When someone in Maroochydore searches "electrician near me" or "best cafe Noosa", three businesses appear in a map box at the top of the results. That's the Local Pack — and it's driven entirely by Google Business Profile (GBP).

GBP is the most visible, highest-converting, and most underutilised digital marketing tool available to local businesses in Australia. It's completely free. It takes less than an hour to set up properly. And yet most businesses either haven't claimed theirs, or have done it with half the information missing.

Here's exactly what to do, step by step.

What Google Business Profile Actually Does

Without a GBP, you're invisible in local search. No map listing, no reviews showing in search results, no directions button, no click-to-call. Your competitors who have claimed and optimised theirs are getting enquiries you should be getting.

With a complete, active GBP, you can appear in the Local Pack for dozens of relevant searches — "your service + your suburb", "your service + near me", and branded searches for your business name.

7x

more clicks for businesses with complete GBP profiles compared to incomplete ones (Google internal data)

Step 1 — Claim or Create Your Listing

Go to google.com/business and search your business name. Google may have already auto-generated a listing for you (especially if you've been in business a while). If it exists, claim it. If not, create one from scratch.

Verification usually happens one of three ways: a postcard mailed to your business address (takes 1–2 weeks), phone or SMS verification (instant), or video verification (a live walkthrough of your premises). Get this done first — nothing else works until you're verified.

Step 2 — Complete Every Single Field

This is where most businesses stop short. Google rewards completeness. Fill in every field — here's the eight that matter most:

01 · Business name

Exactly as it appears on your signage and website. No keyword stuffing.

02 · Primary category

Pick the most specific one that fits. Add secondary categories too.

03 · Address or service area

If you're mobile, set a service area instead of a physical address.

04 · Phone number

Your main local number — must match your site and other directories.

05 · Website URL

Link to your homepage or a relevant landing page.

06 · Business hours

Include public holidays and special hours — Google rewards accuracy.

07 · Business description

You get 750 characters — use them. Describe what you do and your service area naturally.

08 · Services / products

List every service individually. Each one can show up in search results.

Want Us to Set This Up For You?

GBP setup and optimisation is included in our website packages. If you'd rather have it done properly the first time, get in touch.

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Step 3 — Add Photos (Minimum 10)

Businesses with photos receive significantly more direction requests and website clicks than those without. Add:

Update your photos regularly. Google rewards active listings. Real photos of your actual business always outperform stock images — customers want to see what they're actually getting.

Step 4 — Get Reviews, Then Respond to Every One

Reviews are the single most influential ranking factor in local search after proximity. A business with 50 reviews at 4.8 stars will almost always outrank a competitor with 5 reviews at 5.0.

The best way to get reviews: ask. After every completed job, send a short SMS or email: "Thanks for choosing us — if you're happy with the work, a quick Google review helps us more than you know. Here's the link: [direct review link from your GBP dashboard]."

"A professional, gracious response to a negative review often impresses potential customers more than the negative review itself hurts you. Always respond — it shows you care."

From your GBP dashboard, go to Reviews and reply to every one. For positive reviews, a brief thank you. For negative ones, acknowledge the issue, apologise sincerely, and offer to make it right offline. Never argue in public.

Step 5 — Post Weekly Updates

GBP has a Posts feature — like a mini social feed attached to your listing. You can share:

Posts expire after 7 days by default, so a weekly habit keeps your listing looking active. Google's algorithm factors in listing activity — businesses that post regularly tend to rank better than dormant ones.

Step 6 — Pre-Populate the Q&A Section

Google lets anyone ask questions on your GBP listing — and anyone can answer them. Take control of this by asking and answering the questions your customers most frequently ask. Think: "Do you service [suburb]?", "Do you offer free quotes?", "Are you licensed/insured?", "What's your typical response time?"

These answers appear directly on your listing. The less friction between a potential customer and contacting you, the better.

76%

of people who search for a local business on their smartphone visit that business within 24 hours (Google/Ipsos)

What To Do After You've Set It Up

GBP isn't a set-and-forget task. Treat it like a living asset:

Combine an optimised GBP with a fast, well-structured website and you've got a powerful local SEO foundation. For the full picture on local search rankings, read our guide on how Google ranks local businesses, and for the broader Sunshine Coast strategy, see The Sunshine Coast Business Guide to Getting Found Online.