You’ve probably set up a Google Business Profile (GBP) at some point. Maybe you even uploaded your logo. Job done, right?
Not quite.
For trades like joiners, window fitters, carpenters, or general builders, a well-optimised Google profile can bring in 5 to 10 times more local enquiries, without spending a penny on ads. But here’s the problem:
Most trade businesses set it up once and never touch it again.
That means you’re losing out on visibility, jobs, and trust just because your profile’s incomplete or outdated.
Here’s a straightforward checklist to get your profile ranking higher in Google Maps and generating steady leads every week.
Step one sounds obvious, but many trades don’t finish it.
✅ Go to google.com/business
✅ Search your business name, if it exists, claim it
✅ If it doesn’t, create one
✅ Complete the verification (usually by postcard or phone)
Until you verify your profile, you won’t appear in local search results.
Google rewards completeness.
Fill in all of this:
✅ Business Name (exactly as it appears everywhere)
✅ Address (if you work from home – hide it if needed)
✅ Service areas (add towns, boroughs, postcodes)
✅ Phone number
✅ Website URL
✅ Business category (and secondary ones)
✅ Opening hours
✅ Business description (use keywords like “joiner in Kent” or “sash window repair London”)
💡 Top tip: Use phrases your customers would type into Google. “Wooden door replacement in Canterbury” beats “high-quality bespoke joinery solutions.”
Google LOVES photos. It’s not just for aesthetics, it boosts engagement and helps your listing rank better.
Add:
📸 A clear logo
📸 Team or van photos
📸 In-progress and finished jobs
📸 Before-and-after shots
📸 Happy customer photos (with permission)
⚠️ Avoid stock images. Real work builds trust and proves you’re legit.
Reviews are one of the biggest ranking factors in local search.
✅ Ask every happy customer to leave a review
✅ Make it easy, send them a direct link
✅ Respond to all reviews (even the grumpy ones)
✅ Thank them and add keywords in your replies
“Thanks, Sarah! Glad we could help with your sash window draught proofing in Canterbury.”
No reviews = no trust = no clicks. Even just 5–10 strong reviews can skyrocket your profile.
GBP lets you add “Posts” like offers, announcements or job updates. This boosts freshness signals and helps Google rank your listing higher.
Try weekly posts like:
🛠 "New bathroom fit-out completed in Maidstone!"
🪟 "Double glazed sash windows installed in Tunbridge Wells."
💬 "We’re now booking August for garden office builds – message us to quote."
Bonus: Customers can message you directly from the profile.
Google Business Profiles are often overlooked, but they’re one of the most powerful free tools for any local trade business.
Whether you’re a window fitter in Bromley, a joiner in Camden, or a carpenter in Kent, this checklist helps you show up where it matters most: at the top of local search results.
Want help setting up or optimising your Google Business Profile? We do that and we’ll even show you how it’s performing. Book a free consultation today.
