Your Complete Google Maps Optimization Action Plan
Optimizing for Google Maps can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into clear, actionable steps makes it manageable. Use this comprehensive checklist to audit and improve your Google Maps presence. MultiGen Online Marketing uses this same framework with our Texas clients in Irving, Houston, and Austin.
Google Business Profile Basics (Items 1-10)
1. Claim and verify your GBP listing. 2. Select the most accurate primary category. 3. Add all relevant secondary categories. 4. Write a complete 750-character business description with local keywords. 5. Ensure your business name exactly matches your legal business name. 6. Confirm your address is accurate and formatted consistently. 7. Add your correct primary phone number. 8. Add your website URL. 9. Set accurate business hours including holiday hours. 10. Enable messaging on your profile.
Content and Visual Optimization (Items 11-20)
11. Upload a high-quality profile/cover photo. 12. Add at least 10 photos of your business, team, and services. 13. Upload a short introduction video. 14. Create your first Google Post. 15. Set up a weekly posting schedule. 16. Add all products and services with descriptions. 17. Pre-populate the Q&A section with 10 common questions. 18. Enable the booking button if applicable. 19. Add your service area if you serve clients at their location. 20. Set up a Google Post for a current promotion.
Reviews and Reputation (Items 21-30)
21. Create a direct review link to share with clients. 22. Email your last 20 clients asking for a review. 23. Add review request to your post-service follow-up process. 24. Set up review alerts. 25. Respond to every existing review. 26. Address any outstanding negative reviews professionally. 27. Set a monthly review goal (e.g., 10 new reviews per month). 28. Create an automated review request system. 29. Share positive reviews on social media. 30. Monitor reviews on Yelp, Facebook, and BBB as well.
Citations and Consistency (Items 31-40)
31. Audit your NAP consistency across the web. 32. Fix any NAP inconsistencies you find. 33. Submit to the top 10 business directories. 34. Create/claim your Yelp listing. 35. Create/claim your Bing Places listing. 36. Create/claim your Apple Maps listing. 37. Create/claim your Facebook Business Page. 38. Create/claim your LinkedIn Company Page. 39. Add your business to industry-specific directories. 40. Monitor for new duplicate listings quarterly.
Website and Technical SEO (Items 41-50)
41. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly. 42. Test and improve your page load speed. 43. Add your NAP to the footer of every page. 44. Create a dedicated contact page with your full address. 45. Implement LocalBusiness schema markup. 46. Create location-specific landing pages for each city you serve. 47. Link your website to your GBP listing. 48. Set up Google Search Console. 49. Submit your sitemap to Google. 50. Install Rank Math or another SEO plugin and optimize each page.
Need help executing this checklist? MultiGen Online Marketing manages complete Google Maps optimization campaigns for Texas businesses. Call (800) 203-8979 to get started.
