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A practical Google Business Profile checklist for service businesses
Ten items to review this week, in the order most owners should tackle them.
By Meredythe Tecson. . 6 min read.
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a prospect sees, before your website. It is free, it is yours, and it is frequently incomplete. Work through this list with your profile open in another tab.
Accuracy first
- Business name matches your real-world signage and paperwork, with no extra keywords.
- Primary category describes your core service. Add secondary categories only where they truly apply.
- Phone number reaches a person or a monitored voicemail during listed hours.
- Service areas reflect where you genuinely work. Hide your address if customers do not visit you.
- Hours, including holiday hours, are current.
Then completeness
- Services are listed individually with short, plain descriptions.
- Photos show real jobs, your team and your vehicles, not stock images.
- The website link goes to the most relevant page, not just the homepage.
- Questions and answers include the ones customers actually ask on the phone.
- Reviews receive a short, specific response within a few days.
What to avoid
Do not add a virtual office or a relative's address to appear in another town. Do not offer incentives for reviews. Both violate Google guidelines and can lead to suspension, which is far more costly than slow progress.