Google Business Profile Checklist for NZ Tradies

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The short answer: a Google Business Profile that wins calls has a verified listing, the right primary category, every service listed with a description, accurate service areas, current hours, plenty of real job photos, weekly posts, and a steady stream of recent reviews you reply to. Work through the checklist below once, then spend 15 minutes a week keeping it fresh.

The set-up (do once)

  1. Verified. Unverified profiles barely show. If yours isn’t verified, start there.
  2. Exact business name. The name you trade under, nothing added. Keyword-stuffed names can get your profile suspended.
  3. Primary category matches what people search. “Electrician”, not “Electrical services company” if most people search “electrician”.
  4. Secondary categories for other work you genuinely do.
  5. Service areas set to the towns and suburbs you actually want work from. If you work from home, hide your address.
  6. Every service listed, each with a short, plain description.
  7. Phone number that gets answered, the same one that’s on your website.
  8. Website link pointing to your homepage or main service page.
  9. Business description that says what you do, where, and why people choose you. Plain words, no keyword lists.
  10. Opening hours, including public holidays.

The habits (do every week or month)

  1. Add new photos of finished jobs, before-and-afters, your van and your team. A few every month.
  2. Post weekly. A recent job, a seasonal tip, a reminder of what you do. Two minutes each.
  3. Ask for a review after every job, by text with a direct link. See how to get more Google reviews.
  4. Reply to every review, including the bad ones. Calm and helpful wins over future customers.
  5. Answer questions people post on your profile, and check your listing hasn’t been edited by someone else.

The mistakes I see most

  • Choosing a vague primary category because it sounds more professional.
  • Listing every town in the region as a service area. It doesn’t help; it dilutes you.
  • A different phone number on the profile, website and directories.
  • Setting it up once and never touching it again.

How long until it works?

Fixing the category, services and service areas can make a difference within weeks. Reviews and photos keep building it over the following months.

For the full step-by-step, read how to show up on Google Maps. Or if you’d rather hand it over, this is part of our local SEO service. Get a free audit and I’ll go through your profile with you.