well-optimized Google My Business (GMB) profile—now officially known as the Google Business Profile—is one of the most powerful tools for local visibility. But just claiming your profile isn’t enough; you need to audit it regularly and implement a dedicated google my business optimization service mindset to ensure it performs at its best. Whether you’re a small business owner or a digital marketing freelancer, here’s a professional handleiding google my business (guide) to auditing and ranking your profile the right way.
1. What is Google My Business? The Basics
Before diving into the technicalities, it is important to answer the fundamental question: what is google my business? It is a free tool that allows you to manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps. Having a verified google my business account is the first step toward appearing in the "Local Pack," which drives massive amounts of local seo google my business traffic.
2. Setting Up Your Google My Business Account
To get started, navigate to the google my business login page. If you are starting fresh, you will need to google my business aanmaken (create) or google my business opzetten (set up) your profile by providing your official google my business location.
- Accuracy is Key: Ensure the business name, address, and phone number (NAP) match your website exactly.
- Keywords in Name: Only include keywords if they are part of your legal brand name (e.g., “Schilderwerken Amsterdam”).
- Map Verification: Confirm your map pin is accurate and that your phone number is clickable for mobile users.
3. Review Categories and Optimisation
Your google my business profile ranking depends heavily on your categories. Ensure your primary category reflects your core service, and add relevant secondary categories for better google my business local seo.
- Description: Your business description should be locally optimized using keywords like [Service] + [City].
- Optimization: Ongoing google my business optimization involves keeping these categories updated as your business expands.
4. Visual Content and Brand Identity
Photos build trust faster than text. Use the google my business logo feature to upload a high-quality version of your brand icon.
- Regular Updates: Upload new photos of your team, storefront, and completed projects every 1–2 months.
- Conversion Gold: Use "before-and-after" photos to show results, which significantly boosts engagement.
5. Review Management and the Google Review Link
Positive reviews are a major google my business ranking factor.
- Engagement: Respond to every review professionally, including the negative ones.
- The Link: Provide customers with a direct google review link for my business to make it easy for them to leave feedback.
- Problem Solving: Learn how to remove bad reviews from google my business by following Google’s flagging policy for spam or prohibited content.
6. Utilizing the Google My Business Dashboard & Posts
The my google business dashboard is your command center. Use it to post to google my business regularly with updates, testimonials, or special offers.
- Insights: Use the google my business reporting tool within the dashboard to track calls, direction requests, and bookings.
- Engagement: High google my business posts engagement signals to Google that your business is active and relevant.
7. Advanced Management: API and Bulk Tools
For agencies managing multiple locations, using the google my business agency dashboard or the google my business api is essential for scale.
- Efficiency: Tools like google my business posting software or a google my business manager can automate updates across hundreds of listings.
- Product Integration: You can bulk upload products to google my business to showcase your inventory directly in the search results.
Google My Business Checklist for 2026
- google my business listing: Ensure all core services are listed with descriptions.
- google my business seo: Use consistent formatting and natural keyword integration.
- how to boost my business on google: Post FAQs in the Q&A section to address concerns proactively.
- google my business app: While the standalone app has transitioned to Maps/Search, keep your profile updated via mobile.
