GMB ONE · free 2027 checklist
Is your Google Business Profile ready for 2027?
24 checks to get your Google profile ready for Maps and AI search in 2027, from the basics to reviews and AI answers. Tick what you already do, watch your score build, and get a fix plan in priority order. About five minutes, no sign-up needed.
- checks
- 24
- checks
- areas
- 4
- areas
- to finish
- 5 min
- to finish
The checklist
Answer honestly. "Not sure" is a useful answer: it goes on your plan as something to confirm. Your ticks stay in this browser, so you can come back later.
The basics Google must get right
Wrong basics cost you calls and visits every day.
0 of 6 answered
Essential
Your profile is claimed and verified
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Search your business name on Google while signed in. If you see 'You manage this Business Profile', you're verified.
- Why it matters
- Only a verified owner can edit the profile, reply to reviews and see how customers find you.
- How to fix it
- Go to business.google.com, claim your business and finish the verification Google offers, often a short video.
Essential
The name matches your signboard exactly
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Compare the name on your profile with your signboard and documents. No extra words like 'best' or the city name.
- Why it matters
- Google's guidelines require your real-world name. Added keywords can get a profile suspended.
- How to fix it
- Edit profile → Business name. Use exactly the name customers see on your sign and bills.
Essential
Your primary category is the most specific one
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Edit profile → Business category. Is it the closest match, like 'Pediatric dentist' rather than 'Dentist'?
- Why it matters
- Experts consistently rank the primary category among the most important local ranking factors.
- How to fix it
- Choose the most specific primary category, then add secondary categories for other things you genuinely offer.
Important
Your map pin and address are correct
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Open your profile in Google Maps and check the pin sits on your entrance and the address is complete.
- Why it matters
- A wrong pin sends customers to the wrong place and makes the distance Google calculates wrong too.
- How to fix it
- Edit profile → Location. Fix the address and drag the pin to your entrance. Service businesses can set a service area instead.
Important
Your phone is answered during listed hours
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Call your own listed number at a busy time. Does someone answer, or is there a clear way to reach you?
- Why it matters
- Missed calls are lost customers, and Google's AI has started calling businesses for customers in some countries.
- How to fix it
- List the number someone answers. Use call forwarding or a second line for busy periods.
Important
The website link opens the right page
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Tap the Website button on your profile. Does it open a working page about this location?
- Why it matters
- People tap it to check prices and details. A broken or generic link loses them.
- How to fix it
- Edit profile → Contact → Website. Link to your home page or the page for this branch.
Details that answer customer questions
Every detail you add can match one more search.
0 of 6 answered
Essential
Your regular hours are correct
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Check every day's opening and closing time on your profile against reality.
- Why it matters
- People often look for places that are open now. Wrong hours mean missed or wasted visits.
- How to fix it
- Edit profile → Hours. Set each day, including any lunch break, and mark closed days.
Important
Special hours are set for holidays and festivals
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Edit profile → Hours → Special hours. Are your next holidays and festival days there?
- Why it matters
- Without special hours, Google shows your normal hours, even when you're closed or open late.
- How to fix it
- Add each upcoming holiday and festival day with your actual hours, or mark it closed.
Important
Your services or products are listed with prices
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Edit services or Edit products. Is each main service listed with a short description and a price or range?
- Why it matters
- Listed services and prices help Google match specific searches and answer 'how much' questions.
- How to fix it
- Add each main service with two lines of description and a price or 'from' price where you can.
Nice to have
Attributes are filled in
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Edit profile → More. Check payments, accessibility, amenities and other options that apply.
- Why it matters
- Attributes match the conditions people add to searches, like 'wheelchair accessible' or 'accepts UPI'.
- How to fix it
- Tick every attribute that is true for your business. Leave out anything that isn't.
Nice to have
Your description says what, where and for whom
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Read your description. Does it say plainly what you do, where, and what makes you different?
- Why it matters
- It's your own words on the profile, and it helps customers decide quickly.
- How to fix it
- Write up to 750 characters in plain language. Mention your area or landmark. No links or keyword lists.
Nice to have
A booking, menu or order link is added where it fits
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- If customers book, order or read a menu, is that link on your profile?
- Why it matters
- It shortens the path from search to customer, for people and for booking assistants.
- How to fix it
- Edit profile → Contact or Menu. Add your booking page, menu or order link if your category supports it.
Photos and freshness
Fresh photos and updates show you're open and active.
0 of 6 answered
Important
A clear photo shows your entrance and sign
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Look through your photos. Is there a daylight photo of the shopfront that a first-time visitor would recognise?
- Why it matters
- Customers use it to find you on arrival, and it confirms the business is real.
- How to fix it
- Take a straight-on daylight photo of the entrance with the sign visible and upload it.
Important
You added new photos in the last three months
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Check the dates on your newest owner photos.
- Why it matters
- Recent photos show what you're like today and keep the profile looking cared for.
- How to fix it
- Add a few real photos each month: inside, your team at work, popular products or finished jobs.
Nice to have
Your logo and cover photo are set
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Check the logo and the main photo shown at the top of your profile.
- Why it matters
- They're the first things people see and help them recognise your brand.
- How to fix it
- Upload a square logo and choose a cover photo that shows your business at its best.
Nice to have
You posted an update or offer in the last month
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Check the Updates section on your profile for a recent post.
- Why it matters
- Updates share offers and news right on the profile and show you're active.
- How to fix it
- Add update → share an offer, a new product or an event. One a month is a good start.
Important
You check your profile for changes every month
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Do you look at your profile monthly for edits suggested by Google or the public?
- Why it matters
- Anyone can suggest edits, and Google sometimes changes details. Unnoticed changes can be wrong.
- How to fix it
- Set a monthly reminder to review your profile and fix anything that changed without you.
Important
There are no duplicate or old listings
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Search your business name and phone number in Google Maps. Is there only one listing for this location?
- Why it matters
- Duplicates split your reviews and confuse customers and Google.
- How to fix it
- Report duplicates in Google Maps (Suggest an edit → Close or remove → Duplicate) or ask Google support to merge them.
Reviews and AI readiness
Reviews and consistent details decide who gets recommended.
0 of 6 answered
Essential
You ask every happy customer for a review
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Do you share your review link or QR code with customers as a habit, not just now and then?
- Why it matters
- Reviews are among the main reasons people choose one local business over another.
- How to fix it
- Get your link from Ask for reviews on your profile. Share it on WhatsApp and the bill. Never offer anything in return.
Important
You got new reviews in the last 30 days
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Sort your reviews by newest. Is the latest one from the last month?
- Why it matters
- People weigh recent reviews heavily. Old reviews alone suggest the business may have changed.
- How to fix it
- Make asking part of every sale or visit, so reviews arrive steadily.
Important
You reply to every review
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Check whether recent reviews, good and bad, have a reply from you.
- Why it matters
- Replies show customers you listen, and a calm reply to a bad review often reassures readers.
- How to fix it
- Reply within a few days. Thank people by name, mention what they bought, and take problems offline politely.
Important
Your details match on Apple, Bing and directories
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Check Apple Business Connect, Bing Places and your main directories like Justdial for the same name, address, phone and hours.
- Why it matters
- AI assistants pull from many sources. Matching details make it easy to be sure who you are.
- How to fix it
- Claim Apple Business Connect and Bing Places (Bing can import from Google), then update each directory.
Important
Your website shows the same details as your profile
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Compare your website footer and contact page with your Google profile: name, address, phone, hours.
- Why it matters
- Matching details on your own site confirm the profile is right.
- How to fix it
- Update your website so name, address, phone and hours match your profile exactly.
Nice to have
You check what Maps and AI say about you
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Ask Ask Maps, Gemini or ChatGPT for your type of business in your area. Are you named? Are the details right?
- Why it matters
- More customers ask AI for recommendations, and you can only fix what you've seen.
- How to fix it
- Ask the same two or three questions each month and note any wrong or missing details.
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0 of 24 answered · Not started
Questions
What should be on a complete Google Business Profile?
Your exact business name, the most specific category, correct address or service area, phone, website, regular and special hours, services or products with prices, attributes, a description, recent photos including your shopfront, and a steady flow of reviews with replies.
How is the checklist score worked out?
Each check has a weight: essential checks count three times, important checks twice and nice-to-have checks once. Your score is the share of that weight you ticked as done. Checks marked not sure count as not done until you confirm them.
Will completing the checklist get me into the top three on Maps?
No one can promise a Maps position. Google says local results depend on relevance, distance and prominence. The checklist covers the parts you control, so customers and Google get complete, accurate information.
Does this checklist help with AI search too?
Yes. Google's AI features, including Ask Maps and AI Mode, draw on Business Profile and Maps data, and other assistants read listings, websites and reviews. Complete and consistent details help in all of them.
What happens to my answers?
Your ticks are kept in your own browser so you can come back to them. If you ask for your fix plan, we save your answers and the details you give to improve our tools and, if you leave an email, to send you your plan. See our privacy policy for details.
SEARCH ONE · free checklist