Google Business Profile
The 10-Minute Google Business Profile Checklist for Plumbers, Builders and Electricians
Your Google Business Profile is the box that appears on Google Maps and at the top of local searches when someone types "plumber near me" or "electrician Yeovil". For most tradespeople it brings in more enquiries than their website, and getting the basics right takes about ten minutes.
Work through this checklist with your profile open on your phone.
1. Is your main category right?
Your primary category tells Google what you do. Pick the most specific one that fits, such as "Plumber", "Electrician" or "Builder", rather than something vague. You can then add secondary categories for other work, for example "Bathroom remodeler" or "Heating contractor".
2. Have you set your service area properly?
If you go to customers rather than them coming to you, set a service area and hide your home address. List the towns you actually want work in, such as Yeovil, Sherborne, Crewkerne or Martock, not the whole of the South West.
3. Are all your services listed?
Add every service you offer, with a short description of each. This helps Google match you to more searches, and it helps customers see straight away that you do the job they need.
4. Does your description sound like you?
You get 750 characters to describe your business. Use them. Say what you do, where you work, how long you've been doing it and what customers can expect. Write it the way you'd explain it on the phone, not like a brochure.
5. Are your photos recent and real?
Profiles with real, recent photos look busier and more trustworthy. Add photos of:
- Finished jobs, and before-and-after shots
- Your van, with your branding if you have it
- You and your team at work
Aim to add a few new photos every month. Every job is a chance to take one.
6. Are you asking every happy customer for a review?
Reviews are one of the biggest reasons people choose one tradesperson over another. The easiest way to get more is to ask at the right moment: when the job's finished and the customer is pleased. Send them your review link by WhatsApp or text the same day.
7. Are you replying to reviews?
Reply to every review, good or bad, within a couple of days. Thank people by name and mention the job and the town, for example "Thanks Sarah, glad the new boiler in Sherborne is keeping you warm." It shows you care, and it helps future customers see the kind of work you do.
8. Are you posting updates?
Google lets you post updates, offers and photos to your profile, much like social media. Posting once a week shows Google and customers that your business is active. A finished job with a photo and two lines of text is plenty.
9. Are your details the same everywhere?
Your business name, phone number and website should match exactly across your Google profile, your website, Facebook and any directories. Mismatched details confuse Google and can hold you back.
10. Is your website linked?
Make sure your profile links to your website, ideally to a page that makes it easy to get in touch, with a WhatsApp or call button front and centre.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to see results from Google Business Profile?
Some changes, like better photos and a clearer description, can make a difference to enquiries quite quickly. Reviews and regular posts build up over months.
Do I need a website if I have a Google Business Profile?
The two work best together. Your profile gets you found, and your website gives people the detail and confidence to get in touch.
Can someone manage my Google Business Profile for me?
Yes. That's part of what our monthly marketing packages cover: you send us photos from the job, and we turn them into Google posts that keep your profile active.
Free download: the 10-Minute Google Business Profile Checklist
Want the whole checklist on one printable page? Pop your details in and we'll email it straight over, along with a few short tips on getting more local enquiries over the next couple of weeks. You can unsubscribe any time.
Want us to look after it for you?
If you'd rather stay on the tools, our monthly marketing packages start from £150 a month and include regular Google Business Profile posts built from your own job photos. Message us on WhatsApp using the green button and we'll take a look at your profile for you.