Before you spend a dollar on advertising, before you build a website, before you do anything else — claim and optimize your Google Business Profile. It's free, it's powerful, and most contractors are leaving enormous amounts of business on the table by not using it properly.
What Is a Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the listing that appears in Google Maps and the local 'pack' — the three businesses shown at the top of local search results. When someone searches 'plumber near me' in San Antonio, the three businesses in the map pack get the majority of calls.
Getting into that map pack is one of the highest-value things you can do for your business. And it starts with a fully optimized Google Business Profile.
The 10-Point Optimization Checklist
- ▸Claim and verify your listing (if you haven't already)
- ▸Complete every field — business name, address, phone, website, hours
- ▸Choose the right primary category (e.g., 'Plumber' not 'Contractor')
- ▸Add all relevant secondary categories
- ▸Upload 20+ high-quality photos of your work, team, and equipment
- ▸Write a keyword-rich business description (750 characters)
- ▸Add all your services with descriptions and prices
- ▸Enable messaging so customers can text you directly
- ▸Set up Q&A with pre-populated answers to common questions
- ▸Post weekly updates, offers, and project photos
Reviews: The #1 Ranking Factor
Google reviews are the single most important factor in local search rankings. A business with 50 reviews and a 4.8 rating will almost always outrank a business with 5 reviews and a 5.0 rating. The volume of reviews signals to Google that your business is active and trusted.
The best time to ask for a review is immediately after completing a job. Send a text with a direct link to your Google review page. Most satisfied customers will leave a review if you make it easy.
How Your Website and GBP Work Together
Your Google Business Profile and your website are two parts of the same system. Google looks at your website to verify the information in your GBP — your name, address, phone number, and services. When your website has structured data (JSON-LD) that matches your GBP exactly, Google rewards you with higher rankings in both organic search and the map pack.
"Every site we build includes Google Business Profile integration — structured data that signals to Google exactly who you are, where you are, and what you do."
The Ongoing Maintenance
A Google Business Profile isn't a set-it-and-forget-it tool. Google rewards active profiles. Post weekly, respond to every review (positive and negative), add new photos regularly, and update your hours for holidays. This ongoing activity signals to Google that your business is alive and engaged.
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