For a lot of local searches, your Google Business Profile is the first thing people see, before they ever click your website. If it is out of date or half filled out, you are handing customers to the competitor whose profile looks sharper.
The fix takes about ten minutes and you can do all of it from your phone. Here is when to check it and exactly what to clean up.
When to check it
- Right now, if you have not looked at it in the last few months.
- Any time your hours change, like holidays or seasonal hours.
- After you finish a job you are proud of, so you can post a fresh photo.
- When a customer leaves a review, so you can reply within a day or two.
A profile that gets touched regularly tells Google your business is active, and Google rewards active businesses with better placement in local results.
The 10-minute, phone-only checklist
1. Confirm the basics are right
Open your profile and double check your name, address, phone number, and website link. These need to match what is on your website exactly. Even small differences, like "St" versus "Street," can confuse Google and customers.
2. Fix your hours
Wrong hours are the fastest way to lose a customer and earn a bad review. Make sure regular hours are correct and add special hours for holidays. A "you said you were open" review hurts more than no review at all.
3. Add a few real photos
Profiles with recent, real photos get far more clicks than ones with none. You do not need a photographer. A clean shot of your storefront, your team, or a finished job, taken on your phone, works great. Add a couple every month.
The fix most owners skip
Pick your main category carefully, and add relevant secondary categories. This single setting has a big effect on which searches you show up for. Most owners set it once and never revisit it, even after their business grows or changes.
4. Reply to your reviews
Respond to every review, good or bad, in a sentence or two. A calm, friendly reply to a negative review often impresses future customers more than a perfect five-star average. It shows you care and you are paying attention.
5. Post something
Use the posts feature to share an update, an offer, or a recent project. It keeps your profile fresh and gives people one more reason to choose you. Even one short post a month helps.
Why this matters more than your website sometimes
When someone searches for what you do nearby, Google often shows the map and a few profiles before any website links. If your profile is the strongest one in that little box, you win the click, and the customer, before your website even comes up. Your website closes the deal. Your profile gets you in the room.
Want help getting found locally?
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