How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile for More Customers

When someone in Oregon City or the Portland metro searches for a local business, the first thing they see isn't usually a website — it's the Google Business Profile. That listing with your name, photos, hours, reviews, and location. It's prime real estate, and most businesses are leaving it severely underoptimized.

A fully optimized Google Business Profile can drive more calls, more website visits, and more foot traffic than almost any other single marketing action — and it's free. Here's how to maximize it.

Claim and Verify Your Profile

If you haven't already, claim your profile at business.google.com. Google will verify your ownership by sending a postcard to your business address with a verification code (or via phone/email for eligible businesses). This step is non-negotiable — unverified profiles have severely limited visibility.

Choose the Right Primary Category

Your primary business category is one of the most important local ranking factors. Be as specific as possible. If you're a plumber, don't just select "Contractor" — select "Plumber." If you run a digital marketing agency in Oregon City, select "Internet Marketing Service" rather than just "Marketing Agency." Google uses this category to determine which searches to show your business in.

You can also add secondary categories that describe additional services you offer. Use this to expand your visibility without diluting your primary positioning.

Write a Keyword-Rich Business Description

You have 750 characters for your business description. Use them well. Naturally incorporate your primary services, your location, and what differentiates you. For a business in Oregon City: "Thomas David Jacob is a full-service digital creative agency serving Oregon City, Portland, and the surrounding metro area. We specialize in WordPress web design, local SEO, and digital marketing for small businesses in Clackamas County and the greater Portland region."

Avoid keyword stuffing — write for humans first, search engines second. Google's algorithm can tell the difference.

Add Every Service You Offer

The Services section of your Google Business Profile is indexed by Google and shown to searchers. Add each of your core services with a title and description. This is an often-overlooked section that directly expands the keywords you can rank for in local search.

Upload High-Quality Photos Regularly

Profiles with photos get 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks than those without. Upload at least 10–20 photos: your storefront, team members, work samples, before-and-afters, and your logo. Add new photos at least monthly — recency signals activity, which Google rewards.

Make sure photo filenames include descriptive keywords before uploading (e.g., "oregon-city-web-design-team.jpg" rather than "IMG_4821.jpg").

Enable and Respond to Messages

Google Business Profile has a built-in messaging feature that lets customers message you directly from search results. Enable it. Set up an auto-reply for after-hours. Respond quickly — Google tracks response time and can deprioritize businesses that routinely ignore messages.

Post Weekly Updates

Google Posts are short updates (offers, announcements, events) that appear directly on your listing. Most businesses never use this feature, which means consistently posting gives you a visible advantage. A weekly post — a tip, a promotion, a project spotlight — signals ongoing activity and keeps your listing fresh.

Get More Reviews (The Right Way)

Reviews are both a ranking factor and a conversion factor. After completing a service, send a follow-up text or email with your direct Google review link. Make the ask clear and make the process one click. Do not offer incentives for reviews — Google prohibits this and can remove your listing.

Respond to every review within 48 hours. Thank positive reviewers by name. Address negative reviews calmly and professionally — offer to resolve the issue offline. How you respond to negative reviews often matters more to prospective customers than the reviews themselves.

Need Help With Your Local SEO?

Optimizing a Google Business Profile properly takes time and ongoing attention. If you'd rather focus on running your business, the Thomas David Jacob team handles Google Business Profile optimization as part of our local SEO packages. Serving Oregon City, Gladstone, Milwaukie, West Linn, Lake Oswego, and the greater Portland metro. Contact us for a free consultation.