5 Google Business Profile Tips Every Tradie Needs to Know

If you're a tradie, there's a good chance someone has already searched for your services on Google today. Maybe they typed "electrician near me" or "plumber Northern Beaches" — and they found either you or your competitor.

The thing that determines who shows up first? More often than not, it's your Google Business Profile (the listing that appears on Google Maps and in those top search results with the map).

The good news is, you don't need to be a marketing expert to get this right. Here are five practical tips that any tradie can action this week to start showing up more often and winning more local work.

1 Claim and verify your profile

Here's something that surprises a lot of tradies: Google may have already created a listing for your business. If someone has left you a review, or your business appears in any online directory, there could be a profile sitting there right now that you don't control.

That's a problem, because if you haven't claimed it, you can't update your phone number, add photos, respond to reviews, or do any of the things that help you rank higher.

What to do: Head to business.google.com and search for your business name. If it exists, claim it. If it doesn't, create a new one. Google will ask you to verify — usually by phone, email, or a postcard to your address. It takes five to 10 minutes to set up, and it's completely free.

If this sounds like a hassle, or you want it done properly from the start, we offer a full Google Business Profile setup service that handles everything for you.

2 Pick the right categories

When you set up your profile, Google asks you to choose a primary category. This is one of the biggest ranking factors for local search — and a lot of tradies either skip it or pick the wrong one.

Your primary category tells Google what your business does. It should be the most specific option that matches your main service. Then you can add secondary categories for anything else you offer.

For example, if you're an electrician, your primary category should be "Electrician" — not "Contractor" or "Home Services". Then you can add secondary categories for specialist services you offer. The right combination depends on your trade and what you want to rank for — get it wrong and you could be invisible for the searches that matter most.

3 Add photos of your actual work

This one's simple but powerful. Google has confirmed that businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for directions and 35% more clicks to their website than those without.

And we're not talking about stock photos. Customers can spot a generic image a mile away. What builds trust is real photos of your real work — a switchboard you rewired, a bathroom you tiled, a garden you landscaped, your van parked at a job site.

What to upload:

• Before-and-after shots of completed jobs
• Photos of you and your team at work (puts a face to the name)
• Your vehicle with your branding on it
• Close-ups of quality workmanship

Aim to add at least two to three new photos every month. Google rewards profiles that are regularly updated with fresh content — it signals that the business is active and trustworthy.

4 Get reviews and respond to every one

Reviews are the single biggest trust signal for local customers. When someone searches for a tradie, they're looking at two things: how many reviews you have and what the most recent ones say.

But here's the part most people don't know about: review velocity matters. Research shows that if your profile goes more than 18 days without a new review, your rankings can start to slip. Google wants to see a consistent stream of recent feedback — not 50 reviews from two years ago and then nothing.

How to ask for reviews (without being awkward)

Most happy customers are willing to leave a review — they just need a nudge. The easiest approach is to ask right after you've finished a job and the customer is happy with the result.

Then send them a direct link to your review page. You can find this in your Google Business dashboard under "Ask for reviews" — it gives you a short link you can text or email.

And always respond to every review — good or bad. A short "Thanks, [Name] — really appreciate it" shows potential customers that there's a real person behind the business. For negative reviews, stay calm, acknowledge the issue, and offer to resolve it offline. How you handle a bad review often matters more than the review itself.

5 Post weekly updates

Did you know your Google Business Profile has a built-in posting feature? Think of it like social media, but specifically for Google. You can share updates about recent jobs, seasonal tips, special offers, or anything relevant to your services.

Why bother? Because Google notices when a profile is active. Regular posts signal to Google that your business is engaged and current — and that can give you a ranking boost over competitors who set up their profile and forgot about it.

Post ideas for tradies:

• "Just finished a full rewire in Dee Why — if your house was built before 1990, it might be time for an electrical safety check"
• "Storm season's coming. Now's a good time to check your gutters and downpipes"
• "We're booking fast for May — get in touch this week to lock in your spot"
• A before-and-after photo with a short caption about the job

You don't need to write an essay. Two to three sentences with a photo is enough. Aim for one post per week — even fortnightly is better than nothing.