Google My Business, a subproduct of Google, Inc., is a platform designed specifically with local business owners in mind. Spreading the word about your business is not always easy, even if you are attempting to do so locally. With Google MyBusiness, optimize your marketing efforts as well as your local visibility within top search engine results today, including Google itself. With Google My Business, you can reach a significantly wider audience in less time and with a focus on what matters most—your customers and clients.

Google My Business is a product by the Google search engine. This is a type of a digital business directory, the entries of which the search engine provider uses for various areas of its search results.

By optimizing your Google Business profile, you're communicating to Google that you are a relevant search result for those consumers. And an optimized Google Business Profile can increase your chances of showing up in Google's local search results.

According to Google, local results favor the most relevant results for each search, and businesses with complete and accurate information are easier to match with the right searches. With that said, it’s important that customers know more about what you do, where you are, and when they can visit you. Provide information like (but not limited to) your physical address, phone number, and description.

Google Business Profile is a powerful tool to help you show up in the moments when your leads, prospects, and customers need you most. Like most things, it’s only as good as the effort you put into it, so be sure to optimize your profile by following the steps above.

There are over 3500 different GMB categories. This number fluctuates periodically (currently sitting at 3,950). Google's guidelines hint that they want businesses to use the fewest categories possible when setting this up.