Your Google Business Profile decides whether you appear in the map pack, the three businesses Google shows above the normal results. For most trades it brings more calls than the website does. Work through this list once, then keep the last three items going every month.
Set it up properly
- Use your real business name. Adding suburbs or keywords to the name breaks Google's guidelines and can get the profile suspended.
- Pick the most specific primary category. "Electrician" beats "Contractor". Add secondary categories only for work you actually do.
- Set a service area if you work from home. Hide your home address and list the suburbs you travel to instead.
- List every service. Add each service with a short description, for example "Switchboard upgrade" or "Hot water system replacement".
- Write a plain description. Say what you do, where, and what makes you different, in normal sentences.
- Add hours, phone and website. Use a tracked link to your site so you can see visits from the profile in Google Analytics.
- Match your details everywhere. Your name, phone and service area should read the same on your website and directories like True Local and Yellow Pages.
Keep it active
- Ask every happy customer for a review. Send the review link by SMS when the job is finished, while they are still pleased.
- Reply to every review. Thank people for good ones. Answer bad ones calmly and offer to fix the problem.
- Add photos of real jobs. Before-and-after shots, your van and your team. Fresh photos show Google the business is active.
When to get help
If you are set up correctly and still not in the top three for your main suburb, the problem is usually competition, reviews or your website. Our Google Business Profile service handles setup and monthly upkeep, or request a free audit to see where you stand.