In this article
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a local customer sees, before your website. Work through this checklist and you'll be ahead of most competitors.
The basics
- Business name exactly as it appears on your signage, with no added keywords
- The most accurate primary category, plus relevant secondary categories
- Phone number and website that match your site
- Opening hours, including bank holidays
- Address shown only if customers visit; otherwise set service areas
Services and description
- Every service you offer, with a short description
- A plain description of what you do, where and for whom
- Attributes that apply to you
Photos and video
- Logo and cover photo
- Real photos of your team, premises, vans and finished work
- A few short videos
- New photos added every month
- No stock or AI-generated images presented as your work
Posts
Post weekly: a recent project, a seasonal offer, a tip or an event. It keeps the profile active and gives customers a reason to click.
Reviews
- Ask every happy customer, at the right moment
- Use a short link or QR code
- Reply to every review, personally
- Never buy, swap or incentivise reviews
Questions and answers
Add the questions customers ask most, with clear answers. It helps people decide and gives search engines more to understand.
Mistakes to avoid
- Keyword-stuffing your business name
- Showing a home address for a service-area business
- Duplicate profiles
- Mismatched phone numbers across the web
Want us to set it up or manage it for you? See our Google Business Profile service.
