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Google Business Profile Checklist
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a new customer sees. Tick off the 15 essentials, watch your score climb, and get a short tip for everything still missing.
Your profile checklist
Open your Google Business Profile in another tab and tick each item that’s already done. Progress saves in this browser.
Profile score
Lots of easy wins ahead.
0 of 15 done
Fix these next
- Primary category is as specific as possible
Pick the narrowest category that fits, like “Emergency plumber” rather than “Contractor”. It’s one of the strongest signals for which searches you show up in.
- Regular and holiday hours are correct
Set holiday hours ahead of time. Customers who arrive to a closed door leave bad reviews.
- Website link points to a useful page
Link to your homepage or a page for this location, with your phone number and a quote or contact form near the top.
- Services or products listed
List each service with a short description, and a price or “from” price where you can.
- Address verified or service area set
Service-area businesses should hide the street address and list the towns or ZIP codes they cover.
- At least 10 real photos (logo, cover, team, work)
Use your own photos: the team, the van, before-and-after shots. Stock photos don’t build trust.
- Review link shared with every customer
Send your review link after every job and keep a QR code at the counter. Ask everyone, with no incentives.
Make your review link and QR code - Phone number goes to someone who answers
Use a number that’s answered in business hours, or forwards to someone who is. A missed call is often a lost job.
- Every review gets a reply
Reply to every review, good and bad, within a few days. Thank people by name and take complaints offline.
Get reply templates - Business description written (up to 750 characters)
Say what you do, where you work and what makes you different, in plain words. Lead with the most important part.
- Secondary categories added
Add the other services you’re known for as extra categories, but only ones you really offer.
- A post or update in the last 30 days
Post an offer, a recent project or a seasonal tip. Keep it short, with one photo and one call to action.
- New photos added in the last month
Add a couple of photos from recent jobs every month. It shows the business is active.
- Common questions answered
Answer the questions customers always ask (pricing, areas, emergencies) wherever your profile allows, and on your website’s FAQ.
- Attributes set (e.g. online estimates, accessibility)
Turn on every attribute that applies. They show as small badges and filters in Maps.
How to use it
- Open your Google Business Profile (search your business name on Google while signed in) in another tab.
- Go down the list and tick each item that’s already done.
- Work through “Fix these next”. The items with the most impact are listed first.
- Come back next month. Your ticks are saved in this browser, so you can pick up where you left off.
Questions
How is the score worked out?
Each item has a weight based on how much it tends to matter for local search and for customers deciding to call. Your score is the share of that total you’ve ticked, out of 100. It’s a guide, not a Google ranking.
Is my progress stored anywhere?
Only in your own browser’s local storage. Nothing is sent to WRSS. Clearing your browser data or using a private window resets it.
Will a perfect score get me to the top of Google Maps?
Not on its own. Distance to the searcher, your reviews and your website matter too. A complete profile makes sure you aren’t losing out on the parts you control.
How often should I update my profile?
Check hours and services whenever they change, and add a post and a few photos about once a month.
Want a website that does this for you?
Your profile’s website link should land on a page that turns visitors into calls. WRSS website templates are built for local service businesses, and we can build a custom site around your services if you need more.