Google My Business
Overview
Google By Business is a free Google business listing that makes your store visible to local customers searching on the web. A Google My Business account is set up by a request through the Follett Support Center► Business Operations Support for each store with a physical location. For a campus with more than one location, each location has its own Google My Business account.
Store information is displayed in search results so that customers do not need to visit the website and search for this information, e.g., store hours. This is especially helpful for on-the-go users on mobile devices. They can search for information about nearby businesses, then tap on the listing to get directions. Google My Business is different than Google Maps, but they work together to make your store information easily available to potential customers.
 | View Updating Google My Business for an overview and demonstration of the Google My Business site. Update: To request access, submit a request through the Follett Support Center. |
Access Google My Business
Store managers can be granted access to log into Google My Business. To request access, or check if you already have access, submit a request through the Follett Support Center. Provide the email you would like to use in your request. The email address must be tied to a Google Account, e.g., a gmail address.
Once eCommerce confirms your access:
Access https://www.google.com/business/.
Select Sign in.
Enter your credentials.
With Google My Business access, you can make updates to store information:
Store Hours
Store Attributes
Add Photos
Respond to Questions and Reviews
Important: If you make changes in Accelerator that impact the information in Google My Business, don't forget to log into Google My Business and update the same information.
For any questions about making updates in Google My Business not covered in this topic, contact the Follett Support Center if you cannot resolve.
Google My Business Checklist
Use this checklist as a guide for updating your Google My Business account. Select the links in the checklist or review the content below for details on how the specific changes to your account.
Info Tab
Verify Store Information (name, address, phone number)
| Info Tab | Complete |
|---|---|
| Verify Store Information (name, address, phone number). | |
| Verify Store Hours; update whenever a change is made. | |
| Add More Hours/Pickup Hours. | |
| Add Special Hours for holidays or irregular hours (due to weather, COVID, etc.) | |
| Add Applicable Highlights/Store Attributes (Accessibility, Amenities, Service Options, etc.) |
| Photo Tab | Complete |
|---|---|
| Add Photos (Logo, Cover Photo, Video Tour, and Interior). |
| Reviews Tab | Complete |
|---|---|
| Respond to reviews and questions. (Check for new reviews and questions frequently!) |
Updating Google My Business
Info Tab
You must update the Google My Business listing whenever there is a change to your business hours or services. This ensures that customers have accurate information about your store.
Update Store Hours
If your business hours have changed, update the times when you are open or closed. Your operating hours show when a customer visits your Business Profile, then they know exactly when they can visit your physical location.
See the Business Hours section of Google My Business support for additional details.
Add More Hours
You can select the hours your business offers specific services, such as order pickup. In general, you can set More Hours as a subset of your primary hours. For example, a store that is open from 9 AM - 8 PM may have hours that look like this:
Business Hours: 9 AM - 8 PM
Pickup: 12 PM - 8 PM
See the About More Hours section of Google My Business support for additional details.
Set Special Hours
When your hours of operation change for a brief period of time, like a special event, you can Set Special Hours so that your regular hours don't change.
Set special hours if your business temporarily adjusts its hours of operation or remains closed for up to six days in a row. Examples include:
Holidays
Special events
Other exceptional circumstances
It's recommended that you confirm your hours for official holidays, even if those hours are the same as your regular hours. This will make it clear to customers that your holiday hours are accurate.
When to mark your business as Temporarily Closed: If your store is not permanently closed, but has temporarily stopped providing all services, mark your business "Temporarily Closed." Any store offering delivery or curbside pickup should not be marked "Temporarily Closed". When your business fully or partially resumes operations, you can reopen your business.
See the Set Special Hours section of Google My Business support for additional details.
Manage Your Store Attributes
Attributes display on your Business Profile on Google Search and maps. You can highlight attributes like:
Accessibility
Amenities
Health & Safety
Service Options (pickup, delivery, curbside pickup, in-store shopping)
See the Add or Edit Attributes section of Google My Business support for additional details.
Service Options
Select specific attributes to let your customers know whether your store:
Offers pickup, delivery, curbside pickup, or open for in-store shopping
Is not open for in-store shopping
Tip: When customers search for your store, your Business Profile prominently shows which service options your currently support. Keep in mind:
Supported modes have a green check mark:
; non-supported modes have a red X: 
If you select both Curbside pickup and Pickup, only Curbside pickup displays.
When in-store shopping is not available, the In-store shopping attribute displays with a red X.
When in-store shopping is available, the In-store shopping attribute does not display.
All other modes only display if they are available.
To manage your Service Options:
Sign into Google My Business on your computer.
If you have multiple locations, sign into the location you want to manage.
Select Info from the menu.
Locate the attribute, then select the pencil icon to edit.
Locate Service options, then select all options that apply.
Click multiple times on a service to toggle from a green checkmark (ü) to indicate service available OR
to indicate service not available. Services that are not available are displayed with a red X (X)in the Google My Business listing.
Note: If you select both Curbside pickup and Pickup, only Curbside pickup displays.
Select Apply.
Note: Changes in Google may not be immediate.
See the Service Options section of Google My Business support for additional details.
Add Photos (Photos Tab)
Add photos of your store to give customers an idea of what they can find when they visit. Share photos of the outside and inside of your store. Set a logo and cover photo that will display in the Google search results.
See the Add Photos to Your Business Profile section of Google My Business support for additional details.
Respond to Reviews (Reviews Tab)
Reviews on Google provide valuable information about your business to both you and your customers. Business reviews display next to your listing in Maps and Search. They can help your business stand out on Google. You can reply to reviews, which can help build customer trust.
See the Get Reviews on Google section of Google My Business support for additional details.
