[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":166},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-\u002Fblog\u002Fgoogle-business-profile-for-local-businesses":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"date":152,"description":153,"extension":154,"image":155,"imageAlt":156,"meta":157,"navigation":158,"path":159,"seo":160,"stem":161,"tags":162,"__hash__":165},"blog\u002Fblog\u002Fgoogle-business-profile-for-local-businesses.md","Your free Google Business Profile, and how to get it working for you",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":141},"minimark",[9,13,18,21,25,28,69,73,76,80,83,86,97,101,104,108,111,125,129,132],[10,11,12],"p",{},"When someone searches for a local business, the first thing they often see is a map with a few names under it, plus phone numbers, opening hours and reviews. That's your Google Business Profile, and it's free. If you haven't claimed yours, or you set it up years ago and never looked at it again, it's worth an hour of your time.",[14,15,17],"h2",{"id":16},"claim-it-first","Claim it first",[10,19,20],{},"Search for your business name on Google. If a profile already exists, there will be an option to claim or manage it. If not, you can create one from the Google Business Profile site. Google will ask you to verify that the business is yours, usually with a code by post, phone or email depending on your business.",[14,22,24],{"id":23},"fill-in-every-section","Fill in every section",[10,26,27],{},"Profiles that are complete tend to be more useful to customers, and a half-empty profile looks neglected. Check these:",[29,30,31,39,45,51,57,63],"ul",{},[32,33,34,38],"li",{},[35,36,37],"strong",{},"Business name."," Use the name customers know you by, exactly as it appears on your sign or van. Don't stuff it with extra keywords.",[32,40,41,44],{},[35,42,43],{},"Category."," Pick the one that best describes your main service, then add a few others that genuinely apply.",[32,46,47,50],{},[35,48,49],{},"Opening hours."," Keep them right, including bank holidays. Wrong hours are one of the quickest ways to annoy a customer.",[32,52,53,56],{},[35,54,55],{},"Phone number and website."," Check the website link goes to a page that works properly on a phone.",[32,58,59,62],{},[35,60,61],{},"Service area."," If you travel to customers, list the areas you cover instead of publishing an address you'd rather keep private.",[32,64,65,68],{},[35,66,67],{},"Description."," Say what you do, who for and where, in plain language.",[14,70,72],{"id":71},"add-photos","Add photos",[10,74,75],{},"Real photos of your premises, your team and your work make a profile feel trustworthy. They don't need to be perfect. Clear, bright photos taken on a modern phone are fine. Add a few new ones now and again so the profile looks active.",[14,77,79],{"id":78},"reviews-matter-so-ask-for-them","Reviews matter, so ask for them",[10,81,82],{},"Most happy customers will leave a review if you ask and make it easy. The best time is right after a job goes well. Google gives you a direct link you can send by text or email, so there's no searching involved.",[10,84,85],{},"Some tips:",[29,87,88,91,94],{},[32,89,90],{},"Ask everyone, not just the customers you're sure will say yes",[32,92,93],{},"Reply to every review, good or bad, politely and briefly",[32,95,96],{},"Never offer discounts or favours in exchange for reviews, and never write your own. It's against Google's rules and customers can usually tell",[14,98,100],{"id":99},"keep-your-details-the-same-everywhere","Keep your details the same everywhere",[10,102,103],{},"Your name, address and phone number should match across your website, your profile, Facebook and any directories you're listed in. Small differences, like \"Rd\" in one place and \"Road\" in another, can confuse both people and search engines, so it's worth picking a format and sticking to it.",[14,105,107],{"id":106},"make-your-website-match","Make your website match",[10,109,110],{},"Your profile gets people to your door, and your website helps them decide. Make sure your site:",[29,112,113,116,119,122],{},[32,114,115],{},"Loads quickly and reads well on a phone",[32,117,118],{},"Shows your phone number, address and opening hours clearly",[32,120,121],{},"Has a page that describes each of your main services",[32,123,124],{},"Mentions the areas you cover, such as Leigh and the surrounding towns",[14,126,128],{"id":127},"a-five-minute-monthly-habit","A five-minute monthly habit",[10,130,131],{},"Once a month, open your profile, check your hours, reply to any new reviews and add a photo if you have one. That small routine keeps it accurate and active.",[10,133,134,135,140],{},"If you'd like help getting your website and your profile working together, ",[136,137,139],"a",{"href":138},"#contact","get in touch",".",{"title":142,"searchDepth":143,"depth":143,"links":144},"",2,[145,146,147,148,149,150,151],{"id":16,"depth":143,"text":17},{"id":23,"depth":143,"text":24},{"id":71,"depth":143,"text":72},{"id":78,"depth":143,"text":79},{"id":99,"depth":143,"text":100},{"id":106,"depth":143,"text":107},{"id":127,"depth":143,"text":128},"2026-09-02","Many local customers find you on Google Maps before they ever see your website. Here's how to set up and look after your free profile.","md","\u002Fblog\u002Fgoogle-business-profile.jpg","Someone holding a phone showing a map in front of a shop",{},true,"\u002Fblog\u002Fgoogle-business-profile-for-local-businesses",{"title":5,"description":153},"blog\u002Fgoogle-business-profile-for-local-businesses",[163,164],"Local SEO","Small business","5jgvzS73Qg1Y4W5uYATIyqISNaUqOeJW9EyQK4FFSvI",1792019792082]