Why the profile decides the map results
The three businesses in the map at the top of a local search come from Google Business Profile data. Google weighs how close the business is, how well its profile matches the search, and how prominent it is. You cannot move your business, but you can control the other two.
A profile with current photos, answered reviews and a full list of services gives Google more to match against and more reason to trust it.
Answer every review, including the good ones
Reply to each review by name, in your own voice, within the month. Thank the good ones specifically. For a poor one, state what happened, what you did about it and how to reach you. People read the replies to see who they are dealing with.
Ask for reviews in the moment the job ends, with a direct link. The customers who are pleased will do it if you make it short.
Add photos and check the services list
Upload a few photos of recent work, the team and the premises each month. Real photos from a phone beat stock images. Then open the services list and confirm it still matches what you sell and what your website says.
- Photos of finished work, taken on site
- Hours, including holiday hours
- Services, with a line of description each
- The service area towns, matching your website
Post one update and answer the questions
A post is a short note about an offer, a job you finished or a seasonal reminder. One a month is enough to show the profile is active. Then read the questions and answers section. If nobody has asked anything, add the three questions you hear most and answer them yourself.
Watch calls and direction requests
The profile reports calls, website clicks and direction requests. Note them once a month next to your routine. When they rise after a change, keep doing that thing. When they drop, look at what changed on the profile or at a competitor who moved above you.
We track map positions for clients alongside their organic rankings, so the profile work and the website work are read together.