The Google Business Profile checklist nobody finishes.
Eleven fields decide whether you show up in the map pack. Here's the 20-minute Google Business Profile checklist most local businesses never finish.
You claimed it, added a logo, and never went back. Meanwhile the competitor two streets over filled in every field and now sits above you in the map pack.
01 · Finish the boring fields
- Primary category chosen precisely, not generically.
- Every service listed as its own service item.
- Hours, including holiday hours, kept truthful.
- Service area matching where you actually go.
02 · Photos of work, not of stock
Ten real photos of finished jobs, the van, and the humans involved. Refresh a few every month — activity is a signal, and customers can tell stock imagery instantly.
Reviews are the ranking factor you can influence this afternoon.
03 · Ask, every single time
A short link, sent by text, the hour after the job is done. Reply to all of them — especially the bad ones, calmly and with specifics. That reply is read by everyone who comes after.
04 · Answer your own questions
You're allowed to post questions and answer them. Do it for pricing, callout fees, and how quickly you turn up. It removes the exact hesitations that stop people phoning.
05 · Quick answers
- How often should I post photos on my Google Business Profile? A few new photos a month is enough — recency is a signal, and customers spot stock imagery instantly.
- Do Google reviews really affect local ranking? Yes — review count, recency and your reply rate all factor into map pack placement.
- What if I get an unfair review? Reply calmly with specifics anyway. That reply is read by every future customer, not just the one who left it.
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