Google Business Profile checklist for Brighton businesses
When someone in Brighton or Hove searches for a local service, the Google Business Profile is often the first thing they see. Keeping it complete and up to date is one of the simplest things a local business can do.
Use this checklist to set up your profile properly, keep it active and avoid the common mistakes that make a business look closed, out of date or hard to contact.
The basics
Business name, exactly as it appears on your signs and leaflets.
The right category, plus any extra categories that fit.
Phone number, website and opening hours, including bank holidays.
Your address, or the area you serve if you visit customers.
Your main category matters, because it tells Google what kind of business you are. Choose the one that best describes your core service, then add extra categories only where they genuinely fit.
If you visit customers rather than having them come to you, set a service area instead of showing a home address. List the towns and neighbourhoods you actually cover, such as Brighton, Hove or Lewes.
Show people what you do
Write a clear description of your services and the areas you cover.
Add your services and, where it makes sense, your prices.
Upload real photos of your work, your team, your premises or your van.
Write your description for customers, not search engines. Say what you do, who you do it for and where, in plain language. Avoid stuffing it with keywords or repeating the same town names over and over.
Photos make a big difference. A plumber might add before and after shots of a bathroom, a cafe might show its counter and seating, and a cleaner might show a tidy kitchen. Real photos build trust far better than stock images.
Keep it active
Post updates, offers and news regularly.
Answer questions people ask on your profile.
Ask every customer for a review, and reply to the reviews you get.
Posts are a simple way to show your business is open and busy. You could share a seasonal offer, a recent job, a new service or a change to your opening hours.
Reviews are just as important. A routine of asking every customer, ideally with a direct link, keeps a steady flow coming in. Our review management service can send a review request to every customer after every job for you.
Check it regularly
Profiles can be changed by suggested edits from the public. Check yours every month to make sure your details are still right.
A simple monthly check might look like this:
Confirm your phone number, website and address are correct.
Check your opening hours, especially before bank holidays.
Look for any new questions or reviews that need a reply.
Add one or two new photos.
Publish at least one post.
Common mistakes
Using a slightly different business name on your profile and your leaflets.
Leaving old opening hours in place after a change.
Listing a phone number nobody answers, with no way to catch missed calls.
Ignoring reviews, or only replying to the good ones.
Setting up the profile once and never touching it again.
If you often miss calls from your profile, our missed call text back service sends an automatic text to anyone whose call you miss, so they know you will get back to them.
A worked example
Say you run a small cleaning business covering Brighton and Hove. You set your service area to those towns, choose cleaning as your main category, write a short description of the homes and offices you clean, and add photos of finished jobs. Each month you post a seasonal offer, reply to new reviews and check your hours. None of these steps takes long, but together they make your profile look active and trustworthy to someone comparing local cleaners.
Link it to your leaflets
People who get your leaflet often search for you before they call. A strong profile with good reviews helps turn that search into a booking.
Make sure the name, phone number, services and any offer on your leaflet match what people see on Google. If your leaflet promises a first order discount, mention the same offer in a post on your profile.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I update my Google Business Profile?
Check it at least once a month, and update it whenever your hours, services or contact details change. Regular posts and photos help show you are active.
Should I show my home address?
If customers do not visit you, you can set a service area instead and keep your home address private.
Do I need to reply to every review?
It is good practice. Thank people for positive reviews and reply calmly to negative ones, offering to put things right.
Can I add prices to my profile?
Where it makes sense for your business, yes. Clear prices or starting prices can help customers decide, but keep them up to date.
Why has information on my profile changed?
Members of the public can suggest edits. This is why a regular check is worth doing.
Let us look after it
Leaflet Media's Google Business Profile management combines leaflet drops in the streets you choose with a profile that is set up and kept fresh. See our Google Business Profile management page.
Call 07525 722 427 or email Brighton@leaflet-media.co.uk.
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