Google Business Profile Optimisation: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is often the first thing customers see about you. Use this checklist to optimise your Google Business Profile and make sure nothing important is missing.

Basics

• Profile is claimed and verified
• Only one profile exists for this location
• Business name matches your real-world name exactly
• Address is accurate, or the address is hidden with service areas set if you visit customers
• Phone number is correct and answered during listed hours
• Website link points to the most relevant page

Categories and services

• Primary category is the most specific match for your main service
• Relevant secondary categories added
• Every service listed, with a short description
• Products added with photos and prices where relevant

Description and attributes

• Description (up to 750 characters) explains what you do, who you serve and what makes you different, written for people, not stuffed with keywords
• Opening date added
• Attributes selected (for example online appointments, women-owned, wheelchair accessible)

Hours

• Regular hours correct
• Special hours added for festivals and holidays (Diwali, Gurpurab, Lohri and others)

Photos and videos

• Logo and cover photo uploaded
• Exterior photos that help people recognise your location
• Interior, team and work photos
• New photos added every month
• Short videos of your work or premises

Posts

• At least one post a week: offers, updates, events or tips
• Each post has a photo and a call-to-action button

Reviews

• Review link shared with customers after every job or sale
• Every review replied to within a few days
• Negative reviews answered calmly with an offer to resolve offline
• No incentivised or fake reviews

Questions and answers

• Common questions answered clearly (owners can add and answer questions)

Messaging and bookings

• Booking or appointment link added if you take bookings
• WhatsApp or call buttons work

Mistakes that get profiles suspended

• Adding keywords or locations to the business name
• Using a virtual office or PO box address
• Creating multiple profiles for the same location
• Listing a home address for a business that doesn't serve customers there without hiding it

Measure

Check the Performance tab monthly for calls, messages, direction requests, website clicks and the searches that triggered your profile.

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