Google Business Profile Setup for Minnesota Service Areas
Plenty of Duluth service area businesses have a Google Business Profile, but many are set up incorrectly or are missing key optimization steps. As a result, their business remains invisible to the local community.
Lucky for you, our team at Matter Solutions has worked with Minnesota businesses for years to solve these visibility issues through local maps optimization. But, before we explain further, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what type of business we’re talking about.
A service area business (SAB) doesn’t rely on foot traffic like a regular store. Instead, you bring your services to the customers. Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors are perfect examples of SABs that travel across multiple cities to reach their customers.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up and manage your GBP so your Minnesota service area business appears on local maps and reaches the right customers.
Let’s get started.
Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Minnesota Customers
Setting up your Google Business Profile Minnesota listing isn’t complicated, but you need to follow the right steps from the start.
Let’s walk through exactly what you need to do.
Step-by-Step Profile Setup for SABs
Running a service area business focuses on reaching clients in multiple areas, so if you set it up as a regular shop, Google may not list it properly in search results.
Here’s how to get it right from the beginning:
- Choose a “Service Area Business” Setup: When Google asks what type of business you have, select the service area option. This tells Google that you travel to customers instead of having them visit a location.
- Hide Your Street Address: Once you select a service area business, Google should hide your street address automatically. But check to make sure it’s not showing up on your Google Maps listing. After all, you don’t want customers seeing your home or office location.
- Add Cities or ZIP Codes: Now you’ll list the areas where you actually do business. You can type in city names like Duluth, Cloquet, or Two Harbors. Or you can use ZIP codes if you want to be more specific about your coverage zones.
Most visibility problems start here, so take your time with this part.
How to Choose the Right Service Areas
You can only list service areas within approximately a two-hour drive of your business, according to Google’s rules, to maintain honesty and stop spam. So it’s better not to list areas you don’t serve, and stick to the communities you actually work in.
Don’t Forget the Essentials
Your profile also needs accurate business hours so customers know when to call. This includes your phone number, authentic service photos, and a website link for users to learn more.
Also, make sure you create a business description highlighting the Minnesota communities you serve and the services you offer.
Google Business Profile Optimization Tips for Minnesota Local Maps
How well your business ranks depends on how Google sees your relevance and visibility compared to competitors. And in this section, we’ll look at the specific actions you can take to improve your ranking and get more clicks from potential customers.
Understand Google’s Local Ranking Factors
Google uses three main things to decide which businesses show up first. First, the proximity measures how close you are to the searcher. Then, the relevance looks at how well your profile matches their search. And finally, the prominence considers your reputation through reviews and online presence.
Smart Optimization Strategies
These three ranking factors might sound simple, but you need specific tactics to improve each one. The strategies below will help your Google Business Profile show up more often when users search for services in your area:
- Choose the Right Business Categories: Your primary category tells Google exactly what you do, so pick it carefully. If you offer multiple services, add secondary categories to show up in more relevant searches.
- List All Services Clearly: Fill in every part of the services section. This way, you’re being specific about what you offer, so Google can match your business with the right search queries more accurately.
- Regularly Upload Photos: Profiles with recent photos generally get more clicks and engagement. So share images of your current projects, your team, and your equipment.
- Add Location Details to Review Replies: When you note the customer’s area in your response, it helps improve relevance. Google will pick up on these location signals and better understand which communities you serve.
If you do follow these strategies consistently, you’ll notice more people finding your profile when they search. The businesses that show up first in local maps MN results are usually the ones putting in this regular work.
Content and Updates Drive Visibility
You probably understand by now that Google rewards businesses that stay active on their profile. We recommend posting updates at least once a week about your services, special offers, or completed work. These posts will show up in search results and keep your profile fresh.
You can also connect your website’s local landing pages to your Google Business Profile so customers can learn more, and Google recognizes the connection between your site and profile.
Monitor and Improve Performance
Your Google Business Profile gives you data about how people find your listing. This means you can check your Insights regularly to see call volume, photo views, and what search queries bring users to you.
Also, don’t forget to update your service areas every few months if your coverage changes or certain areas aren’t generating results.
Ready to Strengthen Your Google Business Profile for Local Visibility?
Most businesses fail with their Google Business Profile because they treat it as a one-time setup. But now you know what to do.
You can set a goal to revisit your insights every 30 days. Then, track how many people are clicking to visit your website, calling your phone number, or asking for directions.
This data will help you learn what’s working and where you need to improve. If certain photos get more engagement or specific service areas generate more calls, focus on similar content and areas.
If you need help setting up your profile correctly or want us to handle the ongoing work for you, reach out to our team at Matter Solutions. We’ll make sure your Minnesota business stays optimized on Google and local maps.
