If you only do one marketing thing this year, optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP). It's free, it's the most-clicked result on local searches, and almost every Gulf Coast business is doing it wrong. Here's the playbook we run for every client — and exactly how it helped Onyx Plumbing 5x leads in 90 days.

1. Fill Out 100% of the Profile

Google rewards completeness. Every field — categories (primary AND secondary), services, products, attributes, hours, holiday hours, business description with relevant keywords, and a real opening date. Most businesses fill out 60% and wonder why they don't rank.

2. Pick the Right Primary Category

Your primary category does more for ranking than anything else on the profile. "Plumber" outranks "plumbing service" in some markets. Test the variants in your specific city. The right pick can move you three spots overnight.

3. Photos, Weekly

Profiles with regular photo uploads get more impressions and clicks. Geo-tag them when possible. Real job-site photos beat stock every time. Set a recurring weekly task and don't break the chain.

4. Reviews — Volume, Velocity, Variety

You need a steady drip of reviews (velocity), enough to build trust (volume), and review text that mentions services and cities (variety). Train your team to ask. Send the link via text, not a card. Respond to every single review, good or bad.

5. Google Posts Weekly

Posts are an underused ranking signal. Treat them like mini Instagram updates: offer, event, news, or behind-the-scenes. Weekly cadence, every week.

6. Q&A Section — Seed It

You can ask and answer your own FAQs in the Q&A section. Use it. It's a keyword-rich content surface that sits on your profile and almost nobody touches.

7. Track What Matters

Profile views, search queries, calls, direction requests — all visible in GBP insights. Track them weekly. The data tells you exactly which keywords are working and which categories to lean into.

Want Us to Run It For You?

We manage Google Business Profiles for Gulf Coast businesses end-to-end — optimization, posts, reviews, photos, the whole thing. See the service or get in touch.

The Google Business Profile Playbook for Gulf Coast Businesses