How Google Business Profile Categories Affect Local Visibility

Primary vs secondary categories

Google asks you to choose one primary category and allows additional categories. Google advises choosing categories that describe your business as a whole, and using as few as needed to do that accurately.

How to choose

1. 1

   List what you actually are

   Describe the business, not every service — services go in the services section.

2. 2

   Look at who ranks

   See which categories the top businesses for your main search use.

3. 3

   Pick the most specific match

   A specific category usually fits better than a broad one when it's accurate.

4. 4

   Review periodically

   Google adds and changes categories over time.

Mistakes to avoid

Google Business Profile Management →

• Adding categories for services you don't offer
• Using a broad category when an accurate specific one exists
• Changing the primary category frequently