Google Business Profile optimisation
Google Business Profile optimisation for small businesses
I'm Gem, a Staffordshire digital marketer who sets up, fixes and improves Google Business Profiles for small businesses across the UK. A complete, active profile helps you show up in Google Maps when local customers search for what you do, and gives them the reviews and details they need to call you.
What I help with
More calls from Google Maps
- The right categories and services
- Areas served, hours and contact details
- Photos and regular updates
- A simple system for getting reviews
Call me on 07570 182 928
Why it matters
Why is a Google Business Profile so important for a local business?
When someone searches "near me" or "[service] [town]", Google often shows a map with a few local businesses at the top of the results. Those businesses get most of the calls, clicks and direction requests.
What decides who appears there is mostly your Google Business Profile: how relevant it is to the search, how close you are, and how well known and trusted your business looks, which is where reviews come in.
AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot also use information from Google listings, reviews and websites when they recommend local businesses. A complete profile helps you there too.
The good news: the profile is free, and most businesses I look at have quick fixes waiting.
What I do
What does Google Business Profile optimisation include?
I go through every part of your profile and fix what is missing, wrong or holding you back.
Set up and verification
New profile, or help taking back control of one you cannot log in to, with the right business name and contact details.
Categories and services
The best main category and extra categories, plus every service you offer, written the way customers search.
Areas, hours and details
Areas served for mobile businesses, accurate opening and holiday hours, booking links and a clear description.
Photos and updates
Real photos of you, your work and your premises, and a plan for regular updates so your profile looks active.
Reviews
A simple review link and a habit of asking every happy customer, plus guidance on replying to every review, good or bad.
Consistent details across the web
Your name, address and phone number matching on your website, Facebook, Bing Places and directories, so Google trusts your details.
Common problems
Why is my business not showing up on Google Maps?
These are the problems I find most often when a business is hard to find on Google Maps.
The wrong main category
Your main category has a big effect on which searches you appear for. A small change here can make a real difference.
Gaps in the profile
Missing services, areas, hours or photos give Google less to match against what people search.
Too few recent reviews
Customers compare reviews in seconds, and a profile with few or old reviews is easy to skip.
Details that do not match
An old phone number or address on another site makes Google less sure which details are right.
Want to check yours yourself first? Try my free Google Business Profile health check, or read my guide to Google Business Profile and Google reviews.
Price
How much does Google Business Profile optimisation cost?
Every profile needs something different. A brand new business needs a full set up, while an established one might only need its categories, services and review process sorting out. So I quote for what yours actually needs.
Get in touch for a price, or start with my Digital Growth Audit, which reviews your Google listing alongside your website, reviews and competitors.
Digital Growth Audit
From £299
A plain English review of your Google listing, website, reviews and local competitors, with a clear list of what to fix first.
If you sign up for monthly services within 30 days, I credit the audit fee to your first month.
Questions
Google Business Profile optimisation: your questions answered
What is a Google Business Profile?
A Google Business Profile is the free listing that shows your business on Google Maps and in local search results, with your phone number, opening hours, photos and reviews. It used to be called Google My Business.
What does Google Business Profile optimisation include?
I check and complete every part of your profile: your main and extra categories, services, areas served, opening hours, description, photos and contact details. I also set up a simple way to ask for reviews and show you how to reply to them.
How long does it take to see results from optimising my Google Business Profile?
Fixes to your profile can start to make a difference within a few weeks. Reviews and regular updates build your position over the following months.
Do I need a shop or office address to have a Google Business Profile?
No. If you visit customers, like a plumber or mobile hairdresser, you can hide your address and show the areas you serve instead. Google does not allow virtual offices or addresses you do not really work from.
How much does Google Business Profile optimisation cost?
It depends on what your profile needs, so get in touch for a price. If you want a full picture first, my Digital Growth Audit starts from £299 and includes a review of your Google listing.
Can you help if my profile is not showing up on Google Maps?
Yes. I look at why, which is often the wrong category, missing details, few reviews or business details that do not match across the web, and tell you what to fix first.
Other services
What else helps local customers find me?
Your profile works best alongside the rest of your marketing. See all my digital marketing services, or start with a Digital Growth Audit.
Get in touch
Want more calls from Google Maps?
Tell me about your business and I will tell you honestly what your Google Business Profile needs. I'm Gem, I'm based in Staffordshire and I work with small businesses across the UK. I reply within one working day.
Talk to Gem
Phone: 07570 182 928
Email: contact@smbdigital.solutions