If you’re a local business owner, optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) (formerly known as Google My Business) is one of the most powerful things you can do to boost local visibility and attract more customers. Whether you’re running a café, a service business, or a local store, your Google listing is often the first impression potential customers have of you.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to optimize your Google Business Profile, step by step — with practical tips you can apply right away.

Why Google Business Profile Optimization Matters

Your Google Business Profile shows up when people search for your business or related services in their area. A well-optimized GBP helps you:

• Appear in local search results and Google Maps

• Gain customer trust with accurate and complete information

• Attract more phone calls, direction requests, and website visits

• Showcase your products, services, and reviews to stand out from competitors

Think of it as your digital storefront — always open, always visible.

Step-by-Step: How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile

1. Claim and Verify Your Business

Before anything else, make sure you’ve claimed your Google Business Profile and verified ownership. This gives you full control over the information shown to users.

• Go to google.com/business

• Sign in with your Google account

• Search for your business and claim it (or add a new one if it doesn’t exist)

• Complete the verification process (usually via postcard, phone, or email)

Pro Tip: Verification is crucial. Without it, your edits won’t be published, and your profile won’t perform well in local search.

2. Add Complete and Accurate Business Info

Fill out every section of your profile carefully. Consistency matters — your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) should match exactly across all online platforms.

Include:

• Business Name (as it appears in the real world)

• Business Category (choose the most relevant one)

• Address and Service Area

• Business Hours (including holiday hours)

• Phone Number

• Website URL

• Business Description

Pro Tip: Use keywords naturally in your business description, such as “affordable dental clinic in Glasgow” or “trusted home cleaning services in London.”

3. Write an Engaging Business Description

Your business description is your chance to tell potential customers who you are, what you do, and what makes you different.

Best practices:

• Keep it under 750 characters

• Highlight your services, mission, or unique selling points

• Include relevant local SEO keywords naturally

Example:

“We’re a family-owned café in Los Angeles serving locally roasted coffee and fresh pastries daily. With cozy seating and free Wi-Fi, we’re your perfect work or hangout spot!”

4. Choose the Right Business Categories and Attributes

Google allows you to select one primary category and multiple secondary categories. Choose the one that best matches your main service.

• Example: A pizza place might choose “Pizza Restaurant” as primary, and “Italian Restaurant” or “Takeout Restaurant” as secondary.

• Add relevant attributes like “Wheelchair accessible,” “Free Wi-Fi,” or “LGBTQ+ friendly.”

These help your listing show up for more relevant local searches.

5. Upload High-Quality Photos and Videos

Photos make your profile more engaging and trustworthy. Businesses with photos get more clicks, calls, and direction requests.

Recommended visuals:

• Logo and cover photo

• Interior and exterior photos of your location

• Team photos

• Product or service photos

• Short videos showcasing your work or behind-the-scenes moments

Pro Tip: Add new photos regularly to keep your profile fresh and active in Google’s eyes.

6. Get and Respond to Customer Reviews

Reviews are a major local SEO ranking factor and influence consumer trust.

• Ask happy customers to leave a review on Google

• Respond to every review — thank happy reviewers and professionally address negative ones

• Never buy fake reviews — authenticity matters

Example response:

“Thank you for your kind words, Sara! We’re so glad you loved the service and hope to see you again soon!”

7. Post Regularly on Your Profile

Google Posts let you share updates, offers, events, or tips directly on your profile.

• Add a new post weekly (or at least monthly)

• Use eye-catching images and include a call-to-action like “Call now” or “Learn more”

• Posts expire after 7 days, so stay consistent

These posts not only engage customers but also signal to Google that your profile is active.

8. Enable Messaging and Calls (If Applicable)

You can let customers message you directly from your profile via the Google Business app. This is great for inquiries and quick communication.

• Turn on messaging from your Google Business dashboard or mobile app

• Respond promptly — response time affects user experience and visibility

9. Track Performance and Optimize Regularly

Use the “Insights” tab in your Google Business dashboard to track:

• How many people found you on Google

• What actions they took (called, visited your site, requested directions)

• What keywords did they search to find you

Use this data to update your description, add more relevant posts, or improve your photos.

Final Thoughts

Optimizing your Google Business Profile isn’t just a one-time task — it’s an ongoing process that helps you build visibility, trust, and leads. The more complete and active your profile, the better your chances of ranking in the Local 3-Pack (the top 3 Google Map listings).

If you don’t have time to manage it yourself, consider hiring a Local SEO experts with remote working experience in UAS, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand etc. I can be your growth partner — from setup to monthly optimization.

Got questions or need help with your GBP? Feel free to contact me — I’m always here to help local businesses grow!