The 15-Minute Google Business Profile Checklist For Owners

When someone searches for your business, or for a business like yours nearby, your Google Business Profile is often the first thing they see, before your website and before any article. A complete, current profile is one of the simplest ways to win more customers. Set a timer for 15 minutes and work through this list.

The basics (5 minutes)

• Business name: exactly as it appears on your sign. Don’t add keywords or cities to it.
• Primary category: the single category that best describes what you do. It matters more than almost anything else on the profile. Add secondary categories only if they’re genuinely accurate.
• Address or service area: correct, and matching your website.
• Phone number: one that’s answered during business hours.
• Website: links to your homepage or the most relevant page.

Hours (2 minutes)

• Check your regular hours are current.
• Add holiday hours ahead of every holiday. Few things lose a customer faster than showing up to a locked door the profile said was open.

Description and details (3 minutes)

• Write a plain-language description of what you do, who you serve and what makes you different. Write for people, not search engines.
• Add your products or services with short descriptions.
• Fill in the attributes that apply to you, like accessibility, payment options and amenities.

Photos (3 minutes)

• Upload a clear logo and a cover photo.
• Add recent photos of your storefront, interior, products and team. Our phone photography guide covers what to shoot.
• Add a few new photos every month so the profile looks active.

Reviews (2 minutes, then every week)

• Reply to every review, good and bad. Thank people by name. Keep replies to criticism calm, short and specific about what you’ll do.
• Ask happy customers for a review. A small card at the counter or a line in your receipt email helps.
• Never pay for reviews or offer discounts in exchange for them. It breaks Google’s rules and can get reviews removed.

Keep it alive

Post an update when something changes: a new product, an event, new hours. And when you’re featured in a publication, share the article as a post. It’s third-party proof that you’re worth visiting.

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