Google Business Profile Tips to Get More Local Leads in 2025
Is your Google Business Profile sending customers to your competitors?
If it’s outdated or worse, abandoned, you could be invisible when it matters most.
Your Google profile is one of the most powerful (and free) visibility tools you have.
On top of that, 88% of consumers trust Google reviews as much as personal recommendations.
That means if your profile isn’t pulling its weight, neither is your marketing.
At The Digital Crew, we help small, local service-based businesses show up and stand out without doing more. Our Google Business Profile Optimization service includes:
Keyword-rich profile optimization
Weekly updates + Google Posts
Review + image management
Messaging setup + monthly insights
Local Rank Tracking + full audit
A done-for-you strategy built around your business
You don’t need more tasks. You need results.
👉 Let’s fix that. Book your free strategy call!
Or keep reading to learn:
Why your profile might be underperforming (and how to fix it)
What’s new in 2025
The checklist we use to help clients rank + convert
How to land in the Local 3-Pack (where the clicks happen)
What we’ll need from you and what we’ll handle
How to know if we’re the right team for your business
Let’s get into it.
The Google Profile Trap Most Businesses Fall Into
You know it’s essential to get found on Google. So you claimed your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business).
✅ Verified it.
✅ Filled in the basics.
❌ Then… you moved on.
Totally normal. Most business owners stop there.
But here’s the truth:
An inactive profile doesn’t just sit there quietly. It sinks.
🚫 In rankings and visibility
🚫 In trust
🚫 In leads and conversions
Meanwhile?
Your competitors might not be crushing it either… but they’re doing just enough to outrank you.
Let’s flip that.
It’s time to turn your Google profile into the most valuable (and shockingly underused) member of your marketing team.
Why It Matters (And Why You Shouldn’t Ignore This)
Think of your Google Business Profile like prime real estate.
If it's empty, outdated, or looks abandoned, it's basically a boarded-up storefront on Main Street with a “Back Soon” sign from 2021 and no one’s walking in.
But when it’s optimized and up-to-date:
✅ You hit Page 1
✅ You earn trust before they even hit your website
✅ Encourages users to take action and turns “hmm, maybe” into “let’s book it”
✅Creates a trust signal and builds credibility
✅Provides a good user experience
✅ You land in the Local 3-Pack
The local 3-pack shows the top three businesses Google thinks are worth a customer’s time.
Those top 3 listings get 5x more views and nearly 3x more engagement than the rest. If you’re not in it, you’re not really in the game.
Here’s the kicker:
Your competitors might not even be doing it well but if they’re doing it at all, they might be ahead of you.
Let’s fix that.
Steve Holt, GBP Lead
Meet Our Google Profile Expert
At The Digital Crew, we’ve helped dozens of service-based businesses stop winging it and start showing up where it counts, at the exact moment someone searches.
And if you want the secret weapon behind the rankings? Meet Steve Holt, our local SEO strategist and the guy who’s turned sleepy Google profiles into lead-generating machines.
“Think of your Google profile like a live wire. Feed it energy, and it powers your growth.” — Steve Holt, GBP Lead, The Digital Crew
🔍 Client Win!
A local landscaping business we worked with had no reviews and zero visibility. After optimizing their profile, adding review prompts, and geo-tagging job site photos, they saw a 42% increase in profile actions and 3X the calls in just 60 days.
What’s Included in Our Google Business Optimization Package
Here’s what we handle for our clients:
Here’s what our Google Business Profile Optimization service includes:
✔ GBP Audit to identify quick wins and technical fixes
✔ Weekly updates + strategic Google Posts
✔ Review and photo management (because credibility counts)
✔ Keyword-rich profile optimization
✔ Google Messaging setup with custom replies
✔ Monthly insights you can understand
✔ Local Rank Tracking to monitor your position over time
✔ Local Search Grid to see exactly where you're showing up
✔ Citation Tracker to spot missing or inconsistent listings
✔ Full Local Search Audit to uncover what’s working—and what’s not
✔ A done-for-you strategy built around your goals (not a cookie-cutter template)
Your time is better spent running your business. Ours is spent making sure people find it.
What’s New with Google Business in 2025?
Google’s rolled out some actual upgrades (not just annoying layout changes):
Run Google Ads straight from your profile in just a few clicks
View simplified analytics—track searches, views, and clicks
Create smarter Google Posts (promos, events, offers—get seen where it matters)
Use enhanced messaging—custom auto-replies, read receipts, even SMS alerts
Stay on top of reviews faster—with easier tracking and response tools
And yes, it’s now even easier to update your hours, services, phone number, or description without pulling your hair out.
Food For Thought
97% of people learn about a local business online before reaching out.
If your profile isn’t pulling its weight, you’re getting passed over before they even click.
What Your Profile Actually Needs
If your profile is half-filled or missing key info, you’re not helping yourself.
Here’s the checklist to get it working for you and not against you:
✅ Updated business hours (especially around holidays)
✅ Clickable phone number, website, and booking link
✅ Primary & secondary categories that actually reflect what you do
✅ A keyword-rich business description that makes sense to humans
✅ Verified service area or address, and a correctly dropped pin
✅ High-quality profile photo, logo, and team or project images (not text heavy)
✅ Clear CTAs like “Book Now” or “Call Today”
✅ Linked social media profiles
✅ Google Messaging setup with a friendly welcome message
Google Business Profile Certified
Certified to Get You Found on Google
We’re certified, experienced, and know how to boost visibility, earn trust, and turn searches into leads.
Why this matters:
✔ Higher local search rankings
✔ More calls, clicks, and direction requests
✔ Consistent visibility without ads
Ready to get found?
Reach out today to start winning more customers.
Google Profile Maintenance Checklist
🔁 Daily:
Check for new reviews and respond within 24–72 hours (sooner = better)
Monitor messages if chat is enabled (aim to reply within 1–3 hours)
Pro tip from Steve: “Speed builds trust. A same-day reply shows customers you’re present and tells Google your business is active.”
🗓 Weekly or Biweekly:
Post a fresh photo or two—team pics, projects, events, seasonal stuff
Share an update, promo, or offer with a clear call-to-action
Learn how Google wants you to manage photos and videos.
📅 Monthly:
Review Insights—what keywords are working? What are people doing once they land on your profile?
Update service descriptions, products, or pricing if anything has changed
Double-check that your business info (hours, links, location) is accurate
Pro tip from Steve: “Send a quick thank-you after someone pays their invoice. Include a review link. Most people are happy to support you—they just need the nudge.”
🍁 Seasonally:
Update your cover photo to reflect the season
Add seasonal keywords (think: “spring clean,” “holiday gift card,” etc.)
Adjust hours for holidays
Refresh photos so your business always feels alive
Seasonal updates show Google (and your customers) you’re active, relevant, and worth choosing because YOU ARE!
Keep your profile fresh and competitive by adding creative updates. Try our 52 Google Business Profile post ideas and make sure you’re collecting reviews the right way with our 2025 Google reviews guide.
Did You Know?
📉 58% of businesses aren’t optimizing for local search
🤷♀️ 31% want to but have no clue where to start
🧠 Only 30% have a real strategy behind it
Translation? Most of your competitors are just winging it, even if they are showing up and you aren't. This is your moment to do it smarter.
Local SEO That Works While You Sleep
Let’s say you’re a Nanaimo-based plumber serving the mid-island.
You’ve got happy clients. You do great work.
But if your Google profile isn’t optimized, Google won’t show you off.
And if Google’s not showing you off, you’re not getting that new wrapped service van.
You’re not expanding your team.
You’re definitely not taking your partner to that dreamy, Instagram-worthy village in Europe they’ve been dropping hints about for years.
Let’s change that.
✅ Add keywords your customers actually type (like “emergency drain cleaning”)
✅ Choose primary and secondary categories that match your real services
✅ Upload high-quality photos from job sites (geo-tagging won’t boost rankings. Confirmed here. But real, relevant images still build trust)
✅ Skip the jargon and talk like a real human
Want a bigger strategy behind your local SEO? Check out our full SEO services for service-based businesses.
The Bottom Line
Google Business Profiles aren’t set-and-forget.
They’re living assets and, like anything valuable, they need attention.
When it’s active and optimized:
✅ You get found
✅ You build trust
✅ You get booked
When it’s outdated:
❌ You fall off the radar
❌ You lose credibility
❌ You lose business
A Few Quick Questions, Answered.
Is it free?
Yes and it is one of the most powerful free tools you have.
What’s it good for?
Local SEO. Trust-building. Lead generation. Conversions.
How do I find mine?
Make sure you are on your business profile and then 👉 Search your business here
When should I hire help?
If you don’t have time to stay on top of posting, track updates from Google, or optimize your profile for real results and you’re ready for your business to grow, it’s time.
This Is Where We Come In
You’ve got a business to run. You shouldn’t be worrying about posting schedules, review prompts, or whether your Google profile is up to date.
That’s where we come in.
Here’s what we’ll need from you (and it’s minimal):
📩 A quick reply or two to get access set up
📸 A few photos. We’ll guide you on what works best
📆 Any promos or updates you’d like us to highlight
💬 Fast answers to simple questions so we can keep momentum going
That’s it.
What You’ll Get in Return (With Almost No Extra Work):
✅ A profile that shows up where it matters—on Page 1
✅ More trust, more clicks, more booked leads
✅ Weekly posts, updates, and reviews handled for you
✅ Messaging setup and review responses that build credibility
✅ Clear, monthly insights you can actually use
✅ A fully managed local SEO strategy—done for you
We handle the backend. You get the bookings.
Let’s make sure your next customer finds you—not your competitor.
But Are We a Good Fit?
We don’t work with just anyone and that’s intentional.
We’re here to create real results, not just tick boxes.
We work best with local B2C (business-to-customer), service-based businesses that are ready to grow and ready to partner with us to make it happen.
Here’s who we do work with:
✅ Service-Based + B2C – You work directly with customers in your local area and provide services that solve real problems—plumbers, wellness pros, stylists, cleaners, home trades, creatives… we see you.
✅ Local and Looking to Grow – You’re rooted in your community and want to show up when people in your city search for what you offer.
✅ Value-Driven and Time-Smart – You want big results, with as little effort on your part as possible. We’ve built our process to be seamless—you just need to show up when it counts.
✅ In It for the Long Game – You’re not looking for shortcuts. You want a strategy that works (and keeps working) while you run your business.
✅ Easy to Work With – You’re responsive, clear, and open to collaboration. We don’t need hours of your time, we just need the essentials to work our magic.
Your Next Lead Is Looking. Are You There?
Visibility isn’t optional anymore.
Let’s get your profile found, trusted, and converting.
