For a contractor in BC, Google Business Profile (GBP) is often more important than the website itself. When someone in your area searches "plumber near me" or "roofer Coquitlam", the first thing they see is the map and the three businesses inside it. If you are not in that pack, the call goes to whoever is.
What a Google Business Profile Is
GBP is the free listing Google gives every business. It controls how you appear in Google Maps, in the local Maps Pack on regular search, and in the Knowledge Panel on the right side of the results page. For a local trade, it is the single most valuable piece of free real estate on the internet.
How to Claim or Create Your Profile
Go to business.google.com and search for your business name and address. If a listing already exists, click "Claim this business" and follow the verification steps (Google usually mails a postcard with a code, but for trades, video verification is becoming common). If nothing exists, create a new profile from scratch with the same form.
Picking the Right Category
This is where most contractors make their first mistake. Google ranks you partly based on how well your primary category matches the search. "Contractor" is too broad. Pick the narrowest accurate category: "Plumber", "Roofing contractor", "Flooring contractor", "Electrician", and so on.
You can add up to nine secondary categories. Use them. A general contractor who also does kitchens should list "General contractor" as primary and add "Kitchen remodeler", "Bathroom remodeler", and "Renovation" as secondary. Each one expands the searches you can show up for.
What to Fill In (and What Most People Skip)
- Service area: list every city you actually work in, not just the one your office is in.
- Services: a full list with short descriptions. Most contractors leave this blank.
- Hours: real hours, including holiday hours. Outdated hours kills trust.
- Website link: link to a relevant page on your site, not just the homepage.
- Phone number: same number that appears on your website, with the same formatting.
- Description: 750 characters. Mention your trade, your service area, and what makes you different. Skip the marketing speak.
Picking the Right Service Area
For service-area businesses (no storefront), Google lets you list cities or postal codes you serve. Be realistic. Listing 50 cities to "cast a wide net" actually hurts you - Google trusts your profile less when the area is implausibly large. Stick to the cities you genuinely service and would happily drive to.
Photos That Actually Help
Add real, original photos. Job sites, completed work, your team, your truck or van with the logo, before and after shots. Avoid stock photos and avoid the same photo across every listing. Google rewards profiles with regular fresh photos, and customers trust them more than text.
Getting Your First Reviews
Ask your last five customers in person or by text. A simple "If you have a minute, would you leave us a review on Google? Here's a link" works. Send the direct review link, not a generic one. You can grab the short link from your GBP dashboard.
Ongoing Posting
GBP posts are short updates that show up in your profile. A photo of a recent job, a seasonal reminder, a note about a new service. Posting two to four times a month signals to Google that the profile is active and bumps you up in local rankings over time.
Want Help With This?
GBP is one of the core deliverables in our local SEO service. We optimize the profile, keep it active, and make sure it works alongside your website rather than being treated as an afterthought.