In 2024 and onwards, Google My Business (GMB) continues to be a critical tool for businesses looking to enhance their online visibility and attract more customers. GMB categories play a crucial role in how businesses are displayed in Google search results and maps. Ensuring you select the most relevant categories for your business is essential for maximizing your online presence. In this comprehensive guide, we provide you with the complete updated list of Google My Business categories, helping you make informed decisions to improve your local search rankings and drive more traffic to your business.
What are Google My Business Categories?
Google My Business categories are a set of predefined labels or tags that help describe the nature of a business. These categories are used in Google My Business listings to help users and Google understand what services or products a business offers. When a business creates or claims its Google My Business listing, it must choose one or more categories that best represent its primary offerings. These categories play a crucial role in determining how the business appears in Google search results and Google Maps. By selecting the most relevant categories, businesses can improve their visibility to potential customers searching for products or services like theirs.
Understanding Google My Business Categories
Google My Business allows you to select up to ten categories that best describe your business. These categories help Google understand what your business is about and match it with relevant search queries from users. Choosing the right categories is crucial, as it can significantly impact your visibility in local search results. Google regularly updates its list of categories to ensure businesses can accurately represent themselves online.
Why are GMB Categories Important?
- Increased visibility: Google uses your chosen categories to understand your business and display it in relevant search results. Accurate categories ensure you reach the right audience.
- Improved ranking: Choosing relevant categories can positively impact your ranking in local search results, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
- Enhanced user experience: Clear and accurate categories inform users about your business offerings, leading to a better understanding and potentially increased engagement.
How To Find Competitor Business Categories
While Google doesn’t directly offer a comprehensive list of competitor categories, you can utilize a few techniques to uncover them:
1. Leverage Google Maps:
- Primary Category: Locate your competitor on Google Maps. Underneath their star rating, you’ll find their primary category.
- Secondary Categories (Using Code):
- Right-click on the white space next to their primary category.
- Select “View Page Source” (or similar option depending on your browser).
- Use the search function (Ctrl + F on Windows or Command + F on Mac) to find their primary category text within the code.
- Locate the line with the category text and scroll to the right. You’ll see their secondary categories listed in code format.
2. Analyze Competitor Websites:
- Look for the “About Us” or “Services” section on their website. This often outlines their core offerings, helping you identify relevant categories.
3. Utilize Industry Resources:
- Industry associations or directories might list businesses under specific categories, providing insights into your competitors’ classifications.
4. Consider Freemium Tools:
- Some dedicated SEO or local search monitoring tools can offer competitor category information (although these often come with subscription fees). You can use GBPGM tool to check the competitors categories.
Remember, this information is for informational purposes only. Always prioritize choosing categories that accurately represent your own unique business offerings to avoid misleading potential customers.
How to Choose the Best Category for your Google Business Profile?
Choosing the best category for your Google Business Profile is essential to ensure that your business is visible to the right audience. Here’s how you can choose the best category:
- Relevance: Select categories that accurately describe your business and the products or services you offer. Choose categories that customers would use to search for your business.
- Specificity: Be specific with your category selection. Choose the most specific category that describes your business. For example, if you own a pizza restaurant, choose “Pizza Restaurant” instead of just “Restaurant.”
- Local Search: Consider how people in your area search for businesses like yours. Use categories that reflect local search behavior.
- Competition: Look at the categories your competitors are using. Choose categories that differentiate your business from competitors but are still relevant to your offerings.
- Customer Intent: Think about what customers are looking for when they search for businesses like yours. Choose categories that align with their intent.
- Google Guidelines: Follow Google’s guidelines for selecting categories. Choose categories that are allowed by Google and accurately reflect your business.
- Updates: Regularly review and update your categories as your business offerings change. Stay current with new categories that Google may introduce.
By following these tips, you can choose the best category for your Google Business Profile, helping you attract more customers and improve your online visibility.
Choosing the Right GBP Categories
- Primary category: This is the most crucial category that best represents your core business.
- Secondary categories: Up to 9 additional categories can be chosen to provide further details about your offerings.
- Be specific: Opt for categories that accurately reflect your specific services or products.
- Avoid irrelevant categories: Choosing unrelated categories can mislead users and negatively impact your ranking.
Here’s the challenge: Google doesn’t publicly disclose a complete and up-to-date list of all available categories. However, we’ve compiled a comprehensive resource based on the latest information and industry insights. This is a live list that is being updated on a regular basis.
Complete Updated List of Google My Business Categories
FAQs on Google My Business Categories
1. How many GMB categories can I choose?
You can select up to 10 categories for your GMB profile, with one primary category and up to 9 additional categories.
2. What’s the difference between the primary and secondary categories?
The primary category is the most crucial one, defining your core business type. It holds the most weight in search results. Secondary categories provide further details about your specific offerings, but they carry less weight compared to the primary category.
3. How do I find the right categories for my business?
Start by identifying your core business activity and choose the category that best represents it. Then, explore additional categories that accurately reflect your specific services or products. Avoid using irrelevant categories to maintain user trust and ranking.
4. Can I see a complete business category list?
Unfortunately, Google doesn’t publicly share a comprehensive and up-to-date list. However, the blog post provides a complete and updated business category list to help you navigate and find relevant categories for your business type.
5. How often should I review my GMB categories?
It’s recommended to regularly review and update your GMB categories as your business evolves. New services or offerings might necessitate adding or adjusting your chosen categories to ensure accurate representation.
6. Can I see my competitors’ GMB categories?
While Google doesn’t directly display them, you can use techniques like analyzing their Google Maps listing code, website content, or industry resources to gain insights into potential categories they might be using (as mentioned in the blog post above). Remember, focus on choosing accurate categories for your own business to avoid misleading customers.
7. Where can I find more information about GMB categories?
You can refer to Google’s official support resources on GMB categories or explore additional blog posts or industry guides related to local SEO and GMB optimization for further insights. Keep following the LSTT blog section to stay updated on this.