Google Business Profile is a powerful tool for businesses to manage their online presence. One key aspect of optimizing your Google Business Profile is selecting the right categories. This article will guide you through the process of changing Google Business Profile categories easily and effectively.
Introducing GBPGM Tool to Manage Google Business Profile Categories
In this article, we will be using a tool called Google Business Profile Growth Manager (GBPGM) to perform the process of changing Google Business Profile categories. GBPGM is a user-friendly tool that simplifies the category management process, making it easier for businesses to update their profile categories.
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile is a free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. It allows businesses to create a profile that includes important information such as their business name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation, and more.
What is Google Business Profile Categories?
One key aspect of a Google Business Profile is the categories that describe the type of business. These categories help Google understand what your business is about and can impact how your business appears in search results.
Also Read: Google My Business Categories (Complete Updated List 2024)
What is it Important to choose the Right Business Category?
Selecting the right business category is crucial for several reasons:
- Visibility: Choosing relevant categories increases the chances of your business showing up in relevant searches. For example, if you own a bakery and select “Bakery” as your category, your business is more likely to appear when people search for bakeries in your area.
- Relevance: The categories you choose should accurately reflect the products or services your business offers. This helps ensure that you attract the right customers who are looking for what you provide.
- Competitive Advantage: Selecting specific and relevant categories can give you a competitive advantage by helping you stand out from competitors in search results.
- User Experience: Providing accurate information about your business, including the categories, improves the user experience for potential customers who are searching for businesses like yours.
Overall, selecting the right business category is an important step in optimizing your Google Business Profile and improving your online visibility and reach.
Why You Need to Change the Google Business Profile Categories?
There are several reasons why you might need to change or update the business category in your Google Business Profile:
- Business Focus Change: If your business has changed its focus or started offering new products or services, updating your business category can help reflect these changes accurately.
- Market Trends: Keeping up with market trends and customer preferences may require you to update your business category to better align with what customers are searching for.
- Competitive Landscape: Changes in the competitive landscape may necessitate updating your business category to ensure you remain competitive and visible to potential customers.
- SEO Optimization: Updating your business category can improve your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts by ensuring that your profile is optimized for relevant keywords and search queries.
- Rebranding: If your business has undergone a rebranding process, updating your business category can help align your profile with your new brand identity.
- Correcting Errors: If there are errors in your current business category selection, such as being listed under the wrong category, updating it can help correct these inaccuracies.
Overall, regularly reviewing and updating your business category can help ensure that your Google Business Profile accurately reflects your business and maximizes its visibility and reach online.
How To Easily Change Google Business Profile Categories?
1. To update your primary and secondary business categories, you must signup to GBPGM Tool using the email address associated with your listing.
2. Click on Get Started.
3. Select your business listing in GBPGM Tool Dashboard. In case you have multiple listings or businesses (in case of agency) you will see a screen like this:
Now select the business listing you want to manage.
4. Select the “Info” Tab
5. Select the edit pen sign as shown below:
6. Now you can see the screen as below, here you can make the necessary changes in the primary and secondary categories as desired and click Apply to save.
Many businesses offer products or services that fall into multiple categories. It’s important to select a primary category that best represents your main products or services and aligns with your target keywords. You can then choose additional or secondary categories that are relevant to other aspects of your business.
For instance, a financial consultant might have primary categories like “Financial Advisor” and “Financial Planner,” with secondary categories such as “Tax Advisor” and “Investment service” to cover specific practice areas. Similarly, a “Boutique” might choose “Boutique” as their primary category and “fashion designer” as a secondary category.
Regardless of your industry, these categories should support your business goals and reflect the keywords that are important for your online visibility.
Note: You can only choose the categories that are there in the list provided by Google and cannot create any new category on your own.
Conclusion
Keeping your Google Business Profile categories accurate and up-to-date is crucial for proper online visibility. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure your business effectively reaches potential customers searching for relevant products and services. Remember to choose categories that accurately represent your specific offerings to avoid misleading customers and ensure a positive user experience.
FAQs on Changing Google Business Profile Categories
Q: How many categories can I add to my profile?
A: You can have one primary category and up to nine additional categories on your Google Business Profile.
Q: What happens if I choose the wrong category?
A: Choosing inaccurate categories can potentially harm your online visibility. It might lead your business to appear in irrelevant search results and deter potential customers.
Q: How long does it take for changes to appear?
A: The update process can take some time (sometimes its updated immediately within few minutes), and Google may review your chosen categories before displaying them publicly.
Q: Can I edit my categories multiple times?
A: Absolutely! You can revisit and edit your categories at any time by following the same steps mentioned earlier.
Q: What if I need help choosing the right categories?
A: If you’re unsure about which categories best represent your business, you can explore Google My Business Categories (Complete Updated List 2024).
