SEO

The Google Business Profile Checklist Every Local Business Should Run Through

A Google Business Profile that's only half filled out is one of the quietest ways a local business loses visibility. Here's what to actually check, in order.

The basics

Business name exactly as it appears in the real world, correct category as the primary category with relevant secondary categories added, accurate hours including holiday hours, and a real, complete address or service area. Small mismatches between what's on your profile and what's on your website, like a slightly different phone number, quietly hurt your local trust signals.

Photos and completeness

Real photos of your actual work, your team, and your location, kept current. A profile with old or generic stock photos reads as less trustworthy, and Google's own data shows profiles with more photos get more engagement.

Reviews and posts

A steady, honest flow of real reviews, responded to consistently, matters more here than almost anywhere else. Regular posts about real updates, offers, or projects also give Google fresh signals that the business is active, which is a real factor in how profiles get treated over time.

The easy ones people skip

A complete business description in your own words, the services or products section filled out specifically rather than left generic, and messaging turned on if you're willing to respond to it. None of these take long, and almost nobody finishes all of them, which is exactly why doing so is a real advantage.

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