How to set up and optimize your Google Business Profile
Short answerTo get the most from your Google Business Profile, claim and verify it, choose the most accurate primary category, fill in every relevant field (hours, services, description, website, photos), keep it updated, and respond to reviews. Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence, and a complete, accurate profile helps with relevance.
Why your profile matters
For many local searches, your Google Business Profile is the first thing a customer sees, often before your website. Google explains that local results are based mainly on three factors: relevance (how well your profile matches the search), distance and prominence (how well known your business is) (Google Business Profile Help). You can't change your distance, but you can make your profile complete and accurate.
Step by step
- Claim and verify your business at google.com/business. Verification options vary by business.
- Pick the most accurate primary category. It tells Google what you mainly do. Add secondary categories only if they truly apply.
- Use your real business name. Don't add keywords or city names that aren't part of your actual name; Google's guidelines don't allow it.
- Set regular and holiday hours and update them whenever they change.
- Add your services or menu, a short plain-language description, and your website link.
- Upload real photos of your storefront, team and work, and add new ones from time to time.
- Ask happy customers for reviews and reply to reviews, good and bad, politely and promptly.
- Keep it consistent with your website. Name, phone, hours and services should match everywhere.
Common mistakes
- Hours that weren't updated for holidays.
- A website link that points to an old page or a social profile.
- Duplicate profiles for the same location.
- Keyword-stuffed business names.
Google Business Profile help is included in every Alex Builds Studio plan. I keep your hours, services, photos and website link in sync with your site.
Written by Alex
Founder of Alex Builds Studio, an online-only web studio building websites for US local businesses. About Alex