5 Google Business Profile Fixes Westerville Businesses Can Make This Week

Most Westerville businesses have a Google Business Profile. Far fewer have one that's actually working for them. Here are five fixes you can make this week, no agency required.

1. Pick the right primary category. It's the single biggest factor in which searches you show up for. "Plumber" beats "Contractor" if plumbing is what pays the bills.

2. Reply to every review. Good ones and bad ones. A short, real reply tells Google you're active and tells the next customer you'll take care of them.

3. Ask for reviews the same day. The best time to ask is right after the job, while the customer is still happy. A text with your direct review link works better than an email a week later.

4. Post once a week. A photo of a recent project, a seasonal offer, a quick tip. Weekly posts keep your profile fresh, and fresh profiles rank better on the map.

5. Make sure it's in your name. If a past employee, web designer or agency set up your profile, check that you're the owner. We meet business owners every month who can't get into their own listing.

For one family-owned shop, fixes like these plus a steady review plan brought in 19 new five-star reviews in six weeks and a top 3 spot on the Google map for its main search.

Want the full walkthrough? Our free guide, Before You Hire Anyone: The Small Business Setup Guide, shows you how to set up your Google profile, Facebook page and ad accounts the right way, in your name. If you'd rather hand it off, here's how our local SEO and Google Business Profile management works.

Marsha Funk is the founder of Funk Media, a women-owned marketing agency in Westerville.