Guides, fixes and checklists
Long reads on Google Business Profile and local search. Shorter questions are answered one at a time in the answers library.
Guides
The full treatment of one job: the steps, the decisions and what goes wrong.
- Google Maps
How to Get More Google Maps Reviews
How review velocity works, what Google's policies allow you to ask for, and the routines that make review requests part of the job rather than an afterthought.
Read it - Strategy
Local SEO vs Traditional SEO: Key Differences
Understanding the fundamental differences between local SEO and traditional SEO, and why local businesses need a different approach.
Read it - Guide
How do I move a local business website without losing Google Maps rankings?
Move a local business website safely by choosing the right Google migration path, mapping URLs, updating the Business Profile, and checking local visibility.
Read it - Guide
How to set up online booking on a Google Business Profile
Set up Google Business Profile booking with your own link, a supported provider, or Reserve with Google, with the eligibility and URL rules.
Read it - Guide
How do I get a Google Screened or Google Guaranteed badge?
How to qualify for Google's current Google Verified Badge through Local Services Ads, with the profile, screening, documents, geography, and follow-up checks.
Read it - Guide
How do I hand a Google Business Profile to a new owner?
Hand a Google Business Profile to a new owner, keep the business in control, and understand the third party's duty after notice to enable disassociation, restore exclusive control, and relinquish permissions within 7 business days.
Read it - Guide
How do I hand a Google Business Profile to a new owner?
How to hand a Google Business Profile to a new owner, remove an old agency safely, and verify every remaining access.
Read it - Guide
A 30-minute monthly Google Business Profile routine
A 30-minute monthly routine for checking Google Business Profile information, access, categories, hours, media, posts, reviews, and performance.
Read it - Guide
How do I move my local business without losing my Google Maps visibility?
Move a local business without misrepresenting its Google Business Profile by choosing the right location type, editing the address or service area, handling re-verification, and comparing visibility carefully.
Read it - Guide
How do I improve visibility on Google Maps?
How to improve Google Maps visibility by keeping local-ranking factors, Business Profile fields, reviews, service areas, and website data accurate.
Read it - Guide
Setting up your Google Business Profile service areas
Set up Google Business Profile service areas with the right business type, address choice, named locations, limits, and menu paths.
Read it - Guide
Choosing your Google Business Profile categories
How to choose a specific primary category, add only relevant categories, use services correctly, and handle departments and edits.
Read it
When something breaks
A symptom, its causes, and the order of steps that fixes it.
- When something breaks
Why do Google Maps and my Google Business Profile show different information?
Compare the owner and customer views, identify pending edits, Google updates, duplicate profiles, and unverified profiles, then verify the public result.
Read it - When something breaks
Why are my Local Services Ads showing in the wrong locations?
Diagnose Local Services Ads showing in unexpected locations: check targeting, search matching, Business Profile sync, and support paths.
Read it - When something breaks
Why is my Google Business Profile suspended for a virtual office or P.O. Box?
How to identify an address eligibility problem, correct the profile, and appeal a Google Business Profile suspension.
Read it - When something breaks
Why does Google keep changing my Business Profile information?
Why Google Business Profile hours, categories, or names change, how to identify the source, and how to correct each field.
Read it - When something breaks
How do I fix a duplicate Google Business Profile blocking my claim?
How to separate a true duplicate Business Profile from an unclaimed listing or ownership conflict, and what to do in each case.
Read it - When something breaks
Why is Google not offering me a verification method?
Why Google may show no Business Profile verification method, how to identify the cause, and when to contact support.
Read it - When something breaks
Why is my business not showing on Google Maps?
A diagnostic sequence for a Business Profile missing from Google Maps: separate owner lookup, eligibility, public display, and service-query problems, then follow the documented fix and wait.
Read it
Templates and checklists
Material to copy and use as it is.
- Templates and checklists
Google Business Profile suspension appeal checklist
A copyable true-false checklist for preparing a Google Business Profile suspension or content appeal, with evidence, timing and regional route checks.
Read it - Templates and checklists
Agency offboarding and onboarding checklist for Google Business Profile
A copyable Google Business Profile handover checklist for removing an outgoing agency, onboarding a new provider, checking profile facts, retaining records and separating linked Google Ads billing.
Read it - Templates and checklists
Local business NAP audit checklist
A copyable NAP audit sheet for checking a local business name, address, phone, website, service-area representation, public sources, and corrections.
Read it - Templates and checklists
Google Business Profile audit checklist
A copyable audit sheet for checking public visibility, ownership, verification, duplicates, categories, service areas, hours, profile completeness, and performance.
Read it - Templates and checklists
Google Business Profile holiday hours checklist
A copyable, date-by-date checklist for entering Google Business Profile holiday hours, separating special hours from service hours, and checking the saved result on Search and Maps.
Read it - Templates and checklists
Google Business Profile service-area setup checklist
A copyable final checklist for confirming service-area eligibility, address visibility, named areas, profile scope, and the saved result.
Read it - Templates and checklists
Google review reply templates
Copyable Google review replies for positive, mixed, negative and policy-sensitive situations, with posting steps, privacy boundaries and reporting guidance.
Read it