Google Local Listings

Your Google Local Listing (also called your Google Business Profile) is one of the most powerful free tools you have to bring local customers through the door — or to your website. This guide walks you through what it is, why it matters, and exactly how to claim, manage, and maintain yours. Ready to get started? Jump to claiming as a Storefront Shop or claiming as a Studio Florist.

What is a Google Local Listing?
How a Local Listing benefits your business
How a Local Listing benefits your customers
How a Local Listing benefits your SEO
How to manage your Local Listing
How to get more reviews with the Get More Reviews button
How to connect your listing to the BloomNation dashboard
How to claim a Local Listing as a Storefront Shop
How to claim a Local Listing as a Studio Florist
Maintaining your Google Local Listing

What is a Google Local Listing?

A Google Local Listing is the free business profile that shows up on Google Search and Google Maps when someone searches for your shop or for "florist near me." It's the box on the right side of search results (or the top of mobile results) that displays your shop name, photos, address, hours, phone number, website, reviews, and the option to call or get directions.

You manage your listing through Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). Google creates basic listings automatically based on public information, but until you claim and verify yours, you don't control what appears there.

How a Local Listing benefits your business

A claimed and well-maintained listing is one of the highest-ROI marketing tools available — and it's free.

It puts you in front of buyers with intent. People searching "florist near me" or "same-day flower delivery [your city]" are often minutes away from buying. Your listing is what closes that sale.
It drives calls, directions, and website clicks. Every action a customer takes from your profile is a direct lead.
It showcases your work. Photos of your arrangements, your shop, and your team build trust before a customer ever talks to you.
It builds social proof through reviews. A steady flow of recent 5-star reviews tells Google — and shoppers — that you're the right florist to choose.
It's competitive insurance. If you don't claim and update your listing, a competitor's listing wins the click.

How a Local Listing benefits your customers

Your listing isn't just for you — it's a customer service tool.

Quick answers without a phone call. Hours, address, delivery zones, holiday closures, and photos of your work are right there.
Easy ways to reach you. Customers can tap to call, message, or get directions from any device.
Confidence in their choice. Reviews, ratings, and recent photos help shoppers feel good about the florist they're picking — especially when they're sending flowers from out of town.
Up-to-date information. When you keep your hours and contact info current, customers don't waste a trip during a holiday rush.

How a Local Listing benefits your SEO

Local SEO is a different game than national SEO, and your Google Local Listing is the cornerstone of it.

It powers the Local Pack. The Local Pack is the three-listing map that appears at the top of most local searches. Without a strong Google Business Profile, you can't rank there.
It signals relevance to Google. Categories, keywords in your business description, accurate NAP (name, address, phone) data, and regular posts all help Google understand exactly what you do and who you serve.
It earns trust through reviews. Review quantity, recency, and ratings are major local-ranking factors.
It links back to your website. A complete profile with the right website URL drives qualified traffic and supports your domain's overall search authority.
It feeds the ecosystem. Google's data informs Google Maps, voice search ("Hey Google, find a florist nearby"), and AI overviews.

How to manage your Local Listing

Once your listing is claimed, you'll manage it directly from Google Search or Google Maps. Google retired the standalone Google My Business app and the separate dashboard — most edits now happen right inside Search.

To get to your management view:

Sign in to the Google account you used to claim your listing.
Search for your business name on Google. (Or navigate to it at business.google.com)
Click the Edit profile, Promote, or Customers buttons that appear in your business panel.

From there you can:

Update your hours (including holiday hours)
Add or refresh photos and videos
Edit your services, products, and business description
Post updates, offers, and events
Reply to reviews and questions
Send and read direct messages from customers

We recommend logging in at least once a month to refresh photos, post a seasonal update, and answer any new reviews. You can also manage many of these tasks directly from your BloomNation dashboard — see How to connect your listing to the BloomNation dashboard.

How to get more reviews with the Get More Reviews button

Reviews are the single biggest lever you can pull to climb in local search results — and Google makes it easy to ask for them.

To find your shareable review link:

Search for your business on Google while signed in.
In your business panel, click Ask for reviews (sometimes shown as Get more reviews).
Google generates a short, direct link straight to your review form. Copy it.

Use that link wherever you talk to customers:

In your order confirmation and delivery-confirmation emails
On printed thank-you cards tucked into arrangements
In your post-event follow-ups for weddings and funerals
On your social media bios
In your email signature

Tips that actually move the needle:

Ask within 24 hours of delivery, while the experience is fresh.
Make the ask personal. A short note from the designer who made the arrangement converts far better than a generic auto-email.
Never offer discounts in exchange for reviews. Google's policies prohibit incentivized reviews, and getting caught can cost you your listing.
Reply to every review, positive or negative. It signals to Google that the listing is active and to customers that you care.

For a full cadence on when and how often to push for reviews, see Maintaining your Google Local Listing.

How to connect your listing to the BloomNation dashboard

BloomNation offers a feature to connect and manage your Google listing right from the dashboard. Information like shop hours, name, and address can be synced across platforms (this sync can be turned off by contacting us). You can also read reviews from your listing directly in the dashboard.

To connect your Google listing:

Sign in to your BloomNation dashboard and click on the Reputation tab in the sidebar.
Click Connect for Google.
You will be directed to Google to allow permissions — click Continue, then check the box to allow permissions before proceeding.
Select the relevant business profile to connect, and you're done!

How to claim a Google Local Listing as a Storefront Shop

If you have a physical retail location where customers can walk in, follow the storefront verification flow.

Go to business.google.com and sign in with the Google account you want tied to the shop. Use an account you'll keep long-term — not a personal Gmail you might lose access to.
Search for your business name and address. If a listing already exists, click Claim this business. If nothing comes up, click Add your business to Google.
Select Local store (or "Store with a storefront") as your business type.
Enter your full business name exactly as it appears on your signage and receipts.
Choose Florist as your primary category. You can add secondary categories like "Wedding florist," "Wholesale florist," or "Gift shop" later.
Enter your storefront address. Make sure it matches what's on your website, BloomNation profile, and other directories — consistent NAP data is critical for SEO.
Add your phone number and website URL.
Choose a verification method. Storefronts are usually verified by postcard (5–14 days), phone or text, email (when Google has confirmed your domain), or video walkthrough showing your signage, work area, and proof you operate there.
Once you receive your code, sign back in and enter it under Verify now.
After verification, complete every section of your profile — photos, hours, services, attributes — before moving on.

Not a storefront? See How to claim a Local Listing as a Studio Florist instead. Once you're verified, head to How to manage your Local Listing for next steps.

How to claim a Google Local Listing as a Studio Florist

Studio florists — designers who work from a home studio, by appointment, or as delivery-only — follow a slightly different flow because Google needs to know not to publish your home address.

Go to business.google.com and sign in.
Click Add your business to Google.
When asked whether customers can visit your business, select No, I deliver goods and services to my customers. This designates you as a service-area business (SAB).
Enter your business name. Don't include city or service descriptors in the name itself — Google's guidelines prohibit it and can suspend the listing.
Choose Florist as your primary category.
Enter your service area — the cities, ZIP codes, or regions you deliver to. You can list up to 20 areas, but stick to where you actually serve customers.
Add your phone number and website. Use a business phone if possible.
Verify by postcard (Google won't publish your address — it's only used to confirm you exist) or by video, where you'll show your workspace, tools, and any branded materials.
Once verified, hide your address by confirming No under "Do you have a physical location customers can visit?"

A studio listing gives you all the SEO benefits of a storefront listing without exposing your home address. Have a walk-in retail location? See How to claim a Local Listing as a Storefront Shop instead. Once you're verified, head to How to manage your Local Listing for next steps.

Maintaining your Google Local Listing

Claiming the listing is the easy part. Maintaining it is what actually moves the needle. Here's a simple rhythm:

Weekly

Reply to new reviews and questions.
Check your messages.
Add 1–2 fresh photos of recent arrangements.

Monthly

Post a Google update — a seasonal offer, a new product, an event.
Confirm your hours are correct for the upcoming month.
Audit your services and product list for anything new.

Quarterly

Refresh your business description and cover photo.
Review your insights to see how customers are finding you.
Compare your profile against your top three local competitors and close any gaps.

Around holidays (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas)

Update holiday hours at least 2 weeks ahead.
Post your holiday offerings as a Google Post.
Pin your best holiday photos.
Push for reviews aggressively in the week after each holiday.

Need help setting up your review request link? See How to get more reviews with the Get More Reviews button.

Things to avoid:

Keyword-stuffing your business name — it can get your listing suspended.
Using a virtual office or a UPS Store address.
Letting hours go stale.
Ignoring negative reviews. A calm, professional reply often does more for your reputation than the original review.

A profile that's accurate, active, and full of recent photos and reviews will out-rank a competitor with twice your ad budget. The work compounds — every review, photo, and post you add today is still earning you visibility months and years from now.

If you have any issues with your Google Local Listing — suspension, duplicate listings, a listing you can see but can't access — please submit a ticket and we'll be happy to help.