The 10-minute Google listing self-check.

1. 1. Search like a customer.Search “[your trade] near me” and “[your trade] [your town]” from a job address, not your shop. Your own phone near your shop shows you the most flattering view you’ll ever get. Are you in the top three map results? Write down who is.Tick it if you’re in the top three for both searches.
2. 2. One listing, not two.Search your business name. You should see one listing. Two listings for one business split your reviews and confuse callers.Tick it if there’s exactly one.
3. 3. A local number.Is the number on your listing one your customers will recognize as local?Tick it if it’s a local number.
4. 4. The right main category.Your primary category should be the service that makes you the most money, not a general one.Tick it if your main category is your main money service.
5. 5. The towns you want.Does your service area list the towns you actually want work in, and only those?Tick it if the list matches where you want work.
6. 6. Your review gap.Count your reviews, then count them for the top three businesses from check 1. Write down the gap.Tick it if you have at least as many as the third of them.
7. 7. Recent reviews, answered.When did your last review come in? Did you reply to it?Tick it if your last review is recent and has your reply.
8. 8. Real photos.Are there recent photos of your work, your truck and your people? Stock photos and a lone logo don’t count.Tick it if all three are there, and they’re yours.
9. 9. Your website on a phone.Tap the website link on your listing. Does it load quickly, with a number you can tap to call near the top?Tick it if it loads fast and the number is right there.
10. 10. Call yourself after hours.At 6 p.m., call your listed number from another phone. What does a customer get: you, a voicemail, a full mailbox, or nothing?Tick it if a customer reaches you, or hears back fast.

0 of 10 already right, 10 to fix.