Google: Your Frenemy Who Knows Everything About Your Business (And Wants to Help… Mostly)

If you own a small business, Google is kind of like that one overachieving friend who has their life together, wears a Fitbit, and always knows the best place for tacos. They can help you look amazing — but only if you play by their rules. And yes, they have a lot of rules.

Let’s break down the big, shiny Google tools you should actually care about, what they do, and how to stop Google from thinking you’re a suspicious robot trying to sell fake sunglasses from your garage.

1. Google Admin Console — The “Control Room”

Think of Google Admin Console as your business’s mission control. If you have Google Workspace (Gmail for business, Drive, Docs, etc.), this is where you:

• Manage your company’s email accounts.

• Control user access and security settings.

• Set up domain-wide permissions (translation: who can see what).

It’s not where you “do marketing,” but it is where you keep your Google house in order so everything else runs smoothly. Ignore it, and you risk chaos, accidental lockouts, and Janet in Accounting getting way too much access.

2. Google Business Profile (Formerly Google My Business) — Your Storefront on the Internet

Google Business Profile is your business’s dating profile — but instead of trying to get swiped right, you’re trying to get clicked. This is the box that shows up when people search for your business on Google or Maps.

With a profile, you can:

• Show your address, hours, phone number, and website.

• Add photos (please don’t use the blurry ones from 2007).

• Collect reviews — and yes, you need to ask for them.

• Post updates, offers, and events.

Here’s the thing about Google reviews: they’re basically online word-of-mouth, but with way more reach. Ask your happy customers to leave them. And for the love of SEO, reply to every single one — even the one from the cranky guy who “didn’t like your parking lot.”

Replies show you care, help you rank higher, and make potential customers feel safe choosing you. Bonus points if you keep your tone friendly but professional (translation: don’t clap back… unless it’s very, very clever).

3. Google Ads — The “Pay-to-Play” Game

Google Ads is where you throw money at Google to get your business seen right now. Unlike SEO (which is a slow burn), Ads can put you at the top of search results today.

You can:

• Target by keyword (“emergency plumber near me” vs “funny plumber memes”).

• Run ads on Google Search, YouTube, Display Network, and more.

• See exactly how your money is being spent and which ads bring in customers.

The catch? If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can burn through your budget faster than a kid in a candy store.

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How Google Verifies You (AKA “Prove You’re a Real Business, Not a Catfish”)

Google takes verification seriously. They want to make sure you’re a legit business before showing you off to the world. Depending on the tool, they might:

• Mail you a postcard with a code (yes, old-school snail mail).

• Call or text your business number.

• Ask for a video walkthrough of your business location.

• Verify your business registration documents.

Why? Because they want to keep spam, scammers, and shady businesses from hijacking the trust they’ve built with users. It’s annoying sometimes — but it also protects you.

Why All This Matters

If you’re serious about growing your business, you can’t just “have a website” and hope for the best. Google runs the online world, and these tools are how you claim your space in it:

• Admin Console = Keep your digital foundation solid.

• Business Profile + Reviews = Be visible, trustworthy, and personable.

• Google Ads = Get in front of the right people fast.

Treat Google like a partner (yes, even if they feel like an overbearing boss sometimes), and they’ll return the favor with visibility, traffic, leads, and a review page full of love letters from happy customers.

💡 Pro tip: If all of this feels like juggling chainsaws, that’s where we come in. DME Digital Marketing Experts can set it up, run it, and keep it humming so you can focus on running your business — not decoding Google’s latest “helpful” update.