A 15-minute Google Business Profile checkup any business can do
Your Google profile is often the first thing customers see. Grab your phone and a coffee. This checklist walks you through what to check, what to fix, and what to keep doing.
For a lot of businesses, the Google Business Profile matters more than the website. It’s the box that appears when someone searches your name or looks for what you offer nearby, with your phone number, hours, photos and reviews all in one place. Many people call, get directions or decide against you without ever clicking through to your site.
The good news: checking it takes about fifteen minutes. Grab your phone, because that’s how most customers will see it.
Step 1: Search for yourself like a customer (2 minutes)
On your phone, search your business name and city. Then search for what you do plus "near me." Notice:
- Does your profile show up for your name?
- Does anything look outdated, wrong or missing at first glance?
- Are there any duplicate listings for your business?
Duplicates are more common than people think, especially after a move or a name change. They confuse customers and should be cleaned up.
Step 2: Confirm you actually own it (2 minutes)
On a computer, go to Google Business Profile and sign in with the account you think manages it. If you can’t get in, or you’re not sure who set it up, fix this first. Former employees, old agencies and long-forgotten email addresses are common culprits.
Make sure at least two trusted people at your business have access, with one as the primary owner.
Step 3: Check the basics (4 minutes)
Go through each of these and fix anything that’s not exactly right:
- Business name. Your real name, as it appears on your sign. No extra keywords stuffed in.
- Phone number. Call it. Does someone answer, or does it go to a working voicemail?
- Address and service area. Is the pin in the right spot on the map?
- Hours. Including weekends, and special hours for upcoming holidays.
- Website link. Does it work, and does it go to the right page?
- Primary category. This is one of the most important settings. Choose the one that best describes your main business.
- Description. Plain language about what you do and who you help.
Step 4: Look at your photos (3 minutes)
Scroll through your photos as a stranger would. Are they recent? Are they real photos of your business, or blurry uploads from customers years ago? Is there a clear photo of your entrance, so people recognize you when they arrive?
Add a few recent, real photos today. Even good phone photos are a big upgrade over nothing.
Step 5: Check your reviews (3 minutes)
Open your reviews and sort by newest. Count how many have no response from you. Start replying, beginning with the most recent ones. Keep replies short, specific and professional. Thank people for positive reviews, and for negative ones, acknowledge the experience and invite them to contact you directly.
Step 6: Plan to keep it active (1 minute)
A profile that never changes can look abandoned. Put a recurring reminder on your calendar to:
- Add a few new photos every month
- Reply to new reviews within a few days
- Update hours before every holiday
- Share an update or offer when something is happening
A quick word on rankings
Following this checklist will not magically put you at the top of Google, and nobody can honestly promise that. What it does is make sure everything in your control is accurate, complete and active. That’s the foundation that everything else is built on, and it means that when people do find you, they like what they see.
If you would rather hand this off entirely, it’s one of the first things Brandwagon Digital takes care of for every client.
Want this handled for you?
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How we help with Google Profile & Local Search