Google Business Profile
optimisation that gets you
to the top of Google Maps
Google Business Profile optimisation and automated review management for UK tradespeople and service businesses. More calls. More enquiries. No ad spend.
Most Google Business Profiles are invisible - including yours
Most UK small businesses have a profile that was claimed, partially filled in, and then forgotten. No photos updated in years. Reviews trickling in at random. Not in the local pack. Meanwhile the competitor two streets over - who finished their profile and quietly built up 60 reviews - gets the calls you should be getting.
Less than 40% complete
An incomplete profile ranks below competitors who filled theirs in properly. Categories, services, photos, attributes - each one missing costs you position in the local pack.
No review system
Asking customers manually works for a week and then stops. Without a consistent process, your review count stays flat while competitors quietly build up 50, 60, 80 reviews.
Not in the local pack
Google's top-3 map results get 44% of all local search clicks. If you're not in those three listings, you are not getting called - regardless of how long you've been in business.
Google shows three businesses.
Reviews decide which three.
When someone searches "plumber near me" or "wedding car hire Surrey", Google displays a map with three business listings above all organic results. That block - the local pack - gets 44% of all clicks from the search. The businesses below it share the rest.
Getting into those three spots is primarily a Google Business Profile problem. GBP signals account for approximately 32% of Google Maps ranking - more than any other single factor, including your website.
The two signals Google weighs most heavily: review count and review recency. Seventy-three percent of buyers ignore reviews older than 30 days. A steady flow of new reviews outperforms a large static total. This is why businesses with an automated review process consistently outrank those without one, even with a lower total.
Profile completeness matters too. Google rewards businesses that fill in every field - categories, services, attributes, photos, posts - because complete information signals an active, trustworthy business. Most profiles are less than 40% complete.
Two things that move the needle - I do both
Getting into the local pack and staying there requires two things: a properly optimised profile and a consistent stream of recent reviews. The optimisation is a one-off job. The reviews need a system.
GBP Audit & Optimisation
A full review of your Google Business Profile against the 40+ ranking factors Google uses - followed by a complete fix of everything that is holding you back.
- Category optimisation (primary and secondary)
- Business description rewritten with target keywords
- Services, products, and attributes completed
- Photo refresh and naming recommendations
- NAP consistency check across major directories
- Q&A section seeded with common questions
- GBP post strategy and first post written
Reviews Chaser
Get more Google reviews with automated review requests sent to your customers after every job. Set it up once - it runs in the background and your review count grows every month.
- Review request email sent after every completed job
- Personalised with your business name and branding
- Timed correctly - not immediately, not too late
- Dashboard showing requests sent and reviews received
- Starter: up to 200 requests/month
- Pro: unlimited requests + WooCommerce/webhook integration
Reviews Chaser is a separate product. See the full product page →
How it works
Three steps from invisible to ranking - most clients are up and running within two weeks.
GBP audit
I check your current profile against the key ranking factors and show you exactly where you are losing visibility - and how far behind your top local competitors you currently sit.
Full optimisation
I fix everything. Categories, description, services, photos, attributes, citations. Your profile becomes one that Google wants to show at the top of the local pack for your area.
Automate reviews
I set up Reviews Chaser to send a review request after every job. Your customers get a personal ask at exactly the right moment. Most say yes - and your ranking keeps climbing.
Step 1 - I audit your profile
Step 2 - I optimise everything
Step 3 - More calls come in
What happens when a profile is properly optimised
Source: BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey 2025, Google Search Quality Guidelines, Moz Local Ranking Factors
Stats are industry averages. Individual results depend on market, competition level, and starting position.
Straightforward pricing
No retainer lock-in on the one-off services. The subscription plans cancel any time.
Find out exactly where your profile is losing ground and what needs fixing.
- Full profile audit against 40+ ranking factors
- Written report with prioritised action list
- Competitor comparison for top 3 local rivals
- Delivered within 3 working days
Audit plus I fix everything - done-for-you, no ongoing commitment.
- Everything in the Audit
- Full profile rewrite and optimisation
- NAP citation check and corrections
- First GBP post written and published
- Handover report with ongoing maintenance guide
Automated review requests for trades and service businesses.
- Up to 200 review requests per month
- Branded email with your business name
- Dashboard and review tracking
- Cancel any time
Unlimited requests with automation hooks for online shops and booking systems.
- Unlimited review requests
- WooCommerce plugin included
- Webhook API for any booking system
- Priority support
Most clients start with Full Optimisation + Starter. The optimisation gets you into the local pack. Reviews Chaser keeps you there.
Google Business Profile - common questions
Why isn't my business showing up on Google Maps?
The most common reasons are: the profile is unclaimed or unverified, key information is incomplete (categories, services, photos), you have very few reviews or none from the last 30 days, or your business name and address are inconsistent across online directories. Google's local algorithm weighs all of these. An audit identifies which are affecting you specifically.
What is the Google local pack?
The local pack is the block of three business listings with a map that appears at the top of Google when someone searches for a local service - "plumber Redhill", "dog groomer Caterham" and so on. It appears above all organic website results. The three businesses shown there get 44% of all clicks from that search. Everyone below the pack gets a small fraction of the remaining traffic.
How long does Google Business Profile optimisation take to show results?
Most profile changes are picked up by Google within 1-2 weeks. Ranking improvements in the local pack typically become visible within 4-8 weeks. Review growth is faster - new reviews appear immediately and Google responds to review velocity quickly. Most clients see measurable movement within the first month.
How many Google reviews do I need to rank in the top 3?
There is no fixed number, but the data is fairly consistent: businesses with 50 or more reviews and a 4.5+ star rating are 57% more likely to appear in the top 3. More importantly, recency matters - Google weighs recent reviews heavily, which is why a steady flow of new reviews outperforms a large static total. Ten reviews in the last month beats 80 reviews from three years ago.
Can't I just do this myself for free?
You can. Google Business Profile is free to use. But there are 40+ optimisation factors, Google updates the algorithm regularly, and the ongoing effort - posts, review responses, photo updates, monitoring - is real. Most business owners set the profile up once and leave it. That's why a properly maintained profile still stands out in most local markets.
What's the difference between Google Business Profile and Google Ads?
Google Ads are paid listings - you pay per click and they stop the moment your budget runs out. Google Business Profile is organic - your ranking is based on how well your profile is optimised and how many recent reviews you have. Ads can supplement your visibility, but GBP is the foundation. A well-optimised profile with strong reviews can outrank paid competitors in the local pack at no ongoing cost.
Is Google Business Profile optimisation the same as local SEO?
Google Business Profile optimisation (formerly Google My Business optimisation) is the most important single part of local SEO - it accounts for approximately 32% of local pack ranking signals, which makes it the biggest lever available. Full local SEO also includes your website content, backlinks, citation consistency, and location pages. I offer a <a href="/local-seo" style="color:var(--c-primary)">full local SEO service</a> separately, but for most small businesses, getting the GBP right first produces the fastest and most measurable results.
I already have a Google listing - why do I need this?
Most Google Business Profiles are less than 40% complete even when the business owner believes they are "done". The most common gaps: wrong primary category, missing secondary categories, no services listed, no photos of the work or premises, no regular posts, and a description that doesn't mention the target search terms. The audit shows exactly what yours is missing compared to the competitors ranking above you.
Find out where you're losing visibility
A £59 audit shows exactly why competitors are appearing above you in Google Maps and what it would take to change that. Full written report within 3 working days.
Questions? Get in touch - or read more about Reviews Chaser
