Confirm the real business and account access
Check who owns and manages the profile and whether the setup reflects the actual business. Review Google’s eligibility and representation guidelines before creating a new listing or changing the way a location is presented.
A service-area business should not imply that customers can visit an address when they cannot. An additional city on the website does not automatically justify another profile. Resolve uncertainty about the operation before adding more listings that could confuse customers or the people managing them.
Review the details that guide a visit or enquiry
Check the business name, contact route, hours and services against the current website and actual operation. Special opening arrangements and changes in availability should be reflected where appropriate. The customer should not receive conflicting information depending on which surface they read first.
Categories and service descriptions should represent what the business does. Use actual business photography when available and keep images current. Do not use stock images to imply a real storefront, team member or completed project that they do not show.
- Verify the phone and website destination.
- Review regular and special hours where relevant.
- Confirm the services and real coverage.
- Check customer-facing location or visit arrangements.
- Assign someone to update changed information.
Follow the customer through to the website
Open the website destination from a phone and check whether it helps the visitor continue. Can someone find the service, understand suitability and contact the right team? A profile can be accurate while the landing page still makes the next step difficult.
An illustrative appointment-based business might need a clear service page and a request form explaining that availability will be confirmed later. A shop might need accurate visit information and product details. The next step should match the real service, not simply point every visitor to an unrelated page.
Review feedback and performance in context
Use a consistent process for genuine customer feedback and helpful responses. Keep responsibility with the business and avoid invented reviews, ratings or claims. Questions in reviews and enquiries can reveal details that the website should explain more clearly.
Google says local results consider relevance, distance and prominence. No profile checklist can remove the effect of the searcher’s location. Review profile interactions and website enquiries as different signals, then use actual customer feedback to decide the next improvement.
Sources & further reading
Official references used for the local and platform guidance on this page.