The Google Business Profile settings most landscapers leave empty
Your Google Business Profile is usually the first thing a homeowner sees about you, on Google Maps and in Google’s AI answers. Most landscape companies set it up once and never finish it. Filling in the settings below takes an afternoon, and it is the fastest visibility win most firms have.
- Choose the closest primary category, then add secondary categories only for services you really sell.
- List every service you want to be found for, and describe each one in a sentence or two.
- Keep it alive: new project photos and short posts show Google and homeowners that you are active.
1. Primary and secondary categories
Your primary category tells Google what you are. Pick the closest match to the work you most want, then add secondary categories for other services you genuinely sell, for example design, hardscaping or pools. Don’t add categories for work you don’t do; they bring the wrong searches.
2. Services
This list is often left empty. Add each service you want to be found for, such as paver patios, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, landscape lighting or pool landscaping, and write a short, plain description for each. These are words Google and AI assistants can match to what homeowners ask.
3. Service areas
If you work at clients’ homes, set service areas instead of showing a storefront address. Google allows up to 20, and suggests keeping the overall area within about two hours’ drive. Start with the towns you most want to win (see the five towns rule).
4. Business description
You have a limited number of characters, so use them for facts, not slogans: what you design and build, the kind of projects you take on, the towns you serve and what makes your process different. Write it for a homeowner, not for a search engine.
5. Opening date, hours and contact options
Add the year you opened; years in business build trust. Set your real hours, and if consultations are by appointment, say so. Add your website, a phone number that is answered, and a link to book or request a consultation if you have one.
6. Photos of real projects
Upload your own finished projects, not stock images: wide shots of the whole space, details of materials and before-and-after pairs. Add new ones as projects finish. A profile that shows recent work looks active, because it is.
7. Posts
Short posts about a finished project, a seasonal offer or a common question keep your profile fresh. One or two a week is plenty. Mention the service and the town in the text.
8. Reviews and replies
Reviews are part of the profile too. Ask every client after each project and reply to every review, good or bad, in a calm and specific way. We cover how in how to ask for a review after every project.
Questions
How often should I update my Google Business Profile?
Add photos and a post whenever a project finishes, and review the whole profile every quarter: services, hours, description and categories.
Should I add keywords to my business name?
No. Use your real business name. Adding keywords to the name goes against Google’s guidelines and can get a profile suspended.
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Next article: How to ask for a review after every project without it feeling awkward →