Local SEO
Google Business Profile: The Local SEO Checklist for 2026
AAEO Sarasota Team
·Dec 20, 2025
·7 min read
Your Google Business Profile is the single biggest lever in local search. Here’s how to get it right.
For local businesses, no single asset influences rankings more than your Google Business Profile. It’s what powers the map pack — those top three results with the map — and it’s often the first thing a customer sees. Most businesses leave it half-finished. Don’t.
The essentials
- →Claim and verify the profile, and fully complete every field.
- →Choose the most specific primary category, plus relevant secondary categories.
- →Keep your name, address and phone identical to your website and directories.
- →Add real photos — storefront, team, and work you’ve done.
- →Set accurate hours, including holidays.
The growth levers
A complete profile gets you in the game; activity wins it. Post updates regularly, answer questions, and — most importantly — build a steady stream of genuine reviews. Velocity matters: a few reviews every month beats a big batch once a year.
Why it ties into AEO
AI assistants lean heavily on this same data when they recommend local businesses. A strong, consistent profile doesn’t just help you rank on Google — it makes you a more trustworthy answer for the AI engines too.
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