How to Claim Your Practice on Google My Business (Texas Guide)
Updated: Oct 18
Google My Business, now called Google Business Profile, is Google's free listing that puts your practice on Google Search and Maps. When you claim your business there, patients can call you, get directions and read your reviews in one tap.
Listing your business with its name, address and phone number accurately aid your customers to explore and reach your business with ease.
Also, listing your practice helps Google to correctly display your company’s information obtained in the relevant searches for the associated keyword search by customers.
Google My Business for practices: what to fill in | |
Field | Tip for a Texas practice |
Name | Exactly as on your sign; no keywords or cities added |
Category | The specific specialty, e.g. Cardiologist |
Address or service area | Office address, or a service area for home visits |
Hours | Real hours, plus holiday hours |
Services | Every condition and procedure you want patients to find |
Photos | Your sign, front door, waiting room and team |
Posts | Twice a week, as Waco Heart & Vascular does |
Does Your Practice Need a Google Business Profile?
Yes. Google says customers are 70% more likely to visit a business with a complete Business Profile (Google). For a medical practice, it's often the first thing a patient sees, even before your website.
Once you claim your business on Google My Business, you control what patients see: your hours, phone, services, photos and replies to reviews.
To qualify, your practice has to see patients in person during the hours you list (Google's guidelines).
Practices that visit patients, such as home health or mobile IV, can hide their address and list a service area instead. Telehealth-only and online-only businesses aren't eligible.
Steps to Claim Your Practice on Google My Business
As discussed earlier, if you need to enlist your business on Google Maps, Google Search and other official properties of Google, you need a Google Business Profile.
Claiming an Existing Listing on a Computer
Go to business.google.com and sign in with the Google account the practice will own. Use a practice account, not a staff member's personal one.
Type your practice name. If it appears, select it to claim it. If it doesn't, add it as a new business.
Search for your business presence with the assistance of your business name and address.
If Google says someone else already manages the profile, request access. Google contacts the current owner, and if they don't respond you may be able to claim it yourself.
Setting Up a New Profile for Your Practice
Go to business.google.com and choose to add a new business.
Sign in by entering your business credentials.
Enter the name of your Business and tap on NEXT.
Enter your Business address and tap on NEXT. If asked, place a marker on the location of your business address on Google Maps.
Pick the most specific category, such as Cardiologist, Dermatologist, Podiatrist or Medical spa. You can add more categories later.
Enter your business contact details and website or URL of your business listing.
Once you are done with enlisting all the essential details about your business establishment, you need to complete your Google my Business sign up by verifying your account. Once you are done with the detail entry, tap on CONTINUE to check your business listing with your details.
Choose a verification method. Google decides which ones you get; today it's often a short video showing your sign, your office and that you manage the practice.
In can you have no authority to manage your business, find the authorized person to accomplish the entire process on your behalf.
Claiming Your Practice on a Phone
The separate Google My Business app was retired in 2022. On a phone, use the Google Maps app or search your practice name in the Google app.
Next step is to sign in with your Google account which you like to use to manage the listing.
Enter your business details including your Business name and address.
Read the terms of services being displayed. Once you read it completely, tick the checkbox indicating that you have read the terms of service agreement and agree. Once you are ready to begin, tap on CONTINUE.
Besides the steps mentioned above, you can also claim the existence of your business listing with the assistance of Google Maps. Follow the steps as indicated below for the same:
Open the page of the Google Maps app on your smartphone.
Type in your business name and search for your business existence.
Open your practice's listing, scroll down, and tap Own this business? or Claim this business.
Verifying Your Google Business Profile
To stop others from claiming your listing, Google wants to ensure that you are the sole entrepreneur of your business. This verification is one of the parts of the GMB verification process.
Google picks the verification method for each business. It's most often a video now; some businesses get a phone call, text, email or postcard instead.
If you get a code by mail, phone or email, enter it in your profile to finish. Until you verify, edits may not show and you can't reply to reviews.
In case you have an option to verify your business listing with the phone
Make sure that your business contact number is answerable so that it facilitates you to receive your business verification code. In case, your business possesses its voicemail system or a call centre; the call verification process won't work for you.
In case if you are in need of an automated text message with a verification code so that you receive your business verification code through SMS. You need to enter the same code in your profile.
What a Claimed, Complete Profile Did for Texas Practices
Google Business Profile results in Texas | |||
Practice | City | Result | Case study |
Waco Heart & Vascular | Waco | 1,540 calls; 648 direction requests; 15,690 profile views | |
Southwest Regional Wound Care | Lubbock | 1,260 calls; 533 direction requests | |
StrIVe IV and Wellness | New Braunfels | 442 calls in the last 3 months | |
Dental DeLite | Duncanville | Profile views +123.2% in a year | |
If you haven't claimed your business on Google My Business yet, do it this week. It's free, and for many Texas practices it brings more calls than the website.
Can Each Doctor in a Texas Practice Have a Google Profile?
Yes. Google allows separate profiles for individual practitioners who see patients, as well as one for the practice. Keep the names and categories accurate on each one.
How Long Does It Take to Claim a Business on Google My Business?
Claiming takes minutes; verification can take days, depending on the method Google gives you. Next, see how to get more Google reviews once your profile is live.
