In more detail
Getting on the map, and staying there
When someone searches for a service and a town, Google often answers with a map and a short list of businesses. Many people never scroll past it. They tap a name, glance at the photos and reviews, and call. If your business is not there, that customer may never know you exist.
Everything starts with your Google Business Profile. It is free, and it is the information Google uses for your map listing. If you have never claimed it, search for your business name on Google Maps. There may already be a listing created from public information, waiting for an owner. Claiming it and completing verification gives you control.
Categories are one of the most important choices you will make. Your primary category should describe your main service as precisely as possible. Add secondary categories only for services you genuinely provide. Then list your services individually in plain language, the way a customer would describe them.
Photos do a lot of quiet work. Real pictures of your premises, your team, your vehicles and your finished work show that you are a genuine, active business. Stock images do the opposite. Add new photos as you complete jobs so the profile always looks current.
Posts let you share news, offers, seasonal reminders and recent work directly on your profile. They are a simple signal that someone is looking after the business. Pair them with fast, polite replies to reviews and questions.
Check the basics too: opening hours, phone number, website link and the area you serve. If any of these are wrong, fix them first. Then try the test from the video. Search for your service and your town on your phone, the way a customer would, and see who appears. If it is the business down the road and not you, you now know where to start.
