Step-by-step guide to let customers find you on Google Maps – for free! 

Internet search engine Google has just launched an updated Google Maps for South Africa, offering new functionality that allows users to search for local businesses in a specific area.

This enables businesses to create an online profile that can be found through Google Maps – for free! Taking into account that people usually search for things online that they’re looking for in their area, you simply cannot afford not to be on Google Maps.

Google’s Local Business Centre – where anyone from the local barber to the fancy shopping mall can sign up – is incredibly easy to use. It will take ten minutes tops to list your business, update your contact details and offer additional information like operating hours, pictures and other relevant information.

Simply go to the Local Business Center homepage and click on Sign up now. If you already have a Google account (for example Gmail), simply use your existing log-in details to sign in.

Once you’ve signed in, two large grey icons will appear on the right of the page. Click on Add new business. The following page will appear:

Type in the name of your company, the address, contact information and a description of your business. (You can update, change or delete this information at any time.) Click on Next.

The next webpage will give you the opportunity to fill in additional information, e.g. operating hours, and space to upload pictures. Once you’re done, click on Submit. You are now listed on Google Maps!

To illustrate how Google Maps will display your information, we have done a Google Maps search for wine shops in Rosebank. The results show a number of liquor stores listed on Google Maps on the left of the website, with contact details and a short description, while the location is indicated with a red balloon on the map on the right:

The video below highlights other capabilities of Google Maps.