Google Business Profile for Auburn & Columbus

Your phone isn't ringing because your Google Business Profile is broken.

Not broken like "error 404" broken. Broken like "hey Google, show people my competitor instead of me" broken.

Here's the reality: when someone in Auburn or Columbus searches "plumber near me" or "best HVAC repair," Google decides in milliseconds who gets the call. And if your profile isn't dialed in, you're invisible.

The good news? Most local businesses are getting this wrong. Fix these 11 things, and you'll jump ahead of 90% of your competition.

Why Your GBP Actually Matters

Google Business Profile isn't just your digital business card. It's your storefront, your sales pitch, and your first impression rolled into one.

When someone searches for your service, they're not browsing five websites like it's 2010. They're making decisions right there in the Google search results. Your profile photo, your reviews, your response time, it all factors into whether they tap "call" or keep scrolling.

Google ranks profiles based on three things: relevance, distance, and prominence. You can't change your location, but you can absolutely dominate the other two.

The 11 Fixes That Get You More Calls

1. Nail Your Primary Category

Your primary business category is the single most important ranking factor.

Choose wrong, and you won't show up for the searches that matter. A general contractor picking "construction company" instead of "home remodeler" could miss 70% of relevant searches.

Pick the category that matches what you actually do and what people actually search for. Check what your highest-performing competitors use. Google lets you add secondary categories too, use them.



2. Complete Every Single Field

Incomplete profiles scream "we don't care" to both Google and potential customers.

Fill out your business description with real keywords (not keyword-stuffed garbage). Add your hours. Include appointment URLs. Upload your menu. Add service areas.

Google rewards complete profiles because they provide better user experiences. Empty fields mean missed opportunities.

3. Post Weekly (Minimum)

Dead profiles don't rank. Google wants to show active businesses that are engaged with their community.

Post updates, offers, events, and news at least once a week. Use real photos (not stock images). Include a call-to-action in every post.

Think of posts like social media content that actually matters for SEO. Each post is another signal to Google that you're a real, active business worth showing.

4. Upload Photos Like Your Livelihood Depends On It

Because it does.

Businesses with photos get 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks. Upload at least 3 photos per week, show your work, your team, your location, your process.

Make sure photos are high quality, properly sized (720x720 minimum), and actually represent your business. No blurry iPhone shots from 2015.

Your exterior shot matters too. If customers can't recognize your building, they can't find you. Consider professional storefront signage that makes you instantly recognizable both in-person and in photos.

5. Own Your Reviews (Request + Respond)

Reviews are social proof, ranking signals, and trust builders all at once.

Build a system to request reviews from happy customers. Text them a direct link. Make it stupid easy.

More important: respond to every single review. Thank people for 5-star reviews. Address complaints professionally. Google watches response rates and response times.

Never, ever buy fake reviews. Google's getting scary good at detecting them, and the penalty is brutal.

6. Monitor and Answer Q&A

The Q&A section is where competitors plant landmines and customers ask deal-breaker questions.

Check it weekly. Answer questions promptly and professionally. Seed helpful questions yourself (yes, this is allowed and smart).

Unanswered questions look like you're not paying attention. Wrong answers from random people can kill conversions.

7. List Every Service You Offer

If you offer a service and don't list it, you won't show up when people search for it.

Add every service as a separate item with its own description. HVAC company? List furnace repair, AC installation, duct cleaning, maintenance plans: separately.

This isn't about keyword stuffing. It's about matching what people actually type into Google.

8. Get Your Hours Right (Especially Holidays)

Nothing kills trust faster than showing up to a "closed" business that Google said was open.

Update your hours immediately when they change. Mark holiday hours in advance. Enable the "Open Now" badge during business hours.

Bonus: If you offer emergency services, say so. "24/7 Emergency Plumbing" beats "Plumber" every time at 2 AM.

9. Enable Messaging and Actually Respond

Most businesses enable messaging and then... ghost people.

Turn on messaging only if you'll respond within minutes. Google shows response rates publicly. If you're at 50%, you're telling customers to call your competitor instead.

Set up notifications. Assign someone to monitor it. Or don't enable it at all: but if you do, be fast.

10. Track Everything with UTM Parameters

You can't improve what you don't measure.

Add UTM tracking codes to your website link in your GBP. Set up call tracking through a service like CallRail. Monitor clicks, calls, direction requests, and messaging volume.

Know which fixes actually move the needle. Double down on what works.

This data also helps when you're expanding your digital presence: like understanding if your website design is converting the traffic your GBP sends.

11. Fight Spam Listings Like Your Ranking Depends On It

Because it does.

Fake businesses, spam listings, and duplicate profiles dilute the local search results. If there are five fake locksmiths ranking above you, your real business suffers.

Report spam listings through Google. Flag keyword-stuffed business names. Report fake addresses.

Cleaning up your local search ecosystem helps everyone: except the spammers.

Your GBP Optimization Checklist

Print this. Check it monthly.

Profile Basics

• Primary category is accurate and specific
• All business information fields completed
• NAP (Name, Address, Phone) matches website exactly
• Service areas added
• Hours accurate and updated

Content & Engagement

• Posted at least once this week
• Uploaded new photos this week
• Responded to all reviews in past 30 days
• Checked and answered Q&A section
• All services listed individually

Technical & Tracking

• Website URL includes UTM parameters
• Call tracking enabled
• Messaging response time under 10 minutes
• Booking/appointment links added
• Reported any spam/fake listings

Ongoing Monitoring

• Review insights dashboard weekly
• Compare performance to last month
• Test search results in incognito mode
• Check competitor profiles for new tactics

Beyond Your Google Profile

Your GBP doesn't exist in isolation.

The businesses winning in Auburn and Columbus are thinking holistically about their presence. Your digital profile should match your physical presence: and vice versa.

That means a website that actually converts (not one built in 2012 that looks like it). Professional signage that makes you recognizable. Branded materials that build trust.

When your storefront sign matches your Google photos, and your website reinforces your GBP messaging, and your team wears branded hats that remind customers who helped them: you build a cohesive brand that sticks.

That's when the phone really starts ringing.

Get Your Free GBP Audit

Want to know exactly what's broken in your Google Business Profile?

We'll audit your profile, compare it to your top 3 competitors, and give you a prioritized list of fixes that'll actually move the needle.

No pitch deck. No boring webinar. Just a straight assessment of where you're losing calls and how to fix it.

Contact us for your free audit, or check out our full digital marketing services to see how we help local businesses in Auburn and Columbus dominate their markets.



Your competition isn't waiting. Why are you?