Avoid Costly Errors

Your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) must be accurate across all platforms. Even small differences confuse Google and customers.

Example:

Website: “123 Main St.”

GBP: “123 Main Street”

Facebook: Old address still listed

This inconsistency hurts both your search ranking and customer trust.

How to Fix It:

Use one standard format for your NAP everywhere online.

Double-check for typos or outdated info.

Update immediately if you move or change numbers.

Your category determines which searches you show up for. Pick the wrong one, and your profile won’t reach the right audience.

Example:

A gym chooses “Health Consultant” instead of “Fitness Center.” Potential customers searching “gyms near me” won’t find them.

How to Fix It:

Choose the most accurate primary category.

Add relevant secondary categories for additional services.

Review categories regularly as your business grows.

Many businesses either leave this blank or stuff it with keywords. Both are wasted opportunities.

How to Fix It:

Write a natural, engaging description (up to 750 characters).

Highlight what makes you unique: “family-owned,” “award-winning,” “eco-friendly.”

Include keywords your customers actually search for.

Example:

Instead of “We sell food,” write:

“Green Eats is a family-owned café in Ormoc City specializing in organic meals, fresh smoothies, and vegan-friendly options.”

Customers trust what they can see. A profile with no photos looks incomplete and uninviting.

How to Fix It:

Upload professional images of your storefront, staff, and products.

Add videos (15–30 seconds) showing your services in action.

Refresh visuals regularly to show your business is active.

Example:

A restaurant that posts daily food photos is far more likely to attract walk-ins than one with no visuals.

Reviews are digital word-of-mouth. Failing to collect or respond to them can cost you credibility and customers.

How to Fix It:

Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews.

Respond to every review—positive or negative—with professionalism.

Never buy fake reviews (Google can remove them).

Example:

A plumbing company that replies, “Thank you for trusting us!” to positive reviews appears more reliable than one with silence.

Few things frustrate customers more than arriving at a closed business because the hours were wrong online.

How to Fix It:

Keep your standard hours accurate.

Update special hours during holidays or seasonal changes.

Post real-time updates if your schedule changes unexpectedly.

Google allows you to showcase your offerings directly in your profile—but many businesses skip this.

How to Fix It:

Add all your main services or products with descriptions.

Include pricing where possible.

Update the list as your offerings change.

Example:

A salon that lists “Hair Coloring,” “Bridal Makeup,” and “Kids Haircuts” will show up in more searches than one that just lists “Salon.”

Some businesses create their profile once and never touch it again. Over time, this signals inactivity to Google and customers.

How to Fix It:

Post weekly updates (promotions, events, news).

Add new photos monthly.

Review insights in your GBP dashboard to see what’s working.

Potential customers often ask questions directly on your profile. Leaving them unanswered means lost sales.

How to Fix It:

Monitor the Q&A section regularly.

Add your own FAQ-style questions with clear answers.

Respond promptly to new customer inquiries.

Without reviewing your data, you won’t know what’s driving calls, visits, or clicks.

How to Fix It:

Check your GBP insights monthly.

Track searches (direct vs. discovery), calls, and direction requests.

Adjust your strategy based on results.