Google Business Setup Checklist for Countertop Fabrication Shops
What Is Google Business Profile Setup?
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the free listing that appears when someone searches for countertop fabricators in their area. For fabrication shops, this listing drives 40-60% of all new customer inquiries. A fully optimized profile shows up in Google Maps, the local 3-pack, and search results -- putting your shop in front of homeowners and contractors actively looking for countertop services.
TL;DR: Google Business Profile Priorities
- 63% of homeowners use Google when searching for a countertop fabricator
- Shops in the Google local 3-pack get 5-10x more clicks than shops ranked below
- Complete profiles get 7x more clicks than incomplete ones
- Photos increase direction requests by 42% and website visits by 35%
- Responding to reviews within 24 hours improves your local ranking
- Setup takes 30-45 minutes -- optimization is ongoing
- This is the single highest-ROI marketing activity for most fabrication shops
Complete Google Business Setup Checklist
Section 1: Initial Profile Creation
- Go to business.google.com and sign in with a Google account
- Search for your business name to check if a listing already exists
- If existing listing found, claim it. If not, create new listing
- Enter exact legal business name (no keyword stuffing)
- Select primary category: "Countertop Contractor" or "Countertop Store"
- Add secondary categories: "Stone Supplier," "Kitchen Remodeler" (if applicable)
- Enter complete physical address (or set service area if no public shop)
- Define service area by cities, zip codes, or radius
- Enter phone number (use a trackable local number)
- Enter website URL
- Complete verification (postcard, phone, email, or instant verification)
Section 2: Business Information
- Business hours set accurately (including lunch breaks if closed)
- Holiday hours updated for all major holidays
- Business description written (750 characters max, include key services)
- Year established entered
- "From the business" description added with natural keywords
- Appointment link added (if you use online scheduling)
- Messaging enabled (and someone assigned to respond within 1 hour)
- Products/services listed with descriptions and price ranges
- Attributes selected (women-led, veteran-owned, etc., if applicable)
- Payment methods listed (cash, check, credit card, financing)
Section 3: Photos and Media
- Logo uploaded (square format, minimum 250x250 pixels)
- Cover photo uploaded (showroom or completed project, 1080x608 pixels)
- Minimum 10 project photos uploaded (completed kitchens and bathrooms)
- Shop/showroom interior photos (3-5 images)
- Shop exterior photo (helps customers find you)
- Team photos (builds trust)
- Before/after project photos
- Photos of different materials (granite, quartz, quartzite, marble)
- Photos geotagged with shop location metadata
- New photos added monthly (fresh content improves ranking)
Section 4: Services and Products
- Each countertop material listed as a service (granite, quartz, quartzite, marble, etc.)
- Templating service listed
- Installation service listed
- Edge profiles listed as service options
- Sink cutout and installation listed
- Backsplash fabrication and installation listed
- Price ranges added where appropriate (helps filter serious inquiries)
- Service descriptions written with natural keywords
Section 5: Review Management
- Review link generated and saved for easy sharing
- Process established: ask every satisfied customer for a Google review
- Review request sent via email/text within 24 hours of installation
- Response template created for positive reviews (personalized each time)
- Response template created for negative reviews (professional, solution-oriented)
- All reviews responded to within 24 hours
- Staff trained on how to request reviews naturally
- Review link added to email signatures, invoices, and business cards
Section 6: Posts and Updates
- First Google Business post published (project highlight or offer)
- Posting schedule established: minimum 1 post per week
- Post types rotated: project photos, offers, updates, events
- Posts include call-to-action buttons (Call, Learn More, Get Quote)
- Seasonal content planned (kitchen remodel season, holiday prep)
- Before/after transformations posted regularly
Section 7: Ongoing Optimization
- Google Business insights reviewed monthly (views, searches, actions)
- Q&A section monitored and answered promptly
- Business information audited quarterly for accuracy
- Competitor profiles reviewed quarterly for ideas
- Citation consistency checked (name, address, phone match across all directories)
- Yelp, Houzz, and BBB profiles consistent with Google Business info
Why This Matters for Fabrication Shops
The path from Google search to countertop customer looks like this:
- Homeowner searches "countertop fabricator near me" or "granite countertops [city]"
- Google shows the local 3-pack (top 3 map results)
- Homeowner clicks on the profile with the most reviews, best photos, and complete information
- They call, message, or visit your website
If your profile is incomplete, has no photos, or has unanswered reviews, you lose that click to a competitor who invested the 30 minutes to set things up properly.
| Profile Completeness | Average Monthly Actions | Compared to Incomplete |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete (basic info only) | 30-60 actions | Baseline |
| Moderate (info + some photos) | 100-200 actions | 3-4x more |
| Fully optimized | 250-500+ actions | 7-10x more |
FAQ
How long does Google Business Profile verification take? Postcard verification takes 5-14 days. Phone and email verification are instant when available. Some businesses qualify for instant verification if they have already verified their website with Google Search Console.
What should I write in the business description? Focus on what you do, what materials you work with, your service area, and what makes your shop different. Example: "Family-owned countertop fabrication shop serving [City] and surrounding areas since 2015. We specialize in granite, quartz, and quartzite countertops for kitchens and bathrooms. Free estimates. 14-day average template to installation."
How many reviews do I need to rank well locally? There is no magic number, but shops with 50+ reviews significantly outperform those with fewer than 20. Aim to collect 3-5 new reviews per month consistently.
Should I respond to negative reviews? Always. Respond professionally, acknowledge the concern, and offer to resolve it offline. Potential customers read your response to negative reviews more carefully than the positive ones.
How often should I post on Google Business? Minimum once per week. Posts expire after 7 days, so consistent posting keeps your profile active. Project photos with brief descriptions perform best.
Do Google Business posts actually help ranking? Yes. Active profiles with regular posts, fresh photos, and review responses signal to Google that the business is active and engaged, which factors into local search ranking.
Can I have a Google Business Profile without a physical storefront? Yes. Set up as a service-area business. You will not show a physical address on the listing, but you will appear in searches within your defined service area.
What is the difference between the primary and secondary category? Your primary category is the most important ranking factor. "Countertop Contractor" or "Countertop Store" should be primary. Secondary categories (Stone Supplier, Kitchen Remodeler) help you appear in additional searches.
Focus on Fabrication While Your Profile Works for You
SlabWise's Quick Quote helps you convert Google Business inquiries into customers faster. When a homeowner calls from your listing, generate an accurate estimate in 3 minutes instead of 20. Start your 14-day free trial at slabwise.com.
Sources
- Google -- Google Business Profile help documentation
- BrightLocal -- Local Consumer Review Survey 2025
- Moz -- Local Search Ranking Factors Study
- Search Engine Journal -- Google Business Profile optimization guides
- National Kitchen & Bath Association -- Digital marketing for contractors
- Stone World Magazine -- Marketing survey data for fabricators