How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile (GMB) — Simple Step-by-Step Guide for Bilaspur, Raipur & all of Chhattisgarh

What you need before you start (keep these handy)

• Business Name (same as on board/signage)
• Address (or service areas if you visit customers)
• Phone number (active WhatsApp is great)
• Main category (e.g., Photographer, Beauty Salon, Real Estate Agency)
• 5–10 photos (outside board, inside shop, team at work, products/services)
• Optional: Website link (can add later)

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Part 1 — Create your profile (10 minutes)

1. Open: google.com/business → tap Start Now
2. Enter your Business name in Start building your Business Profile→ Next
   • Use the real name on your board. Don’t add extra keywords.
3. Choose Primary category → Next
   • Examples:
     • Metro Studio → Photographer / Wedding Photographer
     • APV Salon & Academy → Beauty Salon / Beauty School
     • Tiny Prop Store → Kids Photography Props / E-commerce service
     • Realtor → Real Estate Agency
4. Address or Service Area
   • Walk-in store? Add full address.
   • Visit customers? Hide address → Add areas like Bilaspur, Raipur, Durg, Bhilai, Korba.
5. Add Phone and Website (if any) → Next
6. Set Opening hours (be honest) → Next
7. Turn on Messaging (customers can chat) → Next
8. Finish & Verify (see Part 2)

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Part 2 — Verify your business (very important)

Google will offer one or more options:

• Phone/SMS: Type the code you get.
• Email: Click verify link.
• Postcard: Code arrives in ~5–12 days.
• Video verification (common): Record one short video inside the app showing:
  • Your outside board/signage
  • Inside workspace (chair, counter, tools)
  • Proof (visiting card, bill)
  • Street view/nearby shop so Google knows it’s real

Tip: Record in daylight, keep hand steady, show entrance clearly. If rejected, re-record and re-submit.

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Part 3 — Complete your profile (this helps you rank in Maps)

Open the GBP dashboard (google.com/business → your business):

1. Description (about your business)
   • Write in simple words: who you serve + what you do + where you serve.
   • Example (edit to your business): We are a [category] in Bilaspur and serve customers across Raipur, Durg-Bhilai, and Korba. Services: [top 5]. Quick response on WhatsApp and same-day appointments.
2. Extra categories (1–3 more if relevant):
   • e.g., Makeup Artist, Beauty School, Portrait Studio, Property Developer.
3. Services/Products
   • Add your top services with short notes and (optional) price range.
4. Attributes
   • Parking available, Wheelchair accessible, Cashless payments, Women-owned, etc.
5. Photos & videos
   • Add: Logo, Cover, Exterior, Interior, Team at work, Before/After.
   • Use bright, fresh photos. 1200px+ is good.
   • Local tip: For Bilaspur/Raipur, include a recognizable landmark near your shop (e.g., near Rama Magneto Mall, near Telibandha Lake) in at least one exterior photo caption.
6. Service areas (if you travel to clients)
   • Add localities: Sarkanda, Link Road, Mopka (Bilaspur), Telibandha, Shankar Nagar, Devendra Nagar (Raipur), + cities you cover.
7. Business hours & holiday hours
   • Keep it accurate. Update on festivals.

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Part 4 — Post on your profile (5 minutes weekly)

Use Add Update / Offer / Event in the dashboard.

• Post ideas:
  • New offer (e.g., “Bridal package booking open”),
  • Before/After photo,
  • Festival timing,
  • New batch/course date (APV style),
  • Portfolio sample (Metro Studio style),
  • New product sets (Tiny Prop Store style).
• Add a CTA: Call now, WhatsApp, Book, Directions.

These small updates tell Google “this business is active” and help you show up to people near you even if they don’t type city names.

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Part 5 — Reviews (ask, reply, repeat)

1. After a happy service, send this WhatsApp: Thank you for choosing us! Could you please drop a quick review on Google? It helps customers in Bilaspur/Raipur find us: [your review link]
2. Reply to every review:
   • “Thanks, Ravi! Glad you liked the bridal trial. Serving clients across Bilaspur & Raipur—see you again!”

Reviews + replies + photos = strong local trust.

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Part 6 — Make sure people near you can find you (even without location words)

You want to appear for people physically searching in your area, even if they don’t type “Bilaspur” or “Raipur”. Do this:

• Correct address OR service areas in GBP.
• Consistent details everywhere (website, Facebook, Justdial, IndiaMart): same Name, Address, Phone.
• Local pages on your website (if you have one):
  • Example URLs: /bilaspur/photographer, /raipur/beauty-salon, /durg-bhilai/real-estate-agency
  • Link one of these pages in your GBP “Website” button.
• Photos from your real location, with simple captions (e.g., “Outside view near Link Road, Bilaspur”).
• Weekly GBP posts (tiny updates are fine).
• At least 5–10 real reviews to start.

All this helps Google connect you to nearby searchers automatically.

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Quick checklists

Launch Day Checklist (print this)

• Verified profile
• Primary + 1–3 extra categories
• Correct address or service areas
• Phone + hours + messaging on
• Description written (mention Bilaspur/Raipur/nearby areas)
• 8–12 good photos (logo, cover, inside, outside, team, services)
• 1 short video
• 1 first Post with a CTA
• Asked 3 customers for reviews

Weekly (10 minutes)

• Add 1 photo
• Publish 1 Post (offer/update)
• Reply to new reviews
• Check hours (are they correct during festivals?)

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Simple templates you can copy

Business description (edit for your niche):

We are a [business type] in Bilaspur and we also serve Raipur, Durg-Bhilai, and Korba. Services: [top 5]. Quick WhatsApp replies, transparent pricing, and on-time delivery. Visit us at [landmark] or call us to book.

First Post (offer/update):

New [service/product] available this week. Special intro price. Tap “Call” or “WhatsApp” to book. Serving customers across Bilaspur, Raipur & nearby areas.

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Troubleshooting (common issues)

• Profile Suspended: Remove extra keywords from name, upload clear exterior photo with signage, request review.
• Can’t verify: Try video verification in daylight; show entrance + sign + tools + nearby landmark in one continuous clip.
• Low views: Complete every field, add more photos, post weekly, get more reviews, keep hours accurate, add service areas.

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Example categories (pick what fits you)

• Photographer / Wedding Photographer (Metro Studio style)
• Beauty Salon / Beauty School / Makeup Artist (APV Salon & Academy style)
• Gift Shop / E-commerce Service (Tiny Prop Store style)
• Real Estate Agency / Property Developer
• Digital Marketing Agency / Website Designer
• Restaurant / Café / Coaching Center / Clinic / Gym … (and many more)

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FAQ (short & clear)

Q. Do I need a website?
No, but it helps. If you have a site, add local pages (Bilaspur, Raipur, Durg-Bhilai) and link one from GBP.

Q. How long to show on Maps?
Usually soon after verification. Better photos, posts, reviews, and complete details help you appear more often to people near you.

Q. Can I change address later?
Yes, but you may need to re-verify. Update hours and photos too.

Need Help –

Graventon Solutions can set up your complete Google Business Profile for ₹5,000/- only, and manage it for just ₹2,000/- (weekly posts, photos, review replies, hour updates, minor fixes). We also create AI-generated photos and videos tailored to your brand—perfect for GBP Posts, Reels, and ad creatives—so your profile looks active and professional from day one.
Call/WhatsApp: 7028216676 • Email: info@graventonsolutions.com

Contact Us through Website – https://www.graventonsolutions.com/ and click Contact.