A Google Business Profile drives the map pack. For an industrial business, the fixes are: the real business name with no keywords, the most accurate primary category, a verified real location (address hidden if customers don't visit), service areas, correct hours including holidays, real photos, and a website link to the matching page.
The Google Business Profile is the listing that appears in the map pack and on Google Maps. Google says local ranking is based mainly on relevance, distance and popularity, and the profile is where relevance starts.
The grader on this site doesn't read your profile; it grades your website only. Use this page as a checklist for the profile itself.
What does the work include?
| Name | Exactly the real-world name on your signs and paperwork. No city or service keywords. |
|---|---|
| Categories | The most specific accurate primary category, plus only the secondary categories that describe real core services. |
| Location type | Storefront if customers come to you, service-area business (address hidden) if you go to them, or hybrid. |
| Service areas | The areas you really serve. Google allows up to 20. |
| Hours | Regular hours, special hours for holidays, and more-hours fields (like delivery or pickup) where offered. |
| Photos and description | Your yard, fleet, equipment and people. A plain description of what you do and for whom. |
| Website link | To the page that matches the profile, usually the homepage or a location page, with the same NAP on it. |
How is it done, step by step?
- 1
Check ownership
Make sure the business, not a former agency or employee, owns the profile, and remove managers who have left.
- 2
Fix the facts
Name, category, address or service area, phone, hours, website link.
- 3
Add proof
Real photos, products or services listed, and a description that says what you do.
- 4
Ask for reviews honestly
Ask every customer the same way. Never pay for or filter reviews.
What should you have at the end?
Whoever does this work, you yourself or someone you hire, these are the things you should be able to hold in your hand afterwards:
- A profile review with each change and the reason for it
- A category recommendation, with alternatives considered
- Hours and service-area corrections
- A photo shot list for your site and vehicles
What won't we do?
These shortcuts break search engines' rules, mislead buyers, or both. If anyone offers them to you, say no.
- Keyword-stuffed business names
- Fake, paid or incentivised reviews, or review gating
- Virtual offices, mailbox addresses or extra fake locations
- Categories for services you don't offer
Can I do this myself?
Yes. Start here:
- Open the profile and compare every field with your website footer.
- Search your business name on Google Maps to spot duplicate listings.
- Add holiday hours before each holiday, not after a customer complains.
Want it done for you? A human-reviewed audit service is planned but not open yet. Join the waitlist and we'll contact you when it opens.
Questions
Can a business without a storefront have a Google Business Profile?
Yes. Service-area businesses verify at their real location, hide the address, and list the areas they serve.
Does adding keywords to the business name help?
It may work briefly, but it breaks Google's guidelines and is a common reason for suspension. Use your real name.
Does the free grader check my profile?
No. It grades your public website only. A profile check is part of the human-reviewed audit on our waitlist.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help: guidelines for representing your business
- Google Business Profile Help: tips to improve your local ranking on Google
- Google Business Profile Help: manage service areas for service-area and hybrid businesses
- 16 CFR Part 465: FTC rule on the use of consumer reviews and testimonials