Key takeaways
- Start with the basics: exact business name, the right primary category, correct hours and a working website link.
- Photos should be recent and real. Add new ones at least every few months.
- Every review from the last 90 days should have a reply.
- Q&A is gone from profiles, so put answers to common questions on your website instead.
- Your Bing, Apple and Yelp listings should match your Google profile exactly.
Profile basics
- Business name matches your sign and legal name, with no extra keywords
- Primary category is the closest match to your main service
- Secondary categories cover your other real services, and nothing you don't do
- Hours are correct, including holiday hours
- Phone number, address or service area are accurate (home-based businesses can hide the address)
- Website link works and goes to the right page
- Description is filled in and reads naturally
- Services list is complete and specific
- Booking or quote link is added, if you take bookings
Photos
- At least 10 recent, sharp photos
- Logo and cover photo are set and look professional
- Photos show your team, work in progress and finished jobs
- Old, blurry or off-brand photos are removed
- New photos added in the last 90 days
Real job photos from around the Quad Cities beat stock images every time. Customers can tell, and so can AI tools that describe your business.
Reviews
- Rating and review count hold up against your top three local competitors
- Every review from the last 90 days has a reply
- No negative review sits unanswered for more than two weeks
- You have a simple way to ask every customer (link, QR code or automatic text)
- Replies sound consistent and professional
See how to get more reviews within Google's rules.
Posts and questions
- A Google Post in the last 7 days
- Posts include a photo and a clear next step (call, book, get a quote)
- Ask Maps and Google's AI answers give your correct hours, phone and services
- Your website answers the questions customers ask most
The last two replace the old Q&A checks. Google removed Q&A from profiles in early 2026, and Gemini in Google Maps now answers those questions using your profile, reviews and website.
Website and listings
- The website on your profile is your current, working site
- The site loads fast and works on a phone
- Every page makes it easy to call or request a quote
- Your name, address and phone on the site match the profile exactly
- The site has a page for each main service and each town you serve
- Bing Places, Apple Business Connect and Yelp match your Google profile
Rather have someone check it for you? The free audit runs your profile through every check above and compares you with your top local competitors. Then I walk you through it in person.