Google Business Profile: A Complete Setup and Optimization Guide
For businesses that serve customers in a specific area, a complete Google Business Profile often brings more enquiries than the website itself.
Set up the basics
- Use your real business name, exactly as customers know it. Don't add keywords.
- Choose the most accurate primary category; add secondary ones only if true.
- Add address or service area, phone number, website and opening hours.
- Keep your details identical on your website and other listings.
Complete the profile
Add a clear description of what you do, your services and, where relevant, prices. Upload real photos: exterior, interior, team and finished work. Profiles with genuine photos tend to earn more engagement.
Reviews
Ask happy customers for a review right after a good experience, with a direct link. Reply to every review, professionally, including negative ones. Never buy reviews or offer rewards in exchange for them; this breaks Google's rules.
Post updates
Share offers, news and new work regularly. It shows the business is active.
Common mistakes
- Duplicate or outdated listings
- Wrong hours on holidays
- Ignoring questions and reviews
- Choosing too many irrelevant categories
Track results
Check the profile's insights for calls, direction requests and website clicks, and compare month to month.
Related reading
- How to Build a Marketing Plan for a Small Business
- The Marketing Funnel Explained: From Awareness to Repeat Customers
- Marketing Metrics That Matter: What to Track and What to Ignore
- SEO Basics for Small Business: A Practical Starting Guide