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The Ultimate Google Business Profile Optimization Checklist

A comprehensive checklist covering every single ranking factor that matters. Use this to audit your profile and ensure you're not missing critical opportunities. 40+ actionable points.

September 28, 2025
12 min read
Dan OttenadDan Ottenad
Google Business Profile Optimization
Your Progress
0 / 43 Points
Poor
Critical work needed

Bottom Line Up Front: Your Google Business Profile is the single most important digital asset you own as a local business. Yet 90% of contractors have profiles that are barely optimized. This comprehensive checklist covers every single ranking factor that matters.

Use this checklist to audit your profile and ensure you're not missing critical opportunities. Click each item as you complete it to track your progress.

Profile Basics (10 Points)

Business Information

Business name matches legal name exactly (no keyword stuffing)
Primary category is specific and accurate (e.g., 'General Contractor' not 'Business')
Secondary categories added (up to 9 additional)
Business description is 750 characters (fully utilized)
Description includes keywords naturally (services, locations)
Phone number is local (not toll-free if possible)
Website URL is correct and working
Service areas defined (all cities you serve)
Business hours are accurate (including holidays)
Attributes selected (veteran-owned, free estimates, etc.)

Visual Content (15 Points)

Photos

Logo uploaded as profile picture (not a person)
Cover photo is high-quality (showcases best work)
100+ total photos uploaded
Photos added monthly (10-20 new per month)
Photo categories filled (exterior, interior, at work, team)
Photos are high resolution (1000px minimum)
Photos named with keywords (before uploading)
Before/after photos included (show transformation)
Team photos added (builds trust)
Equipment/truck photos (shows professionalism)

Videos

2-3 videos uploaded (30-90 seconds each)
Videos show work process (not just ads)
Videos are professional quality (good lighting/audio)
Videos include captions (for silent viewing)
Videos updated quarterly (keep content fresh)

Reviews & Reputation (8 Points)

50+ total reviews (minimum for credibility)
4.0+ star average (anything lower hurts rankings)
Reviews are recent (within last 90 days)
Review velocity is consistent (10-25 per month)
All reviews have responses (within 24 hours)
Responses are personalized (not templated)
Review generation system in place (automated)
Negative reviews handled professionally (acknowledged, resolved)

Posts & Updates (5 Points)

Posting 8-12 times per month (2-3 per week)
Posts include photos/videos (visual content performs better)
Posts have clear CTAs (call now, book today, etc.)
Post types varied (updates, offers, events, products)
Posts are 100-300 words (not too short or long)

Services Section (3 Points)

All services listed (10-20 minimum)
Service descriptions are detailed (300 characters each)
Services include keywords (naturally, not stuffed)

Q&A Section (2 Points)

10-15 questions seeded (common customer questions)
Q&A monitored weekly (respond to new questions within 24 hours)

Citations & Consistency (5 Points)

NAP identical everywhere (name, address, phone)
Listed on major directories (Yelp, YP, BBB, Angi)
30+ citations built (high-authority directories)
Industry-specific citations (contractor directories)
Local citations (chamber, business associations)

Website Integration (3 Points)

Schema markup implemented (LocalBusiness type)
Google Map embedded (on contact page)
Click-to-call buttons (mobile-optimized)

Engagement Optimization (4 Points)

Messages enabled (respond within 15 minutes)
Booking button active (if applicable)
Products/services showcased (with prices if possible)
Special offers highlighted (in posts and profile)

Your Score Breakdown

Your Current Score

0/43
35-43
Excellent - You're dominating
25-34
Good - Room for improvement
15-24
Average - Missing opportunities
0-14
Poor - Critical work needed

Priority Actions

If you're short on time, focus on these high-impact items first:

1

Reviews

Get to 50+ with 4.5+ average

Highest Impact
2

Photos

Upload 100+ high-quality images

High Impact
3

Posts

Start posting 2-3x per week consistently

High Impact
4

Services

List everything you offer with descriptions

Medium Impact
5

Citations

Build 30+ consistent listings

Medium Impact

The Bottom Line

A fully optimized Google Business Profile can generate 15-25 qualified project inquiries per month. An unoptimized one? Maybe 2-3.

The difference between dominating your market and struggling for scraps often comes down to checking these boxes systematically.

Go through this checklist today. Fix what's broken. Optimize what's missing. Watch your rankings climb.

Want Us to Handle This For You?

We'll go through every single item on this checklist and optimize your profile from top to bottom. Most clients see ranking improvements within 30 days.

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