Google My Business for Tradies: The Complete Setup Guide

If you search for a tradie in your area on Google right now, you'll see a map with three businesses listed underneath it. That box is called the Google Map Pack and showing up there can generate more local enquiries than almost anything else you can do online.

The way you get there starts with Google My Business (now called Google Business Profile, though most people still call it GMB). It's free to set up and it's one of the highest-return things you can do for your trade business.

Here's how to do it properly.

Create or Claim Your Profile

Go to business.google.com and search for your business name. If you've been operating for a while, Google may have already created a basic listing for you using information from directories or your website. If it exists, claim it. If it doesn't, create one.

You'll need to verify your business. Google usually does this by sending a postcard to your business address with a code, though some businesses can verify by phone or email.

Fill Out Every Section

A half-completed profile gets less visibility than a complete one. Go through every section and fill it in properly.

Business name: Use your actual trading name. Don't stuff keywords in here ("John's Plumbing Best Plumber Melbourne") as Google can remove profiles for doing this.

Category: Choose the most specific primary category for your trade. "Plumber" is more specific than "Contractor" and will help you show up for the right searches.

Address: Use your actual address if you have a shop or office. If you work from home and don't want to display your address publicly, you can set a service area instead and hide your exact address.

Service area: Add every suburb you regularly work in. Be realistic. If you're a plumber based in Frankston, listing the whole of Melbourne doesn't help you. Listing the Mornington Peninsula suburbs you actually serve does.

Phone number: Make sure it's the number you answer. This is what people click on when they find you.

Website: Link to your website. If you don't have one yet, this is another good reason to get one.

Hours: Keep these accurate and updated. If you're closed over Christmas or have different hours for certain periods, update them.

Services: Add the specific services you offer, not just your trade category. The more specific you are, the more searches you can show up for.

Description: Write a short paragraph about your business. Include your trade, the areas you cover, and a line or two about what makes your service worth calling. Keep it factual, no marketing fluff.

Add Photos Regularly

Google Business Profiles with photos get significantly more clicks than those without. Add photos of completed jobs, your van or vehicle, your team, and any certificates or awards.

Keep adding new photos every month or two. Fresh content signals to Google that your profile is active and maintained.

Ask for Reviews Consistently

Google reviews are one of the biggest factors in where you rank in local search. More reviews, and better reviews, mean more visibility.

After every completed job you're happy with, ask the customer directly: "If you have a minute, a Google review would really help us out." Give them the link to make it as easy as possible. You can shorten your review link at business.google.com.

Respond to every review, positive or negative. For positive ones, a short genuine thank you is enough. For negative ones, respond calmly and professionally. How you handle a bad review tells potential customers more about you than the review itself.

Post Updates Regularly

The posts feature on Google Business Profile lets you publish updates that appear directly in your listing. Job photos, seasonal promotions, a note about your availability.

Posting once or twice a month keeps your profile looking active and gives Google more reason to show it. It doesn't take long and it's free.

Use It Alongside Your Website

Your Google Business Profile and your website work together. When they're consistent (same name, same phone number, same address) and both well maintained, your chances of showing up in local search go up significantly.

Neither one does as good a job alone. Together, they're the foundation of any tradie's local online presence.