Google Business Profile Optimization: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your Google Business Profile is the listing that appears in Google Maps and in the map section of local searches. For many local businesses it gets more views than their website. Google Business Profile optimization is often the fastest way to show up for searches in your area, and it is free.

Step 1: Claim and Verify Your Profile

Search for your business on Google. If a profile exists, claim it. If not, create one at Google Business Profile. Google will ask you to verify that you own the business, which may involve a video, phone, email or postcard depending on your situation.

Step 2: Get the Basics Exactly Right

1. Business name: use your real-world name. Adding keywords or locations that are not part of your name breaks Google's guidelines and can get your profile suspended
2. Address or service area: show your address if customers visit you; hide it and set service areas if you travel to customers
3. Phone number: use a local number that matches your website
4. Website: link to your home page or the most relevant location page
5. Hours: keep regular and holiday hours accurate

Step 3: Choose the Right Categories

Your primary category is one of the strongest factors for which searches you appear in. Choose the most specific category that describes your main business, then add secondary categories for other core services.

Step 4: Add Services and Products

List each service with a short description. This helps Google match you to more searches and helps customers understand what you offer.

Step 5: Write a Helpful Description

Explain what you do, who you help and where, in natural language. Mention what makes you different, but avoid keyword stuffing and links.

Step 6: Upload Real Photos Regularly

Add your logo, a cover photo, photos of your premises, team and work. Real, recent photos build trust and keep your profile active. Make sure your logo looks sharp at small sizes. Our logo design service can help.

Step 7: Collect and Respond to Reviews

Reviews influence rankings and decisions. Ask happy customers with a direct review link, and reply to every review. Read more about Google reviews.

Step 8: Use Google Posts

Share offers, events, news and recent projects. Posts show customers you are active and give them more reasons to choose you.

Step 9: Answer Questions

Watch for questions on your profile and answer them promptly and clearly.

Step 10: Connect It to a Strong Website

Google looks at your website to confirm what your business does and where. Make sure your site lists the same name, address and phone number, has pages for each main service and uses local business schema. A mobile-friendly website also helps customers who click through from Maps.

Common Google Business Profile Mistakes

1. Stuffing keywords into the business name
2. Using a virtual office or PO box as an address
3. Creating duplicate profiles
4. Letting hours go out of date
5. Ignoring reviews, especially negative ones

Get Help Optimising Your Profile

Onealsweb helps businesses in Cochrane, Calgary and across Alberta set up and optimise their Google Business Profile as part of a complete local SEO strategy. Contact us to make sure your profile is working as hard as it can.