Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a customer sees — it powers the map results and “near me” searches. Set it up by claiming and verifying it, picking the right primary category, adding photos and services, listing your service areas, and gathering reviews. It works best paired with a website.
Why it matters
For local trades, the Google Business Profile is the single biggest free lever for getting found. It feeds the map pack at the top of local results, the “near me” searches, and increasingly the AI answers people now rely on. Done well, it brings calls before anyone even reaches your website.
How to set it up
- Claim and verify your profile at business.google.com.
- Pick the right primary category for your trade — be specific.
- Add your service areas — the suburbs you actually cover.
- Add real photos of your work, your van and your team.
- List your services and keep your hours and contact details accurate.
- Ask happy customers for reviews — and reply to them.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a vague category — it weakens your local ranking.
- Leaving photos and services blank — a thin profile underperforms.
- Inconsistent name, address and phone across the web.
- Ignoring reviews — they're a major trust and ranking signal.
Pair it with a website
A Google Business Profile gets you seen; a website closes the deal — it ranks for your services, looks professional, and captures the enquiry. Every Scalesites build connects to your profile from the start. See more in our local SEO guide for tradies.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Google Business Profile free?
+
Yes — it's free to claim and manage. The effort is in setting it up properly and keeping it current with photos, services and reviews.
Do I need a website as well as a Google Business Profile?
+
They work best together. The profile gets you into the map results; a website reinforces it, ranks for your services, and captures the enquiry. Scalesites connects the two on every build.
How do I get more reviews?
+
Ask every happy customer, make it easy with a direct link, and reply to the ones you get. Steady, genuine reviews lift both your ranking and your conversion.