By Tanya Ganian · · 6 min readYour Google Business Profile is often the first thing a nearby client sees, and it feeds Google's AI answers too. Work through this checklist: verify the profile, choose the right categories, set your service area, fill in every field in French and English, add photos, post weekly and build a steady review routine.
1. Claim and verify your profile
Search your business name on Google Maps. If a profile exists, claim it; if not, create one at business.google.com. Verification is required before most changes go live.
2. Choose the right primary category
Your primary category is one of the strongest ranking signals. Pick the most specific one that matches your main service, then add a few secondary categories for your other services. Look at the top three competitors on the map to see what they use.
3. Set your service area, and protect your privacy
If you visit clients or work from home, set up as a service-area business and hide your address. List the areas you serve, for example Montreal, Laval, Longueuil and Brossard.
4. Write a clear description
You get 750 characters. Say what you do, for whom and where, in plain words. Many Montreal businesses put French first and English second. Don't include links or promotions.
5. Fill in every field
- Services, each with a short description
- Products, if you sell packages or set offers
- Hours, including holiday hours
- Website, email or phone, and booking link if you have one
- Attributes, such as “online appointments” or “women-owned”
6. Add real photos
Add your logo, a cover image, photos of you or your team, your work and your workplace. Real photos perform better than stock images. Add new ones every month.
7. Post every week
Use Google posts for tips, offers, events and recent work. Weekly posts show Google and clients that you're active.
8. Build a review routine
Ask every happy client for a review, with a direct link. Reply to every review, good or bad, in the language it was written in. Never buy or fake reviews: it breaks Google's rules and can get your profile suspended.
9. Answer questions
Watch the Questions and Answers section and reply quickly. You can also add common questions yourself and answer them.
10. Track what it brings in
Check the Performance tab monthly: calls, website clicks, direction requests and searches. That tells you whether the work is paying off.
Need a hand?
Google Business Profile optimization is at the heart of our local SEO service. Our free audit includes a check of your profile and your map rankings across the neighbourhoods you serve.