Master the **Local Search Foundation Checklist** to ensure Google has the "confidence" to show your business to local customers. Optimize your Google Business Profile (Digital ID Card), align your website for verification (Proof), and build ongoing trust with photos and review management.
Stuck on what to blog about? Your audit report gives you a list of 100+ proven topics—the exact services customers are searching for right now.
Go beyond your GBP category. A detailed Services list is your secret weapon to capture high-intent customers & boost your local SEO. Learn the expert strategy inside.
The single most important word on your Google Business Profile for local search ranking is your **primary category**. The "IS vs. HAS" doctrine in relation to Google Business Profile categories states that your categories must describe what your business *is*, not just list the products, services, or amenities it *has*. For example, a motel with a swimming pool *is* a "Motel," it *has* a swimming pool. Choosing "Swimming Pool" as a category would be a mistake. A business can use one primary category and up to nine secondary categories on their Google Business Profile, making a total of ten categories.