SEO and GEO
You are not being found in your own city
The biggest lever sits in the information Google holds about your business. The guidelines are strict: the name should read exactly as you use it outside the internet on signage and stationery, without slogans, opening hours, phone numbers or location add-ons g-gbp. There may be only one profile per location g-gbp. For categories: as few as possible, and they should describe what the business is g-gbp. Whoever fixes these usually gains more than with any additional text.
What we do: We check name, categories and service area against Google's guidelines, merge duplicate profiles, back up the local connection on your website and track calls and direction requests per location; you are found where your customers are, without a profile breaking the rules.
By Raymond Eiber, Organic Search Channel Lead
Last updated on
What it is about and when it becomes relevant
What this is about
Local visibility comes from three things: correct business information, a website that genuinely carries the local reference, and signals from outside. The information is the part you control directly, and the rules for it are published g-gbp.
The rules broken most often
The business name may not contain marketing add-ons g-gbp. Virtual offices are only permitted when they are staffed during opening hours; mailboxes at remote locations are prohibited g-gbp. For service businesses without a fixed location, the stated service area should not extend more than about two hours of driving from the location g-gbp.
When it becomes relevant
For every business with a storefront or a service area, after every renaming and with every move. Likewise when several locations are operated, because that is where profiles drift apart fastest.
Common mistakes and how you spot them
Keywords in the business name
How you spot itThe profile carries an add-on such as the service or the city that is not on the sign outside the door. Google requires the spelling used outside the internet g-gbp.
Too many categories
How you spot itThe profile lists a dozen categories. Google requires as few as possible, describing what the business is g-gbp.
Several profiles for one location
How you spot itTwo entries exist for the same address, say after a renaming. Only one profile per location is permitted g-gbp.
Service area stated too large
How you spot itThe service area covers half of Germany. Google names roughly two hours of driving from the location as the limit g-gbp.
How we go about it
Check the information against the guidelines
We go through name, address, categories and service area point by point against the published rules g-gbp and clean up whatever violates them.
Merge duplicate profiles
Multiple entries for one location get merged, because otherwise they take visibility from each other g-gbp.
Prove the local reference on the website
The website has to carry the reference: dedicated pages per location with address, contact person and real content instead of a list of city names.
Track the development
We watch calls, direction requests and queries per location, so it becomes visible which change had an effect.
Further reading
This topic belongs to SEO.
Frequently asked questions
May I put keywords into the business name?
No. Google requires the spelling you also use outside the internet on signage and stationery, without slogans, opening hours, phone numbers or location add-ons g-gbp.
How many categories should I pick?
As few as possible. The categories should describe what the business is, not list all its traits g-gbp.
May I state a virtual office?
Only if it is staffed during opening hours. Mailboxes at remote locations are not permitted g-gbp.
How large may my service area be?
The borders of the stated service area should lie no more than about two hours of driving from the location g-gbp.
Is this exactly where you are stuck?
Write to us about where it is stuck. Raymond Eiber and the team will look at what is concretely behind it in your case, and tell you where the biggest lever sits.
Sources
Every statement about ad products comes from the official documentation of the respective platform, with the date we retrieved it. Products change; if something looks outdated to you, write to us and we will check it.
- g-gbpGoogle Business Profile-Hilfe, Richtlinien zur Darstellung von Unternehmenretrieved on 21.9.2026
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