Let’s Be Realistic: Post #1 – How to Set Up Your Google My Business Account
Let’s Be Realistic with Casey Messmer
There’s a lot of advice out there in the birth business world, and a lot of it is unrealistic, spun by people trying to get you to spend big money on services you don’t need. The truth is, there are plenty of small, realistic ways to get your birth business noticed without breaking the bank. That’s exactly why I started the "Let’s Be Realistic" series—to show you tried-and-true, down-to-earth ways to market your birth business. No frills, no gimmicks—just simple, actionable steps to help improve your marketing in 2025 on a small budget. In this series, I’m going to walk you through each step. And if you need any help, you know where to find me!
This series was born out of all the sales calls I’ve had where I have to start with "let’s be realistic." The truth is, we all want to jump in, fix everything at once, and spend 2025 becoming a marketing guru. But that’s not sustainable or realistic. So, what are the marketing goals that you can actually reach in 2025? That’s what I’m going to share with you in this series.
Setting Up Your Google My Business Account: A Simple Guide
Let’s talk about something super easy (and free) that can help your birth center get noticed online: Google My Business (GMB). If you haven't set it up yet, now’s the perfect time to get started! It’s one of the best ways to make sure people can find you when they search for midwifery services nearby. Plus, it’s a HUGE deal in getting your practice more visible.
Why You Should Use Google My Business
Before we dive into how to set it up, let’s take a sec to talk about why GMB is so important. When you claim your business on Google, it helps your birth center or midwifery practice show up in local searches—like when someone types in “midwife near me” or “birth center in [Your City]”. It’s free, it’s simple, and it helps your business appear in front of people who are already looking for what you offer. Plus, having your information pop up in Google search results helps build trust with potential clients.
Step 1: Create Your Google My Business Account
Head over to Google My Business and click on “Manage Now”. You’ll log in with your Google account (or create one if you don’t have one already).
Step 2: Add Your Business Information
Google will ask for some basic details about your business. Here’s what you’ll need to fill in:
Business name: Use your exact business name—no need to get fancy here.
Business address: If you have a physical location, enter it here. (If you do home visits, you can choose to hide your address but still include your service area.)
Phone number and website: Make sure people can easily get in touch with you! If you don’t have a website yet, that’s okay—you can skip this for now.
Business category: Select “Midwife” or “Birth Center” based on the services you offer.
Step 3: Verify Your Business
Once you've entered your info, Google will send you a postcard with a verification code to your address. It can take a few days to arrive, but once it does, just enter the code online to verify your business.
Step 4: Make Your Profile Shine
Once your account is verified, you’ll be able to add even more details to make your profile stand out:
Business hours: Let people know when you’re available.
Photos: Upload some beautiful photos of your space, your team, and your services. People want to see what they’re getting into!
Services: List all the services you offer, like prenatal care, childbirth education, home birth, etc.
Reviews: Encourage happy clients to leave you reviews. This really helps build trust with new clients.
Step 5: Keep It Fresh and Updated
Now that you’re set up, don’t forget to keep your GMB account updated! Add new photos, share posts about upcoming events or services, and keep an eye on your reviews. Google even lets you post updates directly to your GMB profile, which is an easy way to keep your followers in the loop.
Why It’s Worth It
Google My Business is free, simple to set up, and can really help your birth center show up when people are searching for services like yours. It’s all about being found by the right people—families looking for the supportive, personal care you provide. And the best part? It’s all done for you once you set it up. Easy, right?
So go ahead and get your Google My Business account set up today, and if you need any help along the way, just reach out. You’ve got this!
