When someone searches "web designer near me" or "HVAC contractor Biloxi MS," the results they see first are usually the map pack — three businesses with star ratings, a phone number, and a link to their website. That real estate is controlled by Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), and it's completely free to set up. Yet most small businesses on the Gulf Coast either haven't claimed theirs or left it half-finished and moved on.
Here's how to set it up right. This applies whether you're in Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula, or anywhere else on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Step 1: Claim or Create Your Profile
Go to business.google.com and sign in with a Google account. Search for your business name. If it already exists — Google sometimes auto-creates listings — claim it. If not, click "Add your business" and follow the prompts.
Google will need to verify you're the actual owner, usually by mailing a postcard with a PIN to your business address. Some businesses can verify by phone or email instead. If you need a postcard, budget 1–2 weeks for it to arrive.
Step 2: Fill Out Every Field — Completely
This is the step most people rush through. Google uses the completeness of your profile as a ranking signal, so finishing it matters. Work through every section:
- Business name — exactly as it appears on your signage and website
- Category — choose the most specific primary category that fits (e.g., 'Web Designer' not just 'Business')
- Address — if you serve customers at your location; if you work from home, you can hide the address and just list your service area
- Service area — list every city you serve (Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula, etc.)
- Phone number — use a local number, not a toll-free number
- Website URL — this is critical; Google uses your website to understand your business
- Hours — including holiday hours
- Description — 750 characters to describe what you do; mention your city and key services naturally
- Services — add each service you offer individually
- Attributes — veteran-owned, women-owned, etc. Use whatever applies
Step 3: Add Photos — Real Ones
Businesses with photos get significantly more clicks and direction requests than those without. Try to add:
- A cover photo (your best work or your storefront)
- A logo
- Interior and exterior photos if you have a physical location
- Photos of your work, products, or team
- At least 10 photos to start
Stock photos hurt more than they help here — Google can detect them, and customers can tell. Use real photos of your actual business. Even phone photos are better than stock.
Step 4: Get Reviews — and Respond to All of Them
Reviews are one of the most powerful ranking factors in local search. The number of reviews, the overall star rating, and how recently they were posted all factor into where you appear in the map pack.
After completing a job, just ask: "Would you mind leaving us a Google review? It really does help us." Then send them a direct link to your review page — you can find it in the Google Business dashboard under "Get more reviews."
Respond to every review, positive and negative. Google notices that you're engaged, and potential customers see that you care about the people who hire you.
Step 5: Post Updates Regularly
Google Business Profile has a Posts feature — similar to a social media post — that shows up directly in your listing. Post at least once a week: a project you finished, a seasonal offer, a tip for customers, a before-and-after. Profiles that stay active tend to rank better and stay more visible over time.
Pair Your GBP with a Real Website
A fully optimized Google Business Profile is powerful on its own, but it works best when it's backed by a solid website. Google cross-references your site content when deciding where to rank your profile. A site that clearly mentions your city, your services, and your service area reinforces everything your GBP says.
That's what our local SEO service is built around: making your entire online presence — website and GBP together — work as a system. If you'd like help with either, reach out and we'll talk through it.