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How to use Google Maps to find business leads
In this lesson, we are focusing on one free platform you can use to find business leads manually:
Google Maps.
Google Maps is not only for checking directions or finding locations. It can also help you find businesses in different industries and locations.
As a Virtual Assistant, freelancer, lead generator, data miner, or business support person, this is a useful skill because clients may ask you to help them find business information online.
For example, a client may say:
“Help me find fintech companies in Lagos.”
“Help me find shopping malls in Ghana.”
“Help me find schools in Abuja.”
“Help me find clinics in Canada.”
“Help me find real estate companies in Lekki.”
One of the places you can start your search is Google Maps.
Why Google Maps is useful for lead generation
Many businesses listed on Google Maps have basic public business details attached to their profile.
You may find details like:
Business name
Business category
Address
Website
Phone number
Opening and closing hours
Location
Reviews
Photos
This makes Google Maps useful when you are trying to find businesses based on a particular niche and location.
For example, if you are asked to find fintech companies in Lagos, you can search:
fintech companies in Lagos, Nigeria
If you are asked to find shopping malls in Kumasi, Ghana, you can search:
shopping malls in Kumasi, Ghana
Google Maps will bring up businesses that match that search, and you can begin to collect their details one after the other.
Example 1: Fintech companies in Lagos
Let’s say a client asks you to find 10 fintech companies in Lagos.
You can open Google Maps and search:
fintech companies in Lagos, Nigeria
Google Maps will show a list of fintech companies in that location.
From there, you can click on each business profile and check the information available.
You may see:
Business name
Business category
Address
Website
Phone number
Google Maps location
Reviews
For example, when you click on a company, Google Maps may show you the name of the business, what they do, their address, their website, and sometimes their phone number.
You can copy the useful details and organise them inside a spreadsheet.
Example 2: Shopping malls in Ghana
You can also use Google Maps to search outside Nigeria.
For example, if a client asks you to find shopping malls in Kumasi, Ghana, you can search:
shopping malls in Kumasi, Ghana
Google Maps will bring up different shopping malls in that location.
When you click on each result, you may see the mall name, address, website, phone number if available, business category, location, photos, and reviews.
Some businesses will have complete information.
Some may only have a website and address.
Some may not have a phone number.
Some may not have a website.
That is why you must check each profile carefully.
What information should you collect?
The information you collect will depend on what the client requested.
But for most Google Maps lead generation tasks, you may collect:
Business name
Business category
Website
Phone number
Email address, if available
Address
City
Country
Google Maps link
Source link
Notes
Sometimes, Google Maps may not show the email address directly.
If that happens, you can visit the business website and check the contact page, about page, or footer section to see if an email is available.
This is why lead generation is not just copying and pasting.
You need to search, check, verify, and organise the information properly.
Important warning: Not every information will be updated
One thing you must understand about Google Maps is that not every information there will always be correct or up to date.
Sometimes, a business may have changed its phone number.
Sometimes, the listed number may no longer belong to the business.
Sometimes, the business may have moved location.
Sometimes, the website may no longer work.
Sometimes, the business may no longer be active.
This is why you should not just collect information blindly.
You need to verify what you are collecting.
If possible, check the business website.
Look at their recent reviews.
Check if the business still looks active.
Confirm if the phone number or website still works.
Check if the business has other online pages.
The goal is not to gather plenty names.
The goal is to gather useful and reliable leads.
How to collect Google Maps leads manually
Here is a simple process you can follow:
- Open Google Maps.
- Search for the business type and location.
For example:
fintech companies in Lagos, Nigeria
shopping malls in Kumasi, Ghana
schools in Abuja, Nigeria
dental clinics in Toronto, Canada
- Go through the search results.
- Click each business profile one after the other.
- Check the available details.
- Copy the business name, category, address, website, phone number, and other useful details.
- Open Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
- Create clear columns for your data.
- Paste the information into the right columns.
- Review and clean the data before submitting it to a client.
How to organise your spreadsheet
Your spreadsheet should be clean and easy to understand.
You can use columns like:
Business Name
Business Category
Website
Email
Phone Number
Address
City
Country
Google Maps Link
Source
Notes
Do not scatter the information.
A client should be able to open your spreadsheet and understand what you collected without struggling.
That is part of what makes your work look professional.
Why this skill matters
Google Maps lead generation can help you in two ways.
First, you can use it to find potential clients for yourself.
For example, if you want to work with schools, clinics, real estate companies, coaches, restaurants, or local businesses, you can use Google Maps to find businesses in that niche and location.
Secondly, you can offer it as a service to clients.
Some clients need lists of businesses they can reach out to for sales, partnerships, marketing, research, or business development.
If you know how to search properly, collect useful details, verify the information, and organise everything well, this can become a service you offer as a Virtual Assistant or lead generation freelancer.
Simple assignment
Go to Google Maps and search for one business niche in one location.
For example:
fintech companies in Lagos, Nigeria
schools in Abuja, Nigeria
shopping malls in Kumasi, Ghana
dental clinics in Toronto, Canada
real estate companies in Lekki, Lagos
Choose one search and collect at least 10 leads.
Create a spreadsheet with these columns:
Business Name
Business Category
Website
Email
Phone Number
Address
Location
Google Maps Link
Notes
After collecting the information, go through it again and check if the details look correct and useful.
Remember, the goal is not just to collect data.
The goal is to collect useful business leads that are organised, verified, and ready to use.
If you prefer to watch this as a practical video lesson, please check the next video I just posted in this Teaching section.
In the video, I demonstrated how to search for businesses on Google Maps and how to start collecting their details manually.