Lesson 5: Your Google Business Profile

When someone searches for what you do near them, your Google Business Profile is often what they see first, before your website. For a lot of local businesses it's the most valuable free marketing tool there is.

Google says local results come down to three things: relevance (do you match what they searched), distance, and prominence (how well-known and well-reviewed you are), according to Google's tips to improve your local ranking. You can't move your shop, but you can improve the other two.

Get the basics exactly right

Claim and verify it. Search your business name on Google. If you see "Own this business?", claim it.
Primary category. This is the most important choice on your profile. Pick the most specific one that matches your main offer from Lesson 1. "Emergency plumber" beats "Contractor" if that's what you lead with. Add a few secondary categories that also fit.
Name, address and phone. These must match your official version from Lesson 4 exactly.
Hours, including holiday hours. Wrong hours lead to annoyed customers and bad reviews.
Description. Start with your one-sentence offer, then your services and the area you serve. Plain words, no keyword stuffing.
Services. List them with short descriptions.
Photos. Real photos of your work, your team, your vehicle or your storefront. Add a few new ones every month.
Website and booking links. Point them to the page with your one main button.

Keep it alive

A profile that gets updated looks like a business that's open. Add photos, answer messages, and respond to reviews (that's the next lesson). For the full list, see our Google Business Profile checklist.

Do this today

Confirm you own and have verified your profile
Check your primary category against your main offer
Match your name, address and phone to Lesson 4
Update your hours, description and services, and add 5 real photos

Questions? Email mike@profitlinkpro.io, or reply to any course email. It comes straight to me. Mike