relevant keywords like "driving school," "behind-the-wheel training," or "defensive driving courses"
  • Keep it concise yet informative
• Keep your information updated
  • Regularly update your business hours, especially during holidays
  • Ensure your contact details and website link are accurate
• Use Google Posts to share updates
  • Post about upcoming promotions, new services, or special offers
  • Highlight customer testimonials and success stories
  • Share important announcements, like new class schedules or seasonal discounts
• Encourage reviews and engage with customers
  • Politely ask satisfied students to leave a review
  • Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, to show that you care about customer feedback
• Enable messaging
  • Allow customers to contact you directly through Google Messages for quick inquiries
• Utilize the Q&A feature
  • Answer common questions before customers even ask
  • Monitor for inaccurate or misleading answers from the public and correct them as needed

How to Respond to Reviews

Responding to customer reviews helps build trust and engagement. It also shows that you value customer feedback, whether positive or negative.

When you receive positive reviews:

• Thank the customer for their feedback
• Personalize your response to make it more meaningful
• Example: “Thank you, Sarah! We’re so glad you had a great experience with our driving instructors. Safe travels!”

When you receive negative reviews:

• Stay professional and courteous
• Acknowledge the issue and offer to resolve it offline

• Example: “We’re sorry you had a less-than-perfect experience. Please contact us at (your email/phone) so we can make it right.”

When you receive fake or unfair reviews:

• Flag reviews that violate Google’s policies (e.g., spam, offensive language)
• Report fake reviews through the Google My Business Help Center
• Provide a professional response to clarify misinformation

How to Respond to Community Questions

Customers can ask questions directly on your Google My Business profile. Answering them promptly provides clarity and improves credibility.

Follow these best practices:

• Provide clear and concise answers
• Keep responses professional and friendly
• If the question is about pricing or services, direct them to your website for more details

For example:

• Q: “Do you offer weekend driving lessons?”
• A: “Yes! We offer weekend lessons. Visit our website to book your session.”

What to Add to Your Google My Business Profile

A complete profile helps attract more customers. Make your profile includes:

• Business name, business type (e.g., local) and category (e.g., driving school)
• Accurate address, phone number, and website
• Current business hours
• High-quality photos of your location, vehicles, and team
• A compelling business description
• Regular updates or posts about promotions, services, or events