How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile: A Checklist for Antalya

Google Business Profile is your business’s free listing that appears in Google Search and Google Maps. For services searched as “near me” or “… in Antalya”, the map section that appears above the results is made up largely of these profiles; that is why, for a business serving local customers, it is often the face that is seen before the website. In this article we have collected, as a checklist, how to optimize your profile step by step and which mistakes to avoid.

How does Google rank local results?

Google states openly that it looks at three main factors in local results: relevance (how well your profile matches what is being searched for), distance (the distance to the searcher or to the location mentioned in the search) and prominence (how well known the business is; reviews, links and mentions across the web are part of this). You cannot change distance; profile optimization is work on relevance and prominence. We explained the overall picture in our Antalya local SEO article.

1. Business name: your real name, no keywords

In the business name field, enter the real name you use on your sign, your invoices and your website. Adding keywords, as in “Ahmet Usta Antalya Best Boiler Service”, is against Google’s guidelines and can lead to the profile being suspended. Even if it seems to boost the ranking in the short term, the risk is greater than the gain.

2. Category: the single most important choice

The primary category is the field that most affects which searches your profile is shown in. Choose as your primary category the one that describes your business most narrowly and most accurately; add additional categories for your other services. If you are undecided, looking at the primary category of the competitors who rank at the top for the same search is a good start. Adding categories unrelated to your business weakens the relevance signal.

3. Name, address and phone must be identical everywhere

On the profile, on your website, on your social media accounts and in business directories, the business name, address and phone number (NAP) must be written exactly the same. Even small differences such as “Gazi Bulvarı No:220” versus “Gazi Blv. 220” make it harder to tell that the details belong to the same business. Set a standard spelling once and use it everywhere.

If you do not serve customers at your address (for example, if you provide on-site service), you can hide your address and define a service area. If your office receives customers, the address should stay visible.

4. Services, description and opening hours

• Services: Add every service you offer separately, with a short description. Use the wording your customers search with.
• Description: Write in plain language what you do, who you serve and what sets you apart. Do not put links or promotional copy in it.
• Hours: Update special hours for religious and public holidays and seasonal changes. Appearing “open” when you are closed is the fastest way to get a bad review.

5. Photos: real and current

Upload real photos showing the outside and inside of your business, your team and the work you do. Stock images do not add trust to your profile. The exterior photo in particular helps customers recognise you at the door. Regularly adding photos of new work and projects shows that the profile is active.

6. Reviews: asking is allowed, buying and filtering are not

Reviews are the most visible part of prominence. What you should do:

• Ask every customer you deliver work to for a review, using your profile’s review link.
• Write a short, personal reply to every review, positive or negative.
• Do not get into an argument over a negative review; acknowledge the problem and offer a contact channel to resolve it.

What you must not do is set out clearly in Google’s policies: giving a discount or a gift in exchange for a review, asking only satisfied customers for reviews (selectively collecting reviews), having employees or acquaintances write reviews, and buying reviews are all prohibited. Such reviews can be removed and the profile can be restricted.

7. Alignment with your website

The profile and your website should support each other. The website link on the profile should go to the relevant page, and your site should contain the same name-address-phone details and your location on a map. Having a separate, descriptive page on your site for each main service strengthens the relevance between the services on your profile and the searches. To make sure these links are not broken during a site redesign, see our website redesign guide.

8. Regular maintenance

A profile is not something you set up once and leave. Do these checks once a month:

• Are the hours and contact details up to date?
• Are there any unanswered reviews?
• Is there a change suggested by Google or by users that is waiting for your approval?
• Which searches did you appear in last month, and how many people called or asked for directions?

This data on the profile’s performance screen shows which of your services attracts interest in local search and gives a clue about which page on your website to prioritise.

Frequently asked questions

Is Google Business Profile paid?

No, creating and managing a profile is free. Advertising on Maps through Google Ads is a separate, paid service.

Can I open a profile with my home address?

If you do not receive customers at the address, you can open a profile by hiding your address and defining a service area. Virtual offices or addresses where you do not actually operate are against the guidelines.

How long does it take to see the effect of profile optimization?

There is no definite timeframe. Corrections to information usually show up quickly; reviews and prominence build up their effect over time. The healthiest way is to track the changes monthly with the profile’s performance data.

What should I do for multiple branches?

A separate profile is opened for every branch that receives customers. It is recommended that each branch has its own address, its own phone number and its own page on your website.

Let’s plan your local visibility together

At Kayrus Tech, we treat the websites of businesses in Antalya together with their Google Business Profile and search visibility. To review your current site and profile together and work out the priority fixes, you can look at our web design service and get in touch — we work in English or Turkish.