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The Ultimate Guide to Google Business Profile Optimization

By Claire Carlile
Psst! Want us to do your local SEO for you? Click here!
GUIDE SECTIONS
GBP MANAGEMENT
GBP OPTIMIZATION
MEASUREMENT & REPORTING

You found it! The ultimate resource with everything you need to know to get the most out of your Google Business Profile in 2026, including management best practices, optimization opportunities & strategies, measurement & reporting, troubleshooting problems, and so much more.

What you'll find in this guide:

We’ve compiled our top Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) resources into one mega-guide. Our goal? To help you optimize your profile, grow your local search visibility, and convert searchers into customers.

Many business owners and SEO professionals find the constant changes to Google Business Profiles both confusing and frustrating. We’ve designed this guide to help you cut through the noise and take full advantage of the platform to:

  • Earn more visibility in local search.

  • Improve your brand's appearance in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).

  • Own your branded search results.

  • Drive more customer conversions.

Google Business Profile features and functionality are constantly evolving. We will keep this guide updated with the latest management strategies and best practices. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to get the most out of your profile - so read on to get those GBP tastebuds tantalized!

The guide is divvied up into key areas and then subdivided into sections:

An introduction to GBP

This section lays the foundation by explaining what the platform is and its critical role in local SEO, helping you understand why claiming and optimising your Google Business Profile is key to your Local SEO success.
Sections:
What is a Google Business Profile (GBP)?

GBP management

These sections cover the myriad ways that you can manage your Google Business profile – whether you’re a single location mom and pop store, an agency, right through to an enterprise multi location behemoth.
Sections:
Bulk management
Business settings
Creating, claiming & verifying
Maintaining & protecting your GBP

GBP optimization

These sections take you through the various features of Google Business Profile highlighting the opportunities and pitfalls of each.
Sections:
Categories
Business info
Services
Bookings & appointments
Q&A
Attributes
Products
Photos & videos
Google posts (AKA updates)
Reviews
  • Influences rankings
  • Does not influence rankings

Measurement & reporting

These sections take you through the metrics that matter in Local SEO and outline how to make use of Local SEO related data to demonstrate the value of your work, and to improve business performance.
Sections:
GBP performance

Troubleshooting

These sections will help you navigate the challenges of verification, suspension and lots more beside!
Sections:
Coming soon

Get your GBP optimized by the pros!

Our SEO Services experts will optimize your Google Business Profile and website so you can take care of business.

10 reasons to choose Whitespark:
1. Industry-leading experts
We’re committed to being at the forefront of local SEO education and strategies. We lead research projects, speak at conferences, and are featured in major publications.
2. Solutions for every business
Whether you’re a small service area business or a large multi-location enterprise, our team has customized solutions for your business.
3. World class customer service
We value honest and direct communication and transparency.
4. Evidence-based local recommendations
Our processes and strategies are based on years of experience and research. and are designed to help you succeed.
5. Proven local search strategies
We stay on top of the latest developments in local search and test everything. Our focus is getting you more leads, customers, and revenue.
6. Supercharge your local SEO
Our team can help take your local search marketing to new heights with our Google Business Profile, Website Management, and Link Building services. All for a more affordable rate than most agencies.
7. Performance reports that make sense
Stay informed with reports that only track what actually matters, from the most reliable sources.
8. Empowering local businesses since 2010
The work we do is critical to the businesses we help.
9. No contracts, no startup fees
We know that business is dynamic and always changing. We won’t ever force you to sign a contract or pay a start up fee.
10. Flat monthly fee
What you sign up for is what you pay. No surprises or hidden fees.
Check it out!

Whitespark provides powerful software and expert services to help businesses and agencies drive more leads through local search.

Founded in 2005 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, we initially offered web design and SEO services to local businesses. While we still work closely with many clients locally, we have successfully grown over the past 20 years to support over 100,000 enterprises, agencies, and small businesses globally with our cutting-edge software and services.

WHITESPARK

DARREN SHAW

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CONTENTS
GUIDE SECTIONS
GBP MANAGEMENT
GBP OPTIMIZATION
MEASUREMENT & REPORTING