Key takeaways
Google Business Profile Services represent a significant but underutilized opportunity for local businesses. By taking the time to comprehensively list your services, something most competitors skip, you give Google more ways to connect your business with relevant searches.
The behind the scenes nature of this feature means you’re building SEO value, meaning Google is more likely to display your business to those looking for your services, without cluttering your public profile, making it a win-win optimization strategy.
Ready to give your business a competitive edge? Access your Google Business Profile today and start adding your services. Begin with your core offerings, then expand to include every treatment, procedure, or service you provide. Your improved local visibility will be worth the investment.
Why Services Matter on Your Google Business Profile
Most businesses optimize their Google Business Profile (GBP) with photos, attributes, and basic details, but few take the time to add services.
Unlike these profile elements that visitors can see directly, services work behind the scenes to help Google show your business when customers search for what you offer.
This approach gives you a competitive advantage because most businesses never dive into this level of detail with their profiles.
How to Add Services to Your Profile
Log into your Google Business Profile
Search for your business name in Google and make sure you’re logged into the right profile.
Navigate to “Edit Services”
While most people stop after uploading photos and updating attributes, this is where you can stand out.
Use GMB Everywhere Extension (Optional)
A free tool called GMB Everywhere can help businesses show up better on Google and manage their listings across different locations. By hitting “Find Services,” you’ll see Google’s suggested services based on your business category.
Choosing the Right Services
Google suggests services linked to your selected categories, which help ensure your business appears in the searches most relevant to your products or services. For example:
- An orthopedic surgeon might see options like:
- Orthopedic consultation
- Knee replacement surgery
- Hip replacement surgery
- Arthroscopic surgery
- A men’s health clinic might add services like:
- Testosterone testing
- Health screenings
- Preventive care
The goal: add as many relevant services as you can.
Add Custom Services
Beyond Google’s suggestions, you can add custom services tailored to your specific offerings. When adding a custom service like “Orthopedic Second Opinion,” Google will review it to ensure legitimacy before approval.
For instance:
- Custom service: “Orthopedic Second Opinion”
- Custom service: “Carpal Tunnel Treatment”
Each custom entry must be reviewed by Google before going live, but once approved, they strengthen your profile’s depth.
Strategic Approach to Service Selection
Draw from Your Existing Resources
The best source for service ideas is often right in front of you:
Your Price List: Every billable service on your internal price list represents a potential Google Business Profile service, even if you don’t display pricing publicly.
Common Treatments: Think about the conditions you regularly address. For medical practices, this might include:
- ACL tears
- Rotator cuff problems
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Procedures and Treatments: Any injections, procedures, or surgeries you perform can become individual services.
Match Services to Categories
When adding services, go to the most relevant business category available. For instance:
- Testosterone testing → Men’s Health Clinic category
- Hand surgery → Hand Surgeon category
Google’s GMB Everywhere extension will suggest many services based on your business categories, as this strategic categorization helps Google better understand and match your services to user searches. Alternatively, you can manually enter custom services.
Service Descriptions and Pricing
When adding services, you can also:
- Set prices: Helpful for SEO and customer trust (if you’re comfortable making them public).
- Write descriptions (up to 300 words): These aren’t visible to customers but help Google understand and categorize your services better.
Pro tip: You don’t need to write these descriptions from scratch. Use AI tools (like ChatGPT) to generate concise, detailed summaries based on your website content.
Implementation Best Practices
Quantity Matters
Add as many relevant services as possible. There’s no penalty for being comprehensive, and each additional service creates another opportunity for Google to match your business with relevant searches.
Quality Control
While you want to be thorough, ensure every service you add is something you actually provide. Google reviews custom services, and accuracy maintains your profile’s credibility.
Regular Updates
As your business evolves and you add new services or treatments, update your Google Business Profile accordingly. This keeps your profile current and maximizes visibility opportunities.
Former NHS doctor. Writes about durable, clinically-sound search for specialist clinics. Diagnosis before prescription, every time.
