Google Business & Maps
Get on Google Maps as a business
Somebody nearby types "cafe near me" or "electrician in Tirana" into their phone. Google returns three businesses with a map, opening hours and reviews. If you are not there, for that customer you simply do not exist.
Why this matters more than a website
For a local business, the map block at the top of the results outweighs any website. It sits above the normal results and shows hours, distance, reviews and a button to call — and most people choose from it without scrolling further.
That is also why a good site with no Google profile leaves you half finished. The site explains you when somebody searches your name. The profile finds you when somebody searches the service instead.
What I do
- Create and configure the profile. Name, primary and secondary categories, hours, service area, phone and the link to your site — filled in properly from the start.
- Walk you through verification. Google asks you to prove the business is real, often by video or documents. I prepare you for what gets asked and stay with you through it.
- Write the description and sort the photos. A description written for the person reading rather than stuffed with keywords, plus the photos that belong there — profiles without photos get skipped.
- Keep the details consistent everywhere. Name, address and phone have to match across the profile, the site and anywhere else. Mismatches confuse Google and the customer equally.
- Reviews, and how to ask for them. How to ask customers for a review without being a nuisance, and how to answer them — including the bad ones, which do more damage when left unanswered.
- Connect it to your site. The profile and the site should point at each other and tell the same story, so Google treats them as one business.
What I will not promise
Verification is Google's decision, not mine. I prepare the case and take you through it properly, but the final call is theirs and sometimes it takes a second attempt.
I also will not promise first place on the map. Local ranking depends on how close the searcher is, your reviews and how complete the profile is — a well-configured profile puts you in the race, it does not buy the result.
And I do not work with fake addresses, virtual offices or mailboxes. Google catches this routinely, and a suspended profile is far worse than one you have not opened yet.
FAQ
Google Business questions
The things owners ask before we start.
Do I need a registered business?
It helps a great deal. Google often asks for proof that the business is real during verification, and business documents are the strongest proof. Without them it is still possible but more fragile, and rejection is more common.
What if I do not have a shop customers visit?
That is fine. If you travel to the customer, the profile is set up as a service-area business: you register with an address but hide it publicly, and only the area you cover is shown.
How long does it take?
The setup itself is quick. Verification is the part nobody controls — sometimes within days, sometimes longer if a second attempt is needed.
How much does it cost?
The profile itself is free from Google; what you pay for is the setup and verification work. We agree the price after a conversation, because it changes with one location or several, and with whether photography is needed.
What if I get rejected?
It happens, and usually over a documentation detail rather than because the business is wrong. We look at what they asked for, fix it and resubmit.
Can I manage it myself afterwards?
Yes. The profile stays yours and in your account. I show you how to update hours, add photos and respond to reviews, so you are not dependent on me for the day-to-day.