How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile Step by Step for Real Estate Professionals

A strong Google Business Profile helps people in your suburb find and trust you. It puts your name, reviews, phone number, listings, photos, and updates right on Google Search and Google Maps. This guide walks you through every step. Keep it open as you set up your profile. You can do this in one sitting.

What your profile can do for you

• Show up on Google when sellers and buyers search your name or your suburb

• Display your phone number, website, appointment link, and office hours

• Collect and display Google reviews that build social proof

• Share posts about new listings, sales results, and market updates

• Add photos and short videos to showcase your work

• Answer common questions and handle messages straight from Google

What to prepare before you start

• Your business name exactly as it appears on your legal paperwork and signage

• A local phone number that you or your team will answer during business hours

• Your website address and a booking link for appraisals or consultations

• A professional email address on your domain

• Your physical office address if you meet clients there

• If you work from home, plan to use a service area instead of showing your home address

• A short business description that explains who you help and where

• High quality photos and a short logo file

• A simple review request message for later

Step by step set up

Step 1. Create or claim your profile

1. Go to Google and search for Google Business Profile.

2. Sign in with a Google account that you will keep for business.

3. Select Add your business to Google.

4. Enter your business name. If it appears, choose it and claim it. If not, create a new one.

Step 2. Choose the right primary category

1. Type Real estate agency or Real estate agent.

2. Pick the best fit for how you trade in your local area.

3. You can add more categories later as secondary ones, such as Property management company.

Step 3. Address or service area

1. If you have a customer facing office, enter the address as shown on your website and signage.

2. If you visit clients at their homes or you work remotely, select I deliver goods and services to my customers.

3. Add a service area using suburbs or postcodes you actually serve. Start with your core suburbs. You can expand later.

Step 4. Contact details

1. Add your main local phone number.

2. Add your website URL. Use a clean link that goes to your main page or a page for appraisals.

3. Add an appointment link if you have an online booking page.

Step 5. Business hours and public holidays

1. Set your weekly hours when you or your team will answer calls.

2. Add special hours for public holidays and seasonal breaks.

3. If you hold weekend opens, add weekend hours so callers know when you are available.

Step 6. Messaging

1. Turn on Messaging so people can text you from your profile.

2. Add a quick welcome reply. Keep it short and friendly.

3. Set a notification rule so you never miss a message.

Step 7. Business description

1. Use simple language. Aim for 750 characters or less.

2. Cover who you help, where you work, and why homeowners trust you.

3. Include the names of your core suburbs and property types.

Example
We help homeowners in Paddington, Ashgrove, and Bardon sell for strong results. Our team is known for clear advice, smart marketing, and steady communication from appraisal to settlement.

Step 8. Services and highlights

1. Add services such as Free property appraisals, Private buyer inspections, Auction campaigns, Property management, Vendor paid marketing guidance.

2. Add highlights such as Wheelchair accessible entrance if it applies or Appointment required if you meet by appointment.

Step 9. Photos and videos

1. Add a clear logo and a friendly cover photo that feels like your brand.

2. Upload at least ten high quality photos. Include portraits, team photos, storefront or office, recent sold boards, community events, and behind the scenes photos.

3. Add short vertical videos. Thirty to sixty seconds works well. Keep the sound clear and the lighting bright.

Step 10. Verification

1. Google may offer video, phone, email, postcard, or live video call.

2. Follow the on screen instructions. If you get stuck, try again the next day.

3. Keep your phone nearby and your business documents ready if asked.

Step 11. Add booking buttons and links

1. If you use an online scheduler, add that link so people can book appraisals.

2. If you do not use a scheduler, link to a simple form with name, address, and preferred time.

Step 12. Add products or services for quick actions

1. Use Products to spotlight packages such as Premium marketing plan or Off market buyer list with a call to action.

2. Use Services to list common tasks with short explanations and typical timelines.

Optimise for local search

• Use the same business name, address, and phone number on your website and across directories

• Place your main suburbs in your description and services in a natural way

• Add photos and posts every week so your profile stays fresh

• Answer every review with care and gratitude

• Keep your hours and public holidays up to date

How to write strong posts

Use Google Posts to share short updates. Aim for one to two posts per week.

• New listing
  Headline. Street or building name. Three benefit bullets. Strong photo. Call to action to book an inspection.

• Just sold
  Headline. Result highlight if allowed by your vendor. One sentence about the campaign. Invite owners in the same street to request an updated price guide.

• Market update
  One clear takeaway about stock levels, days on market, or buyer demand. Invite readers to book a quick call to discuss their situation.

• Community story
  Support a local event or school fundraiser. Add a friendly photo. Thank the community.

Keep each post under 1 hundred and 50 words. Always include a clean call to action.

Reviews that build trust

Ask at the right time

• After a great appraisal meeting

• After a strong open home with a warm buyer

• After exchange or settlement

• After a pain point was solved fast

Make it easy to leave a review

• Create your review link in Google Business Profile settings

• Save the link as a short button on your phone and in your email signature

• Share a simple script

Review SMS template
Thanks for working with our team. Your review helps local sellers and buyers feel confident. Would you mind sharing a few words here today. [paste review link]

Review email template
Subject
A quick favour

Body
Thank you for trusting us with your property journey. Your feedback helps others choose with confidence. If we earned five stars, a short review would mean a lot to our team. Here is the link. [paste review link]
Warm regards
Name

Reply to every review

• Thank the person by first name

• Mention one specific detail from their experience

• Invite them to stay in touch for future needs

• Keep it warm and professional

Photos that win attention

Create a simple photo plan for the month.

• Week 1
  Portrait of agent with a short tip about selling in your suburb

• Week 2
  Office or storefront with opening hours and contact number

• Week 3
  Community or charity photo with a short thank you

• Week 4
  Just sold board or buyer handover photo

Quick checklist

• Shoot in bright natural light

• Hold your phone steady and clean the lens

• Frame the subject with space for cropping

• Keep branding consistent across images

Q and A done right

The Q and A area lets the public ask questions. You can seed common questions and then answer them.

• What suburbs do you serve
  List your core suburbs and nearby areas

• Do you charge for appraisals
  Explain your free appraisal process and what is included

• How do you handle open homes
  Share time windows and safety steps

• Do you sell by private treaty or auction
  Explain how you choose a method based on property type and demand

• How can I get an updated price guide
  Invite them to book a ten minute call or request a report via your link

Check your Q and A weekly and give clear, friendly answers.

Track calls and website visits

• Add UTM tags to your website and appointment links so you can see traffic in your analytics

• Use a tracking phone number if you have one, but keep it local and consistent

• Review the Insights tab each month

  • Searches for your name and services

  • Calls and messages by day and time

  • Popular photos and posts

Use these insights to decide where to focus next month.

Keep it fresh with a simple weekly routine

• Add one new post with a strong image

• Upload at least two fresh photos

• Answer new reviews and Q and A

• Check messages and missed calls

• Update hours for public holidays or special events

• Note any insights such as a rise in calls from a certain suburb

This small routine keeps your profile active and trusted.

Common issues and easy fixes

• Profile not showing
  Complete verification. Add real photos and at least one post. Give it a few days.

• Wrong map pin
  Open the address field and drag the pin to the correct spot. Zoom in for accuracy.

• Duplicate profiles
  Ask Google to remove duplicates. Keep one verified profile only.

• Review removed
  If a review breaks policy, Google may remove it. Focus on earning new honest reviews.

• Service area confusion
  If you meet clients at their homes, hide your home address and use service areas only.

A simple launch checklist

• Business name matches your website and signage

• Primary category set to Real estate agency or Real estate agent

• Address or service area set correctly

• Phone, website, and appointment link added

• Hours and holiday hours set

• Messaging turned on with an auto reply

• Business description written with core suburbs named

• Services and highlights added

• Logo, cover, ten photos, and one short video uploaded

• First two posts published

• Review link created and saved

• Verification completed

Tick each item and your profile is ready to serve your local market.

Next steps after launch

• Build a simple review plan into your buyer and seller journey

• Share your Google profile link on your website, email signature, and social pages

• Repurpose your best posts across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

• Create suburb pages on your website to match your service areas

• Use your Insights each month to refine posts, photos, and hours

Your Google Business Profile is not a set and forget asset. Treat it like a digital shopfront on the busiest street in your suburb. Keep it clean, helpful, and updated. When people search for an agent they trust clear details, proof of care, and recent activity. If you follow the steps above, your profile will show all three.

Author Ken Hobson
ken@agentslibrary.com.au