Why Your Google Business Profile Is Non-Negotiable
When someone in your area searches for a service you offer, Google shows a map with three businesses. If you are not one of them, you are losing leads to competitors who took 30 minutes to set up their profile.
Step 1: Claim or Create Your Profile
Go to business.google.com and search for your business. If it already exists (Google often creates listings from public data), claim it. If not, create a new one.
Step 2: Choose the Right Categories
Your primary category is the single most important ranking factor for local search. Pick the one that most precisely describes what you do. Add secondary categories for other services.
Step 3: Fill Out Every Single Field
Google rewards completeness. Business name, address, phone, hours, website, service area, attributes. Fill in everything. Incomplete profiles rank lower.
Step 4: Write a Compelling Description
You get 750 characters. Use them wisely. Include your primary services, your location, and what makes you different. Write for humans first, search engines second.
Step 5: Add Photos
Upload at least 10 photos: your storefront, team, work samples, and logo. Profiles with photos get 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks.
Step 6: Set Up Posts and Updates
GBP has a built-in posting feature. Use it weekly to share updates, offers, and news. This signals to Google that your business is active.
What Comes Next
Once your profile is live, the real work is consistency. Post weekly, respond to every review, and keep your information current. Need help staying on top of it? Our Digital Presence Support service handles all of this for you.