Check if a profile already exists
Search for your school on Google Maps first. Many schools already have a profile that someone created, so claim it instead of making a second one.
Preschool marketing / Google Business Profile
For preschool and creche owners
Google Business Profile for preschools and creches, linked to your dashboard
When a parent searches Google for a creche or preschool near them, your Google Business Profile decides whether you show up on the map. We can create or fix yours for you, and link it to your Find My Nursery school dashboard so you manage it next to your listing.
Google MapsYOUR PROFILE
Freea Google profile costs nothing
Premiumconnects it to your dashboard
Done for youwe set it up and improve it
Google Business Profile
Get found on Google, and manage it from one place
01The basicsWhat a Google Business Profile does for a preschool
Claim your school
Your Google Business Profile is the free listing on Google Search and Google Maps. It shows your school name, address, phone number, opening hours, photos and reviews, and it lets a parent call you or get directions in one tap.
Parents usually search for a creche or preschool by suburb, and Google shows a short list of schools on a map. A complete profile with clear photos and good reviews gives you a better chance of being one of them.
- Show up on Google Maps and local search
- Calls and directions straight from Google
- Reviews from your own parents
- Hours, photos and updates in one place
02Your dashboardLinked to your school dashboard
See Premium
Connect your Google Business Profile to your Find My Nursery school dashboard, your Nursery Centre, and manage it where you already manage your listing. See how your profile performs on Google, keep an eye on reviews, and update your hours, photos and news without logging in to a second place.
You can post updates such as enrolling now, tour bookings open or a holiday closure, and keep your hours the same on Google and on Find My Nursery.
- See how your profile performs on Google
- Reviews, photos and updates in one place
- Hours kept the same on Google and Find My Nursery
- Part of Premium
Connecting is part of Premium and is rolling out to schools now.
See Premium03Done for youWe create or fix your Google Business Profile for you
Ask us to set it up
No profile yet, or not sure yours is right? We can create one for your school, or review the one you have and fix what is wrong, such as the wrong category, missing hours or an old phone number. We handle the setup and verification with you, then link it to your school dashboard.
Most owners are busy running a school. This takes the job off your list.
- A new profile created for your school
- An existing profile reviewed and fixed
- Verification handled with you
- Categories, hours, photos and description
- Linked to your school dashboard
Email us and we will explain how it works for your school.
Ask us to set it upDo it yourself
Set up your Google Business Profile in six steps
A good profile does not take long to set up. Work through these steps in order, or ask us to do it for you.
Step 1 of 6
Choose the right categories
Pick the category that matches what you run, such as preschool, nursery school or day care centre. Your main category matters most because it tells Google what you are.
Add your details exactly
Use your school name as it appears on your signboard, your full address, a phone number that is answered and your hours. Use the same details on Find My Nursery, Facebook and your website.
Add real photos
Show your classrooms, play areas, entrance and outdoor space. Parents want to picture their child there, so use clear, recent photos. Never show a child's face without written permission from the parent.
Verify your profile
Google needs to confirm you run the school before your profile is fully live. It shows you the verification options on screen, and we can handle this with you.
Ask for reviews and reply
Ask happy parents for an honest review after a term or event, share a direct link to your profile, and reply to every review politely, including the critical ones.
Common Google Business Profile mistakes
- Creating a second profile instead of claiming the one that already exists.
- Using a different name, phone number or address from your signboard and website.
- Leaving out hours, photos or a description.
- Keeping the same hours all year and forgetting school holidays.
- Showing children's faces without written permission from parents.
- Offering gifts or discounts for reviews.
- Choosing a category that does not describe a preschool or creche.
- Ignoring reviews, or replying only to the good ones.
Related: local SEO for preschools and the full preschool marketing guide.
04ChecklistWhat a strong preschool profile includes
Ask us to check your profile
Parents decide fast, often on a phone. Use this list to check your profile the way a parent would see it.
- School name matches your signboard and website
- Exact address, with the right pin on the map
- A phone number that is answered
- A working website or Find My Nursery link
- Correct hours, including early drop off and late pick up
- A main category that describes your school
- Ages and programmes you offer, listed plainly
- Recent photos of classrooms, play areas and entrance
- A recent review and a reply to every review
- A clear way to enquire or book a tour
Work through it once, then again every term.
Ask us to check your profile05Keep it freshKeep your profile up to date
See Premium
Setting up your profile is only the start. A profile with old hours or a closed phone line costs you enquiries, so give it a few minutes on a regular schedule.
Once a month, check your details, read new reviews and reply. Every term, update your holiday hours, refresh your photos and review your enrolment information. Whenever something changes at the school, change it on Google the same day.
- Monthly: check details, reply to reviews
- Every term: holiday hours, photos, enrolment information
- Any change: update it the same day
- Remove old announcements once they have passed
In your dashboard, Premium schools can do this next to their listing.
See PremiumWant us to take care of your Google Business Profile?
Email us and we will explain how it works for your school.
Common questions
Google Business Profile questions
Question 1 of 18
What is a Google Business Profile for a preschool?
It is the free listing that appears on Google Search and Google Maps when a parent looks for a creche, nursery or preschool near them. It shows your name, address, phone number, hours, photos and reviews, and it lets parents call you or get directions in one tap.
Is a Google Business Profile free?
Yes. Google does not charge for a Business Profile. Connecting it to your Find My Nursery school dashboard is part of Premium, and our done for you setup is a separate service you can ask us about.
Do I need a website to have a Google Business Profile?
No. You can add your Find My Nursery profile or your own website as the link, and you can add a website later if you want a place that is fully yours.
What is the difference between my Find My Nursery listing and my Google Business Profile?
Your Find My Nursery listing is your page on South Africa's nursery directory. Your Google Business Profile is your listing on Google Search and Maps. Parents use both, so your details should match on each.
How do I verify my Google Business Profile?
Google needs to confirm that you really run the school. It shows you the verification options for your profile on screen, and these can differ from one profile to the next. If you would rather not deal with it, we can handle the setup and verification with you.
How do I log in to my Google Business Profile?
Sign in with the Google account that owns the profile, then go to business.google.com, or search for your school name on Google while signed in and use the buttons that appear on your listing. If you cannot remember which account owns it, we can help you work that out.
How do I claim a Google Business Profile that already exists for my school?
Search for your school on Google Maps, open the listing and choose the option to claim or manage it. Google then asks you to verify that you run the school. If someone else already owns it, you can request access, and we can help if it gets stuck.
Which category should a preschool or creche choose?
Choose the category that matches what you actually run as your main category, for example preschool, nursery school or day care centre. Add other categories only for services you really offer, such as after care. Do not choose a category such as primary school if you do not run one.
What should I put in my business description?
Say where you are, which ages you take, such as babies to Grade R, your hours and what makes your school different. Keep it honest and factual. Google limits the description to 750 characters, and it is better not to put prices, offers or web links in it.
How do I get more Google reviews for my school?
Ask happy parents at a natural moment, such as after a term or a school event, and send them a direct link to your profile. Reply to every review politely, including the critical ones. New reviews and quick replies show parents the school is active.
How many photos should I add, and can I show the children?
Add clear, recent photos of your entrance, classrooms, play areas and outdoor space. Do not show a child's face unless you have written permission from the parent. Children's information is protected under POPIA, so when in doubt, photograph the space and not the child.
Should I reply to bad reviews?
Yes. Thank the parent, stay calm, do not share anything about a child or family, and invite them to speak to you directly. Other parents often read your reply more closely than the complaint itself.
Can I offer parents a discount or gift for a Google review?
No. Do not reward reviews, pressure parents to give a certain rating or write reviews for them. Ask every family in the same way and let them be honest.
Can you set up my Google Business Profile for me?
Yes. We can create a new profile, or review and fix the one you already have, then link it to your Find My Nursery school dashboard. Email us and we will explain how it works for your school.
How does my Google Business Profile link to my school dashboard?
With Premium you can connect your profile to your Nursery Centre, our school dashboard. You can then see how your profile performs on Google and manage your hours, photos, reviews and updates next to your Find My Nursery listing. Connecting is rolling out to schools now.
How do I show school holiday and public holiday hours?
Set your normal hours, then add special hours for public holidays, term breaks and any closure. A parent who finds you late at night is often planning ahead, and wrong hours can cost you an enquiry.
How long until I see results from my Google Business Profile?
Fixing wrong hours, a wrong phone number or a broken link helps straight away because parents can reach you. Reviews, photos and your standing on the map build over weeks and months, and no one can promise a particular ranking.
Can someone else change or damage my Google profile?
Yes. Anyone can suggest edits or leave reviews, so check your profile regularly and report anything that is false or abusive to Google. Keeping the profile verified and checked once a month protects it.
Learn more
Preschool marketing guides
Practical ECD guides on getting found, earning parent trust and filling your spaces.
Google Business Profile for ECD Centres: Get Found by Local ParentsParents search Google Maps first. Set up and optimise a Google Business Profile for your creche or preschool, step by step, with photos and reviews.Read the guideHow to Get More Parent Reviews for Your Creche (and Why They Fill Spots)Verified parent reviews are what make parents choose a school. How to ask, when to ask, and scripts that work for South African creches.Read the guideHow Do South African Parents Choose a Preschool? What Our Data ShowsOriginal insights from Find My Nursery, South Africa's parent-powered directory: what parents search, where they find creches and what makes them choose.Read the guideHow to Market Your Preschool in South Africa: 10 Low-Cost Strategies10 proven, low-cost ways to market your preschool or creche in South Africa: WhatsApp, Google, open days, reviews and listings that fill spots.Read the guideFill Your 2027 Spots: The Enrolment Season Playbook for ECD CentresA month by month enrolment season playbook for SA ECD centres: when parents search, open day ideas, follow-up scripts and converting enquiries.Read the guideInside the Find My Nursery Premium Dashboard: What Changes When You UpgradeSee what Premium adds to your nursery listing: Top Pick placement, a school webpage you update yourself, WhatsApp, tour booking and analytics. From R199/mo.Read the guide
More marketing guidesWritten and maintained by the Find My Nursery team. Last updated .
Ready to be found on Google?
Questions? Email admin@findmynursery.net.