Guide · Local search

Check a Google Business Profile in 60 seconds

Search your business name on your phone, the way a customer would, and look at nine things. None of them needs a login. It takes about a minute.

1. Is it claimed? If you see "Own this business?" on your listing, it is not verified, and anyone can suggest edits to it.
2. Primary category. Read it. It should be the specific trade you are, such as the exact kind of shop or contractor, not a general word. Google tells you to pick what the business is, not what it has.
3. Hours. Check whether it says Open or Closed at the right times, and whether a holiday is coming with no special hours set. Being open when someone searches is one of the factors local SEO experts rank highly (Whitespark 2026 survey of 47 practitioners; an opinion survey, not a controlled study).
4. Address or service area. If customers do not visit you at your address, Google says to remove the address and set service areas instead.
5. Phone. Tap it. It should ring the phone you actually answer.
6. Website link. Tap it. It should open your real website, not a dead link or an old page.
7. Photos. Look at how many there are and when the newest was added. Google asks for photos that are in focus, well lit and not heavily altered, and names exterior, interior, at-work and team photos.
8. Reviews. Count them, note the average and the date of the newest, and see whether the owner has replied. Google says more reviews and positive ratings can help local ranking.
9. Name. It should be exactly your business name. Keywords or a town added to it break Google's rules.

What this does and doesn't tell you

These nine checks show whether the facts customers see are right. They don't predict where you will rank. Google names relevance, distance and prominence as the three factors for local results, and says there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking. Distance in particular is set by where you and the searcher are.

Sources: Google Business Profile Help on local ranking, representing your business, service areas, photos and ratings.

Want a second pair of eyes on yours? Text 337-552-8293 the name of your business, or book a 20-minute call. BuiltFirst keeps the Google Business Profile current for clients on the Care Plan; see pricing.

Questions

What decides who shows up in the Google map results?

Google names three things: relevance, distance and prominence. It also says there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking. Prominence draws on things like links to your site and your review count.

Should I put keywords in my Google Business Profile name?

No. Google's guidelines say the name should match your real-world business name. Adding keywords or a town is a policy violation and can get a profile suspended.

Can I pay Google for a better local ranking?

No. Google says there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking. Local Services Ads are a separate paid product that appears above the map results.