Your Google Business Profile is your most important free marketing tool. Here is how to set it up correctly and keep it working hard for your business.
Google Business Profile (GBP) is the single most important free marketing tool available to Oregon contractors. It is the foundation of your local search presence — the source of your Map Pack listing, your Google reviews, your business information in Google Maps, and increasingly, your appearance in Google AI Overviews. Yet most contractors either have not claimed their GBP or have left it incomplete and unoptimized.
Step 1: Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile
Before you can optimize your GBP, you need to claim it. Go to business.google.com and search for your business. If it already exists (Google often creates listings automatically), claim it. If it does not exist, create it. Verification is required — Google will send a postcard to your business address with a verification code, or may offer phone or email verification for some businesses.
Step 2: Complete Every Section
A complete GBP profile ranks significantly higher than an incomplete one. Google rewards businesses that provide comprehensive information because it improves the user experience. Do not skip any section.
GBP completion checklist:
- 1Business name: Use your exact legal business name — no keyword stuffing
- 2Primary category: Choose the most specific category that describes your main service
- 3Secondary categories: Add all relevant secondary categories
- 4Business description: Write a 750-character description with your primary keywords and service area
- 5Services: List every service you offer with descriptions and prices where applicable
- 6Hours: Include regular hours and special hours for holidays
- 7Phone number: Use a local area code — 541 for Eugene, 503 for Portland
- 8Website: Link to your optimized contractor website
- 9Photos: Upload at least 20 high-quality photos
- 10Attributes: Add all relevant attributes like veteran-owned, women-owned, licensed, insured
Step 3: Generate and Respond to Reviews
Reviews are the most visible element of your GBP and one of the strongest ranking signals. Businesses with more reviews and higher ratings consistently rank higher in the Map Pack. More importantly, 93% of consumers say online reviews influence their purchase decisions. A systematic review generation process is not optional — it is essential.
Step 4: Post Regularly
GBP Posts are one of the most underused features of Google Business Profile. Posting weekly — project photos, seasonal tips, promotions, announcements — signals to Google that your business is active and engaged. Active profiles rank higher than inactive ones. Posts also appear directly in your GBP listing, giving potential customers more reasons to choose you.
Want us to fully optimize your Google Business Profile and manage it on an ongoing basis? Our GBP management service includes weekly posts, review response, and monthly performance reporting.
Learn About GBP ManagementRandy is the founder of Optimize Media Marketing and has 15+ years of digital marketing experience helping Oregon home service contractors dominate local search.