Google Business Profile: Process, approach and what we need from you

Multiple people can be registered as owners or managers, with different permissions. That makes sense so maintenance doesn't depend on a single person with a single login.

Yes, factually, promptly, and without justification. The response isn't intended for the author, but for everyone who reads it later. A calm response to a harsh review often works better than twenty five-star entries.

They can be reported, with varying success. For clear policy violations — insults, mistaken identity, competitors — it often works. For merely unfair criticism, rarely.

As a supplement yes, as a replacement for photos no. A short tour or workshop view builds trust, but doesn't replace the complete, current still images that most viewers see first.

Ask at the right time: immediately after completing the service, with a short link, without offering anything in return. Bought reviews violate the guidelines and can be detected.

Little direct ranking effect, but they fill the space in the profile and show activity. For businesses with promotions or events they're worthwhile, for others hardly.

That happens, usually through automated entries from old directories. Ownership can be claimed, and duplicate entries are merged or reported.