Marketing Guide

Set Up Your Google Business Profile

Boost your local SEO and help customers find you on Google Maps and Search. Step-by-step guide to claiming and optimizing your business profile.

Why This Matters

When potential customers search for "cottage food near me" or "homemade baked goods in [your city]", your Google Business Profile is what shows up. It's free, takes 15 minutes, and can be your biggest source of new customers.

What You'll Learn:

  • ✅ How to claim your Google Business Profile
  • ✅ Verification process (postcard or phone)
  • ✅ Optimizing your profile for maximum visibility
  • ✅ Best practices and common mistakes
  • ✅ How to connect it to your Florida Cottage Foods profile

Step 1: Claim Your Google Business Profile

  1. Go to Google Business Profile
    Visit business.google.com
  2. Sign in with your Google Account
    Use your business email if you have one, or your personal Gmail account.
  3. Search for your business
    Google might already have a listing for your address. Search for your business name and location.
  4. If found: Claim it
    Click "Claim this business" and follow the verification steps.
  5. If not found: Create new listing
    Click "Add your business to Google" and fill in your information.

Important for Cottage Food Businesses

DO NOT enter your exact home address if you operate from home and don't want it public. Instead, select "I deliver goods and services to my customers" and set a service area (your city/county). This keeps your home address private while still showing up in local searches.

Step 2: Fill Out Your Business Information

Business Name

Use the exact same business name as your Florida Cottage Foods profile. Consistency helps with SEO.

Category

Choose the most relevant category:

  • Bakery - For baked goods
  • Food Producer - For general cottage foods
  • Caterer - If you do custom orders
  • Dessert Shop - For sweets and treats

Service Area (Recommended for Home-Based)

Set your delivery/service area to:

  • Your city
  • Your county
  • Nearby cities you're willing to deliver to

Hours of Operation

Option 1: Set to "By appointment only" if you work on orders as they come in.

Option 2: List your typical hours if you have set pickup times (e.g., "Saturdays 10am-2pm").

Phone Number & Website

  • Phone: Your business phone or personal cell
  • Website: Your Florida Cottage Foods maker profile URL:
    https://floridacottagefoods.com/makers/[your-slug]

Step 3: Verify Your Business

Google needs to verify you're the real business owner. You'll receive verification via:

📬 Postcard (Most Common)

Google mails a postcard with a verification code to your address. Takes 5-7 business days.

📞 Phone Verification

Some businesses can verify instantly via phone call or text message.

After receiving your code:

  1. Log back into Google Business Profile
  2. Click "Verify now"
  3. Enter the verification code
  4. Done! Your profile is now live 🎉

Step 4: Optimize Your Profile

Add High-Quality Photos

Upload 5-10 photos showing:

  • ✅ Your products (cookies, cakes, breads, etc.)
  • ✅ Your workspace (clean, professional-looking)
  • ✅ Packaging and labels
  • ✅ Behind-the-scenes baking
  • ❌ Avoid: Blurry photos, messy backgrounds, poor lighting

Write a Compelling Description

Example:
"Home-based bakery in Tampa specializing in custom birthday cakes and gourmet cookies. All products are made fresh to order using high-quality ingredients. Licensed Florida Cottage Food Operation. Order online or visit us at local farmers markets!"

Add Products/Services

List your most popular items with prices:

  • "Custom Birthday Cakes - Starting at $45"
  • "Chocolate Chip Cookies - $12/dozen"
  • "Sourdough Bread - $8/loaf"

Enable Messaging

Turn on Google Business messaging so customers can text you directly from Google Search. Respond within 24 hours for best results.

Step 5: Get Reviews & Stay Active

Ask Happy Customers for Reviews

After completing an order, send a message like:

"Thank you for your order! If you loved your [product], I'd really appreciate a Google review. It helps other people find my small business! [Your Google Review Link]"

Post Regular Updates

Use Google Posts to share:

  • New products or flavors
  • Holiday specials
  • Farmers market schedules
  • Behind-the-scenes content

Pro Tip: Respond to ALL Reviews

Even a simple "Thank you!" to positive reviews shows you care. For negative reviews, stay professional and offer to make it right. This builds trust with future customers.

SEO Benefits of Google Business Profile

📍 Local Search

Show up in "near me" searches and Google Maps results

⭐ Trust Signals

Reviews and ratings build credibility and social proof

🔗 Website Traffic

Direct clicks to your Florida Cottage Foods profile

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌
Using a P.O. Box address

Google requires a physical location or service area, not P.O. boxes.

❌
Keyword stuffing in business name

Don't name your business "Mary's Cookies Best Homemade Bakery Tampa Florida". Use your actual business name.

❌
Never updating your profile

Post updates, respond to reviews, and keep your hours current.

❌
Low-quality or no photos

Photos increase engagement by 35%. Use good lighting and show your actual products!

Connecting to Your Florida Cottage Foods Profile

Once your Google Business Profile is set up, link it to your maker profile:

  1. Copy your Google Business Profile URL (it looks like: business.google.com/n/[your-business])
  2. Log into your Florida Cottage Foods dashboard
  3. Go to Settings → Profile
  4. Add your Google Business Profile link to your social media section

This creates a powerful backlink and helps with your overall SEO across both platforms!

Ready to Get Started?

Setting up your Google Business Profile is one of the best free marketing investments you can make. It takes just 15 minutes and can bring in customers for years to come.

Set Up My Profile Now →Back to All Guides

Need Help?

Having trouble setting up your Google Business Profile? Email us at support@floridacottagefoods.com and we'll help walk you through it!