The Google Business Profile Checklist That Gets You in the Map Pack

When someone searches for your service "near me," Google shows a map with three businesses on top. That's the map pack, and landing in it is often worth more than ranking #1 in the regular results. Your Google Business Profile is how you get there. Here's the checklist.

Get the basics perfect

• Claim and verify the profile. Unverified profiles don't compete.
• Nail your name, and don't stuff keywords into it. Use your real business name.
• Keep your name, address, and phone identical everywhere online. Inconsistency confuses Google.
• Set accurate hours, including holiday hours. Wrong hours kill trust and cost calls.

Categories: the biggest lever

Your primary category is one of the strongest ranking factors in the map pack. Pick the most specific one that fits (for example, "Emergency plumber" over just "Plumber" if that's your focus), then add relevant secondary categories for everything else you do.

Fill out everything else

1. 1List your services with short descriptions. This feeds what Google can match you to.
2. 2Write a complete business description with the services and areas you cover.
3. 3Add your service areas if you travel to customers.
4. 4Turn on messaging if you'll actually respond quickly.

Add real photos, often

Upload genuine photos of your team, your trucks, and your completed work, not stock images. Add new ones regularly. It signals an active business and gives customers confidence you do good work.

Stay active

• Post updates (offers, recent jobs, tips) every week or two. An active profile outranks a dormant one.
• Answer the Q&A section, and seed it with the questions customers actually ask.
• Keep reviews flowing and reply to every one (see our reviews guide).

None of this is complicated. It's just rarely done consistently. Work through this checklist, keep the profile alive, and you'll start showing up exactly where high-intent customers are looking, for free.