Your Google Business Profile is the most powerful free tool available for local SC business visibility, and most businesses are using less than half of its capabilities. This checklist covers every GBP setting, feature, and optimization in order of impact. Work through it systematically and you will have one of the most optimized GBP profiles in your SC market.

Before You Start: Access Your GBP

Go to business.google.com and sign in with the Google account associated with your business. If you have not claimed your GBP, search for your business name and click “Claim this business.” Verification typically takes 1 to 5 business days via postcard.

Section 1: Business Information (15 Minutes)

• Business name matches your real business name exactly (no added keywords)
• Primary category is the most specific option available for your main service
• At least 3 secondary categories are added
• Business description is 750 characters, includes primary keyword and city, and ends with a soft CTA
• Website URL is correct and goes to your homepage
• Phone number is a local SC number (not toll-free)
• Address is correct and matches your website and all citations exactly
• Service area includes all SC cities you serve (add up to 20 service area cities)
• Business hours are complete and accurate, including holiday hours

Pro Tip: Your business description is indexed by Google and influences what searches your GBP appears for. Include your primary service keyword, your city, and your key differentiator in the first two sentences.

Section 2: Photos and Videos (30 Minutes to 1 Hour)

• Cover photo is high-quality and represents your brand
• Profile photo is your logo or a professional headshot
• At least 3 exterior photos showing your business location or vehicle
• At least 3 interior photos or job site photos
• At least 3 team photos showing real people doing real work
• At least 5 project photos showing completed jobs
• All photos are real (not stock images)
• A short video (30 to 60 seconds) showing your business is uploaded
• New photos are added at least once per week going forward

Pro Tip: GBP listings with more than 100 photos receive 520% more calls than those with fewer than 10 photos. Make photo uploads a weekly habit.

Section 3: Services and Products (30 Minutes)

• All primary services are listed with names and descriptions
• Each service description includes the service name, what it includes, and your city
• Prices or price ranges are added where applicable
• Service descriptions include relevant keywords naturally

Section 4: GBP Posts (Ongoing Weekly Habit)

• First GBP post is published (describe a recent project with a photo)
• Post includes a call to action (Call Now, Book Online, Learn More)
• Post includes a link to your website or contact page
• Weekly posting is scheduled as a recurring calendar reminder

Post Template for SC Service Businesses: “We just completed a [service type] for a [city] customer. [Brief description of the project and result]. If you are looking for [service type] in [city], we would love to help. [Call to action + link].”

Section 5: Reviews (Ongoing)

• Direct review link is copied from GBP dashboard
• All existing reviews have been responded to within 48 hours
• A system is in place to ask every customer for a review within 24 hours of job completion
• Review goal is set: minimum 5 new reviews per month

Section 6: Questions and Answers (30 Minutes)

• All existing questions in the Q&A section have been answered
• 5 to 10 frequently asked questions have been added (you can ask and answer your own)
• Questions cover pricing, service area, hours, what to expect, and how to book

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