Google Business Profile Optimization in Marietta, GA
Most people think their website is the first thing customers see. It's not. Your Google Business Profile shows up before your website ever does. If yours isn't set up right, you're not even in the conversation.
Step One
Do You Even Have One?
I'm not joking. I've sat down with business owners who have been running their company for years and don't have a Google Business Profile at all. Or they claimed one back in 2019 and never touched it again. Some have a profile that Google auto-generated with wrong info and they don't even know it exists.
So that's always step one. Do you have one? Is it actually yours? Can you log into it? If the answer to any of those is no, we fix that before we do anything else.
The Reality
Your Profile Is Probably Half Empty
Here's what I see almost every time I look at a new client's GBP for the first time. Business name. Phone number. Maybe an address. One or two photos from three years ago. One category. A handful of services. And that's it.
That's like handing Google a blank resume and expecting to get the job.
Google needs information to feel confident about recommending your business. If your profile barely tells anything, it's going to recommend someone else who gave it more to work with. Simple as that.
Where Most People Drop the Ball
Categories and Services
This is honestly where I see the most neglect. And it's a big part of what makes our approach work.
Categories
Most businesses have one category on their profile. Maybe two. I aim for 4 to 5.
Your primary category tells Google your main thing. "Roofing contractor" or "deck builder" or whatever it is. But your secondary categories tell Google everything else you do.
If you're a roofer who also does gutters, siding, and pressure washing, Google needs to know that. If you only have "roofing contractor" listed, Google has no idea you do those other things.
So when someone searches "gutter installation near me," you don't show up. Even though you do gutters every single week.
Services
Services are even bigger. I aim for around 30 services on every profile I optimize. Most businesses have maybe 5 listed.
That means Google only knows about a small piece of what they actually offer.
Every service you add is another chance for Google to match you with someone searching for that exact thing. If you do not list it, you do not show up for it.
It really is that straightforward.
average new client
after we optimize
Get This Right
Service Areas Matter More Than People Think
I always check service areas and make sure they match where the business is actually working. This sounds obvious but you'd be surprised.
I've seen businesses that serve Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, and Roswell but their GBP only says "Atlanta." That's way too broad. Google doesn't know how to show you for searches in Kennesaw if you never told it you work in Kennesaw.
On the flip side, I've seen businesses list 40 cities they "serve" when they really only work in 5 or 6. Google isn't dumb. If you're a two-person crew listing the entire state of Georgia as your service area, that doesn't help you. It actually hurts because Google doesn't believe it.
Be honest. List the areas you actually work in. Google rewards accuracy.
Google doesn't know you work in Kennesaw, Smyrna, or Roswell.
Google doesn't believe a two-person crew covers the whole state.
Honest. Accurate. Google rewards this.
The Key
This Is Where Entity Alignment Comes In
Here's what most SEO agencies miss entirely. Your Google Business Profile is only one half of the equation. Your website is the other half. And they need to match.
Every service on your GBP should have a real page on your website. Not a bullet point on a generic services page. A real, dedicated page that explains what the service is, who it's for, and where you offer it.
Every category on your profile should be reflected in your site structure. Your business name, address, and phone number need to be identical on your GBP, your website, your directory listings, everywhere. Same spelling. Same format. I'm talking about "Street" vs "St." level detail.
When Google sees the same clear story across your profile, your website, and your citations, it gets confident about who you are. And when Google's confident, it ranks you higher.
I've seen this work over and over. I had a deck builder go from invisible to number one in the map pack in three weeks just from cleaning up this alignment. No ads. No link building. No review schemes. Just making everything match.
Most businesses have a disconnect and don't even realize it. Their GBP says one thing. Their website says something slightly different. Google gets confused. And confused Google doesn't put you in the top three.
Let Me Clear Something Up
Reviews Aren't What You Think
Most people think more reviews equals higher rankings. In my experience, that's not really how it works. I've seen businesses with 20 reviews outrank businesses with 200.
Where reviews actually matter is conversion. Think about it. You search for a plumber. Three companies show up on the map. One has 2 reviews. The other two have 80 or more. Which one are you clicking?
That decision happens in a split second, and it has nothing to do with rankings. All three showed up. Only two of them looked trustworthy enough to call.
So yes, we will help you get more reviews. I ask every happy customer for a 5 star review and I follow up with the ones who haven't left one yet. Tenacity matters here. Most businesses ask once and give up. But I'm not chasing reviews to game your ranking. I'm doing it so that when you do show up, people actually pick you.
The Split-Second Decision
Showed up. Nobody clicked.
All three ranked. Only two got the call.
Ongoing Management
This Isn't a Set It and Forget It Thing
Google rewards profiles that stay active. We keep yours updated with new posts, fresh photos, and current information. If your hours change, if you add a new service, if you finish a project worth showing off, it goes on the profile.
We also watch what your competitors are doing. If someone new pops up in your area or an existing competitor beefs up their profile, we adjust.
Recent work, tips, and updates that show Google you're active
Real photos of your work added regularly, not stock images
Every happy customer gets asked. And asked again if needed.
We track what your competition is doing and adjust
The Bottom Line
Give Google Zero Confusion
Google uses your Business Profile to decide whether to recommend you. If it's half empty, you're telling Google you're half a business. If your profile says one thing and your website says another, Google doesn't trust either one.
We fill it out completely. We align it with your website. We keep it active. And we make sure Google has zero confusion about who you are, what you do, and where you do it.
That's how you get into the map pack. Not tricks. Not hacks. Just giving Google exactly what it needs to feel confident about putting you in front of customers.
Service Area
GBP Optimization Across Metro Atlanta
We optimize Google Business Profiles for local businesses throughout Cobb County and the Atlanta metro area. We live in Marietta. We know the local landscape. That matters when we're writing your profile content and choosing your service areas.
Whether you're a single-location business or you serve a wider area, we make sure your profile reflects exactly where you work.
FAQ
Questions About GBP Optimization
What is entity alignment?
It means your Google Business Profile, your website, and your citations all say the exact same thing about your business. Same name, same address, same services, same categories. When everything matches, Google gets confident about who you are and ranks you higher.
How many categories should I have?
I aim for 4 to 5. Your primary category is your main service. Secondary categories cover everything else you do. If you only have one category, Google only knows about one piece of your business. You're invisible for everything else.
How many services should be on my profile?
I aim for around 30. Most businesses have maybe 5. Every service you add is another chance for Google to match you with someone searching for that exact thing. If you don't list it, you don't show up for it.
Do more reviews help me rank higher?
Not exactly. I've seen businesses with 20 reviews outrank businesses with 200. Reviews matter more for conversion than ranking. When three businesses show up on the map, people click the ones that look trustworthy. Two reviews doesn't cut it.
How quickly will I see results?
Some changes show up right away. A complete profile with good photos and accurate info immediately looks better. Map Pack ranking improvements usually take a few weeks. I had a deck builder go from invisible to number one in three weeks just from cleaning up entity alignment.
Ready to Show Up in the Map Pack?
Your competitors are already there. Let's get your profile where it needs to be.
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