Journal · Google Business Profile · 2026-10-30
The Google Business Profile checklist every Eastern Kentucky business should run
Your Google profile is often the first thing a customer sees. Here is the checklist we use to take a profile from half-finished to competitive.
1. Ownership and verification
Make sure the profile is verified and owned by an account the business controls — not a former employee, a cousin, or an old agency. Add a second owner or manager so you are never locked out.
2. Categories and services
Choose the most specific primary category that describes your business, then add secondary categories that genuinely apply. Fill out the services or products section completely, using the words customers actually search.
3. Hours, holiday hours, and attributes
Wrong hours are one of the fastest ways to lose trust. Set regular hours, holiday hours before each holiday, and every attribute that applies — from outdoor seating to wheelchair access to online appointments.
4. Photos that sell the visit
Upload a logo, a cover photo, exterior shots so people recognize the building, interior shots, your team, and your best products or work. Add new photos regularly; stale galleries look like closed businesses.
5. Reviews and responses
Ask happy customers at the right moment with a short link. Respond to every review — thank the good ones, and answer the tough ones calmly and professionally. Never buy or fake reviews; it can get a profile suspended.
6. Website, menu, and booking links
Link to a fast, mobile-friendly website, and add menu, ordering, or booking links where they apply. Your profile and website should tell the same story with the same name, address, and phone number.
Paint Creek Technologies builds websites and optimizes Google Business Profiles for Eastern Kentucky businesses. Get a free site + Google review.