You’re running a local business, and your Google Business Profile (GBP) isn’t just a nice extra – it can really be the difference between thriving and struggling.
Here’s the thing: 76% of people who search for a local business on their phone end up visiting that business within 24 hours. But if they can’t find you, they can’t visit!
Most business owners I chat with find themselves in the same spot:
- They’ve claimed their GBP
- Added the basics
- Posted a few updates
- Uploaded some photos
- And then… nothing much happens.
They’re doing all the right things but still not showing up when local customers search.
So, what’s missing? Service Categories!
Here’s a simple tweak that can seriously boost your visibility: setting up your service categories properly.
Many business owners pick just one or two primary categories and forget about the secondary ones. That little slip-up can really limit how often you show up.
Google uses these categories to decide which local searches your business appears in. Miss a category that fits you, and you’ll be invisible for those searches – even if you’re the perfect fit.
Here’s a quick example – Mark owns a plumbing business:
- Before he has just one category, “Plumber”
- Showing up only for straightforward “plumber” searches
When we added seven secondary categories like “Emergency Plumbing Service,” “Bathroom Renovation Contractor,” “Gas Engineer,” and more:
- Mark started getting enquiries from lots more local searches!
How to fix your profile in less than 10 minutes:
- Log into your Google Business Profile
- Head to the “Info” section
- Click “Edit” next to your business category
- Make sure your primary category reflects your main service
- Click “Add another category” to include secondary services
- Add all relevant categories (Google lets you add up to 10)
- Save it all
One tip most miss: don’t just add similar categories – add ones that show specific services you offer that customers might search for.
For example, if you’re a dentist, don’t just pick “Dentist.” Add “Cosmetic Dentist,” “Emergency Dentist,” “Paediatric Dentist,” and so on, if those services apply.
Why does this work so well?
Because people don’t just search for generic businesses anymore – they look for specific solutions to their problems.
By listing detailed service categories, you’re telling Google, “Hey, show my business when someone needs exactly this.”
A quick heads-up: only add categories for services you actually provide. Adding irrelevant ones might get you noticed briefly but can hurt your conversion rates and might even cause problems with Google.
It’s not about tricking the system – it’s about making sure Google connects the right customers with your full range of services.
Want more local visibility?
This category fix is just one way to boost your profile. If you’d like to chat about other ideas to help your business shine locally, just give me a shout.
Or try this tip yourself today – it really takes less than 10 minutes and could be the best thing you do this quarter!
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