5 Google Business Profile Checks You Can Make Yourself
If your Google Business Profile is incomplete or outdated, start with these five checks. The time required depends on what needs changing and whether you already have access to the profile.
1. Add clear, current photos. Choose images that help customers understand your business, such as your team, eligible customer-facing location, or work samples you have permission to share. There is no photo count in this checklist that guarantees more clicks.
2. Write a clear description. Explain your service, audience, and location in no more than 750 characters, including spaces. Check the character count before saving. Do not put URLs in the description; use the website field. Follow Google's description rules.
3. Check your categories. Choose the most accurate available primary category for your main business. Add other categories only when they describe services you actually provide. Category options can vary; do not copy a competitor's category if it is a poor fit.
4. Share a useful update. An accurate announcement, seasonal reminder, or explanation of a service can help people viewing your profile. Do not assume a posting schedule improves rankings. Google's local ranking guidance describes relevance, distance, and prominence, not a posting-frequency rule.
5. Respond helpfully to reviews. Acknowledge feedback and explain how someone can contact you privately when needed. Avoid disclosing client details. Do not treat response rate as a proven ranking signal.
Do a short review before editing
Open your profile as a customer would. Write down one observed issue for each of the five areas before changing anything. For example: “The cover photo shows a service we stopped offering” is more actionable than “photos need work.” Check that the website button reaches the right page and that a visitor can find a current way to contact you.
Prioritise factual errors first: wrong hours, an old phone number, a closed location, or a category that misrepresents the business. Then improve the description and visuals that help someone decide whether you fit their need. An update is useful when you have real news to share; it is not a substitute for correcting core details.
Keep a simple log with field, old value, new value, date changed, and reason. If someone else manages the profile, this helps them review the change. Use only photos and customer details you have permission to publish.
Record a baseline before making changes: profile interactions, website visits from the profile, and relevant inquiries. Review those measures over time. Results and timing vary, and a change in one metric does not prove which edit caused it.
For more detail, see the Google Business description guide and the guide to asking for honest reviews.