The Google Business Profile Checklist for Local Businesses

Most profiles are seventy percent complete and stay that way for years. Working through the rest takes an afternoon and is the cheapest local visibility work available.

Core information

• Business name exactly as it appears on your signage — no keyword stuffing
• The most specific primary category that fits, plus relevant secondary categories
• Complete address, or a defined service area if you travel to customers
• A local phone number that rings somewhere staffed
• Hours, including special hours for holidays
• A website link pointing to the most relevant page, not always the homepage

Services and products

Add every service individually with a real description. Most businesses skip this section entirely, which means their competitors get a relevance signal they don't.

Photos

Real photos of real work, added regularly. Exterior shots help customers find you. Team photos build trust. Stock imagery does neither and is obvious.

Reviews

Ask consistently, respond to every review, and never buy them. A steady trickle of recent reviews outperforms a burst of fifty from two years ago.

Keep it alive

Post updates, keep the Q&A section answered, and revisit hours and services quarterly. A stale profile slowly loses ground to an active one.