How to show up on Google Maps in Porto: 9 steps

To show up on Google Maps, your business needs a verified Business Profile with correct information, real photos and reviews. Here are the steps, in order.

1. Create and verify the profile. Search for your business on Google Maps. If it does not exist, add it and complete verification, which may be by video, phone or code, depending on the case.
2. Choose the right main category. A clinic should choose the category that describes what it does, such as aesthetic clinic, not a generic one. Add secondary categories for your other services.
3. Use the real business name. No keywords or city in the name. It is one of the most common causes of a profile being suspended.
4. Check name, address and phone. Keep them identical on your website and social media, and check that the pin sits at the exact spot.
5. Keep opening hours up to date, including holidays and closures.
6. Write the description and list your services. Say what you do, for whom and where. If you offer several treatments, add each one.
7. Publish real, current photos: exterior, interior, team and work. Stock photos do not help, and old ones suggest neglect.
8. Ask real customers for reviews (by QR code, NFC or WhatsApp) and reply to all of them, including the negative ones. Never buy reviews.
9. Link your website and WhatsApp and post news regularly.

What about questions and answers?

Google stopped allowing questions and answers on profiles: the feature was withdrawn in stages from the end of 2025. In its place, it is rolling out, country by country, AI-generated answers based on the profile, the website and the reviews. Check whether they are available in Portugal yet.

In practice, put the answers to your common questions on your website and in the profile description.

How to know it is working

In the profile dashboard, check the searches, calls and direction requests every month.

Mistakes that cost you ranking

• Putting keywords or the city in the business name.
• Having several duplicate listings for the same business.
• Leaving the pin in the wrong place or the address incomplete.
• Using photos that are not of the place.
• Ignoring reviews, especially negative ones.

Where to start today

1. Check name, address, phone and opening hours.
2. Publish new photos of the space and the team.
3. Ask real customers for reviews and reply to all of them.

How long it takes

Corrections to your information usually show within days or weeks. Photos and reviews build up gradually. There is no guaranteed timeline, so track your profile dashboard every month.

Free guide: download the Google profile checklist (PDF) and see how many points your business scores.