How to Optimise Your Google Business Profile in 2026

Your Google Business Profile is the single most important asset for getting your business found in local search. When someone searches for a service near them, Google shows three businesses in a map at the top of the results. That is the Google Map Pack, and the businesses in it get the majority of the calls.

Most businesses set their profile up once when they start, then never touch it again. They pick the wrong category, leave half the fields blank, and upload three photos. Then they wonder why a competitor shows up first every time. This guide walks through every part of the profile you need to optimise.

Pick the right primary category

Your primary category is the strongest signal Google uses to decide which searches to show you for. Get it wrong and nothing else matters.

Be specific. If you are a plumber, your category is "Plumber," not "Contractor." If you run a hair salon, it is "Hair Salon," not "Beauty Salon." The category needs to match the exact words your customers type into Google. Most businesses ranking in the top three use just one or two categories, not five or six. Add secondary categories only if they genuinely apply.

Fill out every service

Google lets you list up to 99 individual services, each with a 300-character description. Most businesses list two or three generic entries, or none at all.

This is a wasted opportunity. Each service you list is another term Google can match you against. A plumber should list blocked drains, hot water installation, gas fitting, leak detection, tap repairs, and every other job they do. The businesses ranking at the top of local results average close to 30 services listed. Use the words your customers actually search for.

Write a complete description

Your business description is 750 characters to explain what you do, where you do it, and why someone should choose you. Write it so both Google and the person reading can tell exactly what you offer. Include your main services and your service area naturally. Do not stuff it with keywords, but do not leave it vague either.

Add real photos, and keep adding them

Businesses with more than 100 photos get significantly more calls than the average listing. Photos of your team, your work, your premises, and your service area all help.

Skip the stock photos. Customers want to see your actual van, your actual completed jobs, your actual storefront. Add new photos regularly rather than all at once. If you work across Mandurah, Rockingham, and the Peel region, geotag your photos to the suburb where each job was done. This reinforces where you operate.

Turn on every relevant attribute

Google offers dozens of attributes depending on your business type: payment methods, accessibility features, service options, and more. Most businesses leave these blank. Go through every attribute that applies to your business and enable it. Google rewards complete profiles.

Post every week

Regular posts tell Google your business is active. Aim for at least one post a week, ideally two. Cover offers, updates, completed jobs, or seasonal reminders. Include a photo with each post and a clear call to action. An active profile ranks higher than a dormant one.

Build reviews, and respond to all of them

Reviews are a direct ranking factor. A business with 50 reviews and a 4.7 rating will usually outrank one with five reviews, even if those five are all five stars. Volume and recency both matter.

Set up a direct review link so customers can leave a review in two taps. Ask every happy customer. Then respond to every review, positive and negative. Responding signals engagement to Google and shows future customers you care.

The order to do this in

If you are starting from scratch, work in this order: category first, then services and description, then photos and attributes, then set up your review system, then start posting weekly. The first three fix your relevance. The rest build your prominence over time.

If this sounds like a lot to manage on top of running your business, that is exactly what we do. We handle the whole process for local businesses across Mandurah, Rockingham, and Perth through our 12-week programme. Start with a free audit and we will show you exactly what your profile is missing.