Oct 8, 2026
How to Optimise Your Google Business Profile
Marketing
Guides
Recent
The Question
How do you optimise your Google Business Profile so local customers choose you?
The Approach
Complete every section and keep it up to date
A Google Business Profile helps local customers find you and decide whether to get in touch. It is free, but it must be accurate and kept up to date. Google's own Business Profile help centre is the best source for current features and rules.
Claim and complete your profile
Search for your business and check whether a profile already exists, then claim and verify it. Choose the most accurate main category, since it has a large influence on the searches you appear for. Add secondary categories only where they truly apply. Then complete the basics: services, opening hours, a clear description, your website address and real photos of your premises, team and work.
Keep your details consistent
Your name, address and phone number should match your website and other listings exactly. Small differences, such as an old phone number or a different suite name, confuse customers and can weaken your local presence. Link the profile to the most relevant page on your site, which may be a service page or location page rather than the homepage.
Follow Google's guidelines
Use your real business name and only list locations where you genuinely operate. Avoid keyword stuffing in your name, fake addresses or virtual offices, which can lead to suspension. If you travel to customers rather than welcome them on site, set up a service area and hide your address. Google's spam policies reflect the same principle: honest information wins.
Collect and answer reviews
Ask happy customers for reviews soon after a job is done, perhaps with a short message that includes your review link. Reply to all of them, including critical ones, politely and specifically. A calm response to a bad review often reassures future customers more than a perfect score. Never buy reviews, write your own or offer incentives, as these breach Google's rules and can damage trust.
Keep your website in step
Your profile and your site should tell the same story. Make sure service pages use the same names, areas and descriptions, and consider adding structured data so search engines can read your business details clearly. Our on-page SEO checklist covers the page elements to review.
Profile maintenance
Update hours for bank holidays and seasonal changes
Post news and offers regularly
Add new photos every month or so
Answer questions and check for incorrect suggested edits
Review the insights to see how customers find and contact you
The Takeaway
A profile that is complete and active gives customers more reasons to choose you, and it takes only a short monthly routine to maintain. Treat it as part of your shop window, not a one-off setup. Track calls and direction requests alongside your wider numbers, as in our guide to SEO reporting, and see how earning backlinks without buying them can strengthen local authority. For help with your local presence, speak to our SEO and growth marketing team.
In other news
(TT® — LDN, UK)
©2026 the think
FAQ
01
What does a project look like?
02
What are your payment terms?
03
How much does a project cost?
04
How long do projects typically take?
05
How do we measure success?
06
What do we need to get started?
07
Will we be able to manage the site ourselves?
08
Why choose The Think over hiring in-house?
Oct 8, 2026
How to Optimise Your Google Business Profile
Marketing
Guides
Recent
The Question
How do you optimise your Google Business Profile so local customers choose you?
The Approach
Complete every section and keep it up to date
A Google Business Profile helps local customers find you and decide whether to get in touch. It is free, but it must be accurate and kept up to date. Google's own Business Profile help centre is the best source for current features and rules.
Claim and complete your profile
Search for your business and check whether a profile already exists, then claim and verify it. Choose the most accurate main category, since it has a large influence on the searches you appear for. Add secondary categories only where they truly apply. Then complete the basics: services, opening hours, a clear description, your website address and real photos of your premises, team and work.
Keep your details consistent
Your name, address and phone number should match your website and other listings exactly. Small differences, such as an old phone number or a different suite name, confuse customers and can weaken your local presence. Link the profile to the most relevant page on your site, which may be a service page or location page rather than the homepage.
Follow Google's guidelines
Use your real business name and only list locations where you genuinely operate. Avoid keyword stuffing in your name, fake addresses or virtual offices, which can lead to suspension. If you travel to customers rather than welcome them on site, set up a service area and hide your address. Google's spam policies reflect the same principle: honest information wins.
Collect and answer reviews
Ask happy customers for reviews soon after a job is done, perhaps with a short message that includes your review link. Reply to all of them, including critical ones, politely and specifically. A calm response to a bad review often reassures future customers more than a perfect score. Never buy reviews, write your own or offer incentives, as these breach Google's rules and can damage trust.
Keep your website in step
Your profile and your site should tell the same story. Make sure service pages use the same names, areas and descriptions, and consider adding structured data so search engines can read your business details clearly. Our on-page SEO checklist covers the page elements to review.
Profile maintenance
Update hours for bank holidays and seasonal changes
Post news and offers regularly
Add new photos every month or so
Answer questions and check for incorrect suggested edits
Review the insights to see how customers find and contact you
The Takeaway
A profile that is complete and active gives customers more reasons to choose you, and it takes only a short monthly routine to maintain. Treat it as part of your shop window, not a one-off setup. Track calls and direction requests alongside your wider numbers, as in our guide to SEO reporting, and see how earning backlinks without buying them can strengthen local authority. For help with your local presence, speak to our SEO and growth marketing team.
In other news
(TT® — LDN, UK)
©2026 the think
FAQ
01
What does a project look like?
02
What are your payment terms?
03
How much does a project cost?
04
How long do projects typically take?
05
How do we measure success?
06
What do we need to get started?
07
Will we be able to manage the site ourselves?
08
Why choose The Think over hiring in-house?
Oct 8, 2026
How to Optimise Your Google Business Profile
Marketing
Guides
Recent
The Question
How do you optimise your Google Business Profile so local customers choose you?
The Approach
Complete every section and keep it up to date
A Google Business Profile helps local customers find you and decide whether to get in touch. It is free, but it must be accurate and kept up to date. Google's own Business Profile help centre is the best source for current features and rules.
Claim and complete your profile
Search for your business and check whether a profile already exists, then claim and verify it. Choose the most accurate main category, since it has a large influence on the searches you appear for. Add secondary categories only where they truly apply. Then complete the basics: services, opening hours, a clear description, your website address and real photos of your premises, team and work.
Keep your details consistent
Your name, address and phone number should match your website and other listings exactly. Small differences, such as an old phone number or a different suite name, confuse customers and can weaken your local presence. Link the profile to the most relevant page on your site, which may be a service page or location page rather than the homepage.
Follow Google's guidelines
Use your real business name and only list locations where you genuinely operate. Avoid keyword stuffing in your name, fake addresses or virtual offices, which can lead to suspension. If you travel to customers rather than welcome them on site, set up a service area and hide your address. Google's spam policies reflect the same principle: honest information wins.
Collect and answer reviews
Ask happy customers for reviews soon after a job is done, perhaps with a short message that includes your review link. Reply to all of them, including critical ones, politely and specifically. A calm response to a bad review often reassures future customers more than a perfect score. Never buy reviews, write your own or offer incentives, as these breach Google's rules and can damage trust.
Keep your website in step
Your profile and your site should tell the same story. Make sure service pages use the same names, areas and descriptions, and consider adding structured data so search engines can read your business details clearly. Our on-page SEO checklist covers the page elements to review.
Profile maintenance
Update hours for bank holidays and seasonal changes
Post news and offers regularly
Add new photos every month or so
Answer questions and check for incorrect suggested edits
Review the insights to see how customers find and contact you
The Takeaway
A profile that is complete and active gives customers more reasons to choose you, and it takes only a short monthly routine to maintain. Treat it as part of your shop window, not a one-off setup. Track calls and direction requests alongside your wider numbers, as in our guide to SEO reporting, and see how earning backlinks without buying them can strengthen local authority. For help with your local presence, speak to our SEO and growth marketing team.
FAQ
What does a project look like?
What are your payment terms?
How much does a project cost?
How long do projects typically take?
How do we measure success?
What do we need to get started?
Will we be able to manage the site ourselves?
Why choose The Think over hiring in-house?