Google Business Profile: the complete guide for businesses in Zakynthos

If you have a business in Zakynthos and haven’t set up your Google Business Profile, you’re losing customers every day. Not because your website isn’t good, but because when someone types “electrician Zakynthos” or “car rental Zakynthos” into Google, the first thing they see isn’t websites — it’s the map of businesses.

This guide is for any professional or business on the island who wants to make proper use of this free tool.

What is a Google Business Profile?

A Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the free listing that shows up in search results and on Google Maps when someone searches for a business: name, address, phone number, opening hours, photos, reviews, and more. For a local business in Zakynthos, it’s often more important than the website itself — especially for customers looking for something right now, from their phone.

Step 1: Create or claim your listing

Go to business.google.com and sign in with a Google account. Search for your business name:

• Doesn’t exist yet: create a new listing from scratch.
• Already exists (created automatically by Google): claim ownership through verification.

Verification is usually done with a code Google sends by postcard to the business address, by phone, or by video call. Without verification you can’t fully manage your profile.

Step 2: Fill in every field

Google rewards complete profiles with better rankings. Don’t leave anything blank:

• Business name: your real name, no keyword stuffing (e.g. not “George Electrician Zakynthos Cheap”).
• Category: the most accurate primary category, with secondary ones if relevant.
• Address or service area: if you don’t have a physical storefront, set your service areas.
• Phone number and website: kept up to date.
• Opening hours: including seasonal changes, if you operate differently in winter.
• Business description: 2-3 sentences on what you do and who you serve, mentioning Zakynthos naturally.

Step 3: Add photos

Profiles with photos get significantly more requests for directions and website clicks. Upload a photo of the exterior, the interior or work in progress, your logo, a cover image, and photos of your products or services. Avoid stock photos — authentic photos from Zakynthos build more trust.

Step 4: Make the most of reviews

Reviews are the most important local ranking factor after proximity:

• Ask satisfied customers for reviews, sending the review link directly.
• Reply to every review, positive and negative — a polite, professional reply to a negative review says a lot about your business.
• Don’t buy reviews. Google detects it and can suspend your profile.

Step 5: Post regularly

Few business owners know this, but Google Business Profile lets you publish updates, offers, and news — like a mini social media. Posts appear directly in search results and show that the business is active. One post every 1-2 weeks is enough to keep your profile “alive” in Google’s eyes.

The one thing almost everyone misses

Consistency of your details (NAP: Name, Address, Phone) across the web is critical. If your phone number appears differently on Google, on your website, and in other directories, Google loses trust in your data and ranks you lower. Check and align your details everywhere.

In closing

Google Business Profile is the most effective free local marketing tool available right now. For a business in Zakynthos — targeting both local customers and tourists looking for services on the spot — getting it right makes a real difference in the calls and visits you receive.

If you need help setting up or optimizing your profile, get in touch — it’s one of the services I offer to businesses in Zakynthos and across Greece.