To optimize your Google Maps presence, choose a primary business category that precisely reflects your core service or product, as this is the most important factor for local search rankings. Then, add a few relevant secondary categories that describe additional services you offer, but avoid selecting categories for every product or service you have.
Key points for choosing the right business categories:
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Be specific: Use the most specific category available that matches your specialty (e.g., “Divorce Attorney” instead of just “Lawyer”).
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Align with business goals: Pick categories that represent your most profitable or desired services and those with high search volume keywords.
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Research competitors: Look at the categories used by top local competitors to find relevant options.
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Limit the number: Google allows one primary and up to nine secondary categories, but usually fewer well-chosen categories are better to avoid confusion or penalties.
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Update seasonally if needed: You can change your primary category anytime to reflect seasonal shifts in your business focus (e.g., HVAC companies switching between “Furnace Repair Service” and “Air Conditioning Contractor”).
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Use categories consistently: Incorporate your chosen categories in your local business schema markup, citations, and other local listings to strengthen relevance signals.
Additional tips:
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Your primary category determines the attributes and options available in your Google Business Profile backend, so choose it carefully.
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Use local keywords naturally in your business description and Google Posts to reinforce your category relevance and location.
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Avoid keyword stuffing or selecting irrelevant categories, as Google may penalize your listing for quality issues.
In summary, select one very specific primary category that best represents your main business offering and add a few relevant secondary categories to cover additional services, ensuring all choices align with your business goals and local search intent. This approach maximizes your Google Maps visibility and ranking potential.
