Local SEO · 2 min read
Your Google Business Profile: a 20-minute checkup
A simple checklist to make sure people searching nearby can find you, trust you and contact you.
By Kreative Lab team ·
When someone searches "dentist near me" or "cafe in Sector 17", the first thing they often see is a Google Business Profile, not a website. Here's a checkup you can do yourself, today, with a cup of chai.
Minutes 1 to 5: the basics
Open your profile and check each of these is correct:
- Business name, exactly as it appears on your signboard. No extra keywords.
- Category. The primary category matters most. Pick the most specific one that fits.
- Address and map pin. Zoom in and make sure the pin is on your door, not the building next door.
- Phone number that someone actually answers.
- Hours, including special hours for festivals and holidays.
Minutes 6 to 10: photos
People look at photos before they call. Add recent, real photos of:
- The outside, so people recognise it when they arrive
- The inside, clean and well lit
- Your team at work
- Your products or a few finished jobs
Phone photos are fine. Real beats polished.
Minutes 11 to 15: reviews
Read your latest reviews and reply to every one, good or bad. Keep replies short, polite and specific. For a bad review, acknowledge the problem and offer to sort it out offline. Future customers read your replies as much as the reviews.
Then make it easy to get new reviews: Google gives you a short review link in the profile. Share it on WhatsApp with happy customers. Never buy reviews or offer something in exchange for a good one.
Minutes 16 to 20: posts and questions
- Add a post: an offer, an update, or a photo of recent work. Posts show on your profile and signal it's active.
- Check the Questions & answers section. Answer anything unanswered, and add the three questions you get asked most on the phone.
Make it a habit
A profile that is updated every week tends to look more trustworthy than one last touched two years ago. Put a 20-minute slot in your calendar every Monday.
We manage Google Business Profiles as part of our SEO & Local Visibility service. If you'd rather we did this checkup with you, book a free call.