Your Google Business Profile: Resources, Glossary of Terms, Common Mistakes, and Troubleshooting

SUGGESTED TIMING: Ongoing

Use this info as needed

Once your Google Business Profile is up and running, you don’t need to memorize every setting or process. You just need to know where to look when something goes wrong. Or when you want to learn more.

This article includes:

A list of helpful links for managing your profile
A glossary of Google Business Profile-relevant terms
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Troubleshooting guide

Resources and Quick Links

Use these official Google tools and help centers to solve problems, manage updates, and get answers fast.

Google Business Profile Help Center
Searchable support articles for setup, verification, edits, and features
Google Maps App – iOS
Use the app to manage your business on the go, iPhone edition
Google Maps App – Android
Use the app to manage your business on the go, Android edition
Google Business Profile on YouTube
Video walkthroughs, feature updates, and tutorials
Bulk Location Management Tool
For affiliates managing 10+ locations (or helping others set up profiles)

TIP: If you ever get stuck, try Googling your question using phrases like “How to [task] in Google Business Profile.” Google’s support articles are usually the first result.

Glossary of Terms

TERM	WHAT IT MEANS
Call to Action (CTA)	A prompt that encourages someone to act (e.g. “Call now,” “Enroll today”)
Category	Describes your business type (e.g. “Drivers license training school”)
Cover Photo	The large horizontal image at the top of your Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile (GBP)	Your free business listing that shows up in Google Search and Maps
Insights	Performance data showing how people found your listing and what they did
Logo	Your business’s square branding image shown in search
Post	A short update you can publish to your listing (like a Facebook post)
Q&A	Questions and answers publicly posted to your profile
Review Link	A custom link you send customers to request a Google review
Service Area	The cities, zip codes, or regions where your business operates
Verification	Google’s process to confirm you own and manage the business

Avoiding Common Mistakes

DON'T	DO INSTEAD
Use a fake address or PO box	Use your real location or clearly define your service area
Add extra keywords to your business name	Keep your name accurate and clean
Ignore your reviews	Reply to all reviews (especially negative ones) calmly and professionally
Leave outdated hours or info	Update hours, services, and photos regularly

Troubleshooting Guide

ISSUE	WHY IT HAPPENS	HOW TO FIX IT
No postcard arrived	Wrong address or postal delay	Re-request the postcard from your Google Business Profile dashboard
Someone else claimed your profile	A past employee or mistake	Use the “Request access” button to reclaim the listing
Your profile isn’t showing in search	Profile isn’t verified or hasn’t been updated recently	Complete verification, post something new, and confirm all info is correct
Your business name or category is wrong	Setup mistake or auto-suggestion error	Go to your profile dashboard and edit the information
You got a bad review	Miscommunication or unhappy customer	Respond calmly and professionally. If it violates Google’s review policy, flag it for removal

TIP: Don’t ignore problems. Even one incorrect detail (like old hours or a wrong phone number) can hurt your visibility and reputation.

What’s Next

This wraps up the full seven-part guide to building and managing your Google Business Profile. If you’ve followed along step by step, you now have:

A verified, trustworthy business profile
A listing that helps customers find you
A simple system for posting, reviewing, and improving each month
A way to turn Google searches into in-person signups and online course referrals

When you stay active, accurate, and helpful, your profile keeps working in the background 24/7 bringing in traffic, trust, and opportunity.