Google Business Profile Optimisation for Geelong Businesses
Google Business Profile optimisation for Geelong businesses.
For local businesses, your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a potential customer sees — appearing in the map pack before any website. This guide explains how to optimise it to generate more enquiries from local searches.
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the free listing that appears in Google Maps and local search results. It shows your business name, location, hours, reviews, photos and services — and it's one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost marketing tools available to a Geelong business.
Why Google Business Profile matters in Geelong
Consider the searches Geelong customers make: plumber near me, SEO company Geelong, roofers Geelong, dentist Geelong. For these searches, the map pack often appears above organic results — and customers click it.
Google explains that local search results are primarily influenced by relevance, distance and prominence. Your Google Business Profile directly affects all three.
How to optimise your profile
- ✓Choose the correct primary business category
- ✓Add relevant secondary categories
- ✓Write a complete, accurate business description
- ✓List all the services you genuinely provide
- ✓Add products where appropriate
- ✓Upload genuine business photos — team, vehicles, work
- ✓Add videos where you have them
- ✓Encourage and respond to reviews
- ✓Post regular updates and offers
- ✓Keep opening hours accurate and updated
- ✓Set your service areas correctly
- ✓Link to your website
- ✓Ensure your phone number is correct and consistent
- ✓Keep business information consistent across all listings
How to get more Google reviews
- Ask satisfied customers directly after completing a job
- Send a simple follow-up message with a direct review link
- Make it easy — don't make customers search for where to leave a review
- Thank customers who leave reviews
- Respond professionally to every review, positive or negative
Never buy reviews, incentivise reviews, or ask customers to insert specific keywords. Google's policies are clear, and fake reviews can get your profile suspended.
Common Google Business Profile mistakes
- Keyword-stuffing your business name (e.g. 'Bob's Plumbing - Best Geelong Plumber')
- Selecting categories that don't match your actual business
- Leaving the profile incomplete or outdated
- Ignoring reviews — both positive and negative
- Listing a service area you don't genuinely cover
- Using a residential address as a storefront when you don't serve customers there
- Never posting updates or photos
Want help optimising your Google Business Profile? See our Local SEO service or get a free assessment.
Related guides
Jacob is the Founder & Lead Strategist at Geelong Lead Generation, specialising in lead generation and digital marketing strategies for Australian businesses. His approach focuses on measurable business outcomes, including qualified leads, conversion rates, customer acquisition cost and marketing ROI.
Connect on LinkedIn