Google Business Profile Optimisation Checklist

Step 1: Basic Business Information Setup

• Tip: Ensure your business name is exactly how it appears on your legal documents and does not include additional keywords (e.g., “John’s Plumbing” is correct, but “John’s Best Plumbing Service in Perth” would violate Google’s guidelines).
• Example: Smith Plumbing Services

• Tip: Double-check your address to ensure it is accurate and follows Google’s format (e.g., no PO boxes). This is critical for local SEO and ensures that your business shows up on Google Maps.
• Example: 123 Main Street, Busselton, WA 6280

• Tip: List the areas where you provide services. If you’re a local service provider, this should cover your entire geographical reach (e.g., towns, neighbourhoods, cities). This helps your business appear in searches for surrounding areas.
• Example: Busselton, Dunsborough, South West WA

Step 2: Business Description Optimisation

• Max characters: 750
• Tip: Place your most important keywords (like service type and location) in the first 250 characters for optimal visibility. Make it clear what your business does and where it operates.
• Example: “We offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services across Busselton and South West WA, specialising in drain cleaning, pipe repairs, and leak detection for residential and commercial clients.”

• Tip: Avoid keyword stuffing. Use secondary keywords like additional services or surrounding locations naturally in your business description.
• Example: “Our team also handles water heater installations, bathroom renovations, and general plumbing repairs throughout Dunsborough.”

Step 3: Choose Accurate Business Categories

• Tip: Choose the category that best describes your main business offering. This is the most important factor for showing up in relevant search results.
• Example: Plumber

• Tip: Add secondary categories to capture additional services your business offers. Google allows you to choose several categories, but they must be relevant to your business.
• Examples: Emergency Plumbing Service, Drain Cleaning Service, Water Heater Repair Service

Step 4: Add Products and Services

• Tip: Include service-based keywords for each service. This helps users (and Google) understand what you offer and where. Be as specific as possible.
• Example: “Drain Cleaning in Busselton”

• Tip: Write brief, keyword-rich descriptions for each service or product, focusing on how it benefits customers in your area.
• Example: “Our 24/7 emergency drain cleaning service ensures that homes and businesses in Busselton have reliable solutions for clogged or blocked drains.”

Step 5: Business Hours and Attributes

• Tip: Ensure that your hours are accurate and reflect any special operating times (e.g., holidays). If you’re available 24/7, make sure that’s clearly noted.
• Example: Open 24/7

• Tip: Choose additional attributes that apply to your business, such as “Free Wi-Fi” or “Wheelchair accessible.” This can improve search visibility when users filter results by these attributes.
• Examples: Online Appointments, Free Wi-Fi, Open 24 Hours

Step 6: Add High-Quality Images

• Tip: Use high-quality images that showcase your storefront, services, or products. Include a profile photo, cover photo, and interior/exterior shots.
• Required Images: Profile photo, cover photo, and at least three interior/exterior images

• Tip: Use high-resolution images (1024×576 pixels or higher). Don’t forget to add alt text that describes the image and includes a keyword.
• Example: “Smith Plumbing van outside customer’s home in Busselton”

Step 7: Manage Reviews

• Tip: Send follow-up emails or request reviews after a service is completed. Positive reviews can significantly boost your local SEO rankings.

• Tip: Regularly check and respond to both positive and negative reviews. A thoughtful response shows your business cares about customer satisfaction, improving credibility and trust.
• Example: “Thank you for your kind words! We’re glad we could help with your emergency plumbing issue.”

Step 8: Add Regular Updates with Google Posts

• Tip: Google Posts are a great way to share updates, offers, and promotions. Use them to announce seasonal deals or events, and include a local keyword in each post to improve visibility.
• Example: “Get 10% off all drain cleaning services in Busselton this month!”

• Tip: Include a clear call-to-action to drive customer engagement. This can lead to bookings, calls, or visits to your website.
• Examples: Book Now, Call Today, Learn More

Step 9: Tracking Performance with Insights

• Tip: Use Google Business Profile Insights to track how customers find your profile, how often it shows up in searches, and what actions people take (e.g., visiting your website, calling you).
• Metrics to track: Profile views, customer actions (e.g., calls, website clicks), and search queries.

• Tip: Look at the most common search terms that lead users to your profile and adjust your keyword strategy accordingly. Focus on the terms that bring the most traffic.
• Example: If most users search for “24-hour plumbing Busselton,” ensure this keyword is prominent in your description and services.