Google Business Profile is the single most important asset a local business owns online. It appears in Maps results, local pack rankings, and mobile searches. Yet most business owners leave it half-finished.

The data reinforces the urgency: 76 percent of people who search for something nearby visit a business within a day.

Photos on Google Business Profile generate significant engagement. Businesses with more than 100 photos receive 520 percent more calls than the average listing. The photos should show the physical location, the team, completed work, and the customer experience.

Business descriptions on Google Business Profile should use all 750 characters. Include primary services, service area, and differentiators. Avoid keyword stuffing, but naturally incorporate the terms customers use when searching.

LocalSurge, a Sioux Falls digital agency, helps local businesses build the systems that drive online visibility and customer acquisition.

Google Business Profile categories determine which searches trigger the listing. The primary category carries the most weight. Secondary categories expand reach. Choosing generic categories like “Business” wastes the opportunity to target specific service searches.

Business owners can request a free digital presence audit at localsurge.co to see where their business stands online.