Beginner SEO Course (2/4): Get Your Business on Google
Part 2: Google Business Profile, Maps, YouTube, and appearing in Search — for small shops and hosted platforms without Search Console.
· 2 min read
SEO for beginners — 4 parts, under 30 minutes · Part 2/4▼
Table of contents▼
Beginner SEO Course — Part 2/4 (~7 min)
← Part 1 · Part 3 · Part 4
Part 1 covered crawl, index, and rank. Part 2 answers: How do customers find me on Google?
Three paths to Google
| Path | Best for | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Local shops & services | Days – 2 weeks |
| Website / blog | Any business with a site | 2–8 weeks |
| YouTube | How-to, reviews, demos | 1–4 weeks |
Google Business Profile (priority #1)
Steps at business.google.com:
- Add business with real brand name (no keyword stuffing)
- Pick accurate category
- Address or service area
- Phone, website, hours
- Verify (postcard, phone, email, or video)
Optimize with photos, posts, Q&A, and real reviews. Keep NAP (name, address, phone) identical everywhere online.
More: Local SEO guide · Off-page SEO Part 3.
Hosted platforms (Blogger, Wix, Squarespace)
Platforms usually provide HTTPS, sitemaps, and mobile templates. You should:
- Use a custom domain
- Complete About and Contact pages
- Publish content — empty sites are invisible
- Link Google Business ↔ website
YouTube basics
- Title with main keyword
- Description with website link + timestamps
- Subtitles/captions
- Relevant tags, no spam
Video complements your site; it does not replace it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Business Profile free?
Yes. It is the fastest way for local businesses to appear on Maps and in the local pack on Google Search.
Can online-only businesses register?
Yes, as a service-area business — hide home address, show service area only. Follow Google's policies; do not fake locations.
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