Creating a Google Business Profile is straightforward. Go to google.com/business and sign in with the Google account you want to manage the profile. Click "Add your business" or "Manage now," then enter your exact business name as customers know it. Choose the most specific category that describes what you do—this affects which searches you show up for, so pick carefully. Next, specify whether you serve customers at a physical location, travel to them, or both. If you have a storefront in Ottawa or anywhere else, enter the full street address. If you're service-area based (plumber, consultant, contractor), you'll hide your address and instead define the cities or postal codes you serve. Add your phone number, website URL, and business hours. These fields directly populate your Knowledge Panel in search results and Google Maps, so accuracy matters. Google will then prompt you to verify ownership. Most businesses receive a postcard with a 5-digit code at the listed address within 5–7 business days. Some categories qualify for instant phone or email verification, but postcard is the default. Enter the code once it arrives to activate the profile. After verification, fill out the rest: upload a logo and cover photo (minimum 720×720 px for logo, 1024×576 px for cover), write a business description (750 characters max, front-load keywords naturally), add services or products, and set attributes like "wheelchair accessible" or "free Wi-Fi." These signals help Google match you to relevant local searches. At Ottawa SEO, we treat the initial setup as the foundation—verification unlocks the listing, but ongoing optimization (posts, reviews, Q&A management, fresh photos every 4–6 weeks) is what actually drives rankings and clicks. A bare-bones profile ranks worse than a dormant one that was once active, so plan to maintain it or delegate management from day one.