Google Business Profile for tradespeople

There’s a free tool from Google that can put your business on the map — literally — and most tradespeople either don’t know about it or haven’t set it up properly. It’s called Google Business Profile, and it’s one of the most useful things you can do for your trade.

What is Google Business Profile?

It’s the box that shows up on the right side of Google when someone searches for a business by name. It’s also what powers the map results when someone searches “electrician near me” or “roofer in Bristol.”

You’ve seen it a thousand times. That listing with the business name, phone number, reviews, and a little map pin? That’s a Google Business Profile.

The good news: it’s completely free to set up.

Why it matters for tradespeople

When someone has a blocked drain at 7pm on a Tuesday, they’re not browsing Instagram. They’re typing “emergency plumber near me” into Google. And Google shows them three things:

1. A map with pins on it
2. Three businesses with their ratings and phone numbers
3. A link to see more results

That map section — sometimes called the “map pack” — gets more clicks than any other part of the search results. If you’re in that top three, your phone rings. If you’re not, someone else’s does.

A Google Business Profile is how you get into that map pack.

How to set one up

It takes about 20 minutes. Here’s the process:

1. Go to google.com/business and sign in with a Google account (your Gmail works fine)
2. Enter your business name — use your actual trading name, not something stuffed with keywords
3. Pick your category — plumber, electrician, roofer, whatever fits best. You can add more categories later
4. Add your service area — the towns and cities you cover. You don’t need a shop address if you go to customers
5. Add your phone number and website — if you don’t have a website yet, just add your phone number for now
6. Verify your business — Google usually sends a postcard to your address with a code, or sometimes lets you verify by phone

Once you’re verified, your listing goes live.

How to make your listing actually work

Setting it up is only half the job. Here’s what separates a listing that gets calls from one that just sits there:

Get reviews. This is the big one. After every job, send a quick text to the customer with your Google review link. Something like: “Cheers for having us round — if you’ve got a minute, a Google review would really help us out.” Most happy customers will do it. You need at least 10-15 to start showing up consistently.

Add photos. Photos of your work, your van, your team — whatever looks professional. Listings with photos get significantly more clicks than ones without.

Keep your hours up to date. If you work Monday to Saturday, say so. If you do emergency callouts, mention it. Google uses this information to decide when to show your listing.

Post updates occasionally. Google Business Profile has a “posts” feature — think of it like a noticeboard. Share a before-and-after photo, mention a seasonal offer, or just remind people you exist. It doesn’t need to be weekly, but once a month keeps things fresh.

The website connection

A Google Business Profile works well on its own, but it works even better when it links to a proper website. Google sees that connection and thinks: “Right, this is a real business that’s serious about being found.”

Your website gives Google more detail about what you do and where you do it. Your Google Business Profile puts you on the map. Together, they cover all the ways people search.

The bottom line

If you do one thing for your business online this week, set up a Google Business Profile. It’s free, it takes 20 minutes, and it puts you in front of people who are actively searching for your trade in your area. There’s genuinely no reason not to do it.