Google Business Profile Setup
What Is Google Business Profile for Countertop Fabricators?
Google Business Profile (GBP) - formerly known as Google My Business - is Google's free business listing tool that controls how your fabrication shop appears in Google Search and Google Maps. When someone searches "countertop fabricator near me," your GBP listing determines whether you show up in the local map pack, what information they see, and whether they call you or your competitor.
TL;DR
- Your GBP listing is often the first thing potential customers see - it appears above website results in local searches
- Claiming and verifying your profile takes 1-2 weeks but is the single most impactful marketing step you can take
- Complete every section - profiles that are 100% filled out get 7x more clicks than incomplete ones
- Photos drive engagement - listings with 100+ photos get 520% more calls than average
- Weekly posts keep your profile active and signal to Google that your business is current
- Review management through GBP directly affects your local search ranking
- Service area settings control which cities see your listing
Why Your Google Business Profile Is Your Most Valuable Marketing Asset
Before a homeowner visits your website, they see your Google Business Profile. It shows your name, reviews, photos, hours, phone number, and location - everything someone needs to decide whether to call you.
The numbers speak for themselves:
| GBP Metric | Impact |
|---|---|
| Local pack visibility | 40-50% of all clicks on local search results |
| Complete profile advantage | 7x more clicks than incomplete listings |
| Photo impact | 520% more calls with 100+ photos |
| Review influence | Top-3 ranking factor for local search |
| Mobile searchers | 76% visit a business within 24 hours |
For countertop fabricators specifically, GBP is even more critical because:
- Countertop purchases are always local
- Customers want to see photos of actual completed work
- Star ratings and review counts are immediately visible
- Phone calls can happen with one tap on mobile
Step-by-Step: Claiming and Verifying Your Profile
Step 1: Check If a Listing Already Exists
Search your business name on Google. If a listing appears on the right side of the results (or in Maps), a profile already exists - you just need to claim it.
If no listing exists, go to business.google.com and click "Manage now" to create one.
Step 2: Claim or Create Your Listing
To claim an existing listing:
- Go to business.google.com
- Search for your business
- Click "Claim this business" or "Own this business?"
- Follow the prompts to verify ownership
To create a new listing:
- Go to business.google.com
- Enter your business name
- Select the appropriate category
- Enter your address and service area
- Add your phone number and website
Step 3: Verify Your Business
Google needs to confirm you are the actual business owner. Verification methods include:
| Method | Timeline | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Postcard by mail | 5-14 days | Available to all businesses |
| Phone call | Immediate | Available for some businesses |
| 1-3 days | Available for some businesses | |
| Video verification | 1-5 days | Available for some businesses |
| Instant verification | Immediate | If already verified with Google Search Console |
The postcard method is most common. Google mails a card with a verification code to your business address. Enter the code in your GBP dashboard to complete verification.
Important: Do not change your business name or address while waiting for the postcard. Changes restart the verification process.
Optimizing Every Section of Your Profile
Business Name
Use your exact legal business name. Do not stuff keywords into it (e.g., "ABC Stone - Best Granite Countertops in Dallas" violates Google's guidelines and risks suspension). Just use "ABC Stone" or whatever your actual business name is.
Categories
Your primary category is the most important. Choose the one that best describes your core business:
- Countertop Store - If you sell and install countertops
- Stone Supplier - If you focus on stone sales
- Kitchen Remodeler - If countertops are part of broader remodeling
Add secondary categories to capture additional search queries:
- Granite Supplier
- Marble Supplier
- Kitchen Remodeler
- Bathroom Remodeler
- Stone Cutting Service
Business Description
You get 750 characters. Use them wisely:
- Lead with what you do and who you serve
- Include your primary materials (granite, quartz, marble, quartzite)
- Mention your service area
- Include a differentiator (years in business, CNC fabrication, specific brands carried)
- End with a call to action
Example: "[Shop Name] is a full-service countertop fabrication and installation shop serving [City] and surrounding communities since [Year]. We specialize in granite, quartz, marble, and quartzite countertops for kitchens, bathrooms, and commercial projects. Our shop features CNC fabrication technology for precision cuts and carries top brands including Cambria, Silestone, and Caesarstone. Visit our showroom or call for a free estimate."
Service Area
Set your service area to reflect where you actually travel for installations. Most countertop shops serve a 30-60 mile radius. Be honest - listing areas you do not serve creates poor customer experiences and can lead to negative reviews.
Hours of Operation
List accurate hours including:
- Regular business hours
- Holiday hours (update these seasonally)
- Special hours for events or closures
Keeping hours current prevents frustrated customers who drive to your showroom only to find it closed.
Phone Number and Website
- Use a local phone number (not a toll-free number) for better local SEO signals
- Link directly to your homepage or a landing page designed for local visitors
- Enable the messaging feature if you can respond within a few hours
Photos: The Most Underused GBP Feature
Photos are where most fabricators drop the ball. The data is clear: more photos = more engagement = more calls.
Photo Strategy for Fabricators
| Photo Type | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Completed projects | 50-100+ | Show your best work |
| Showroom | 10-15 | Let customers preview the visit |
| Slab yard | 5-10 | Show inventory selection |
| Shop/equipment | 5-10 | Demonstrate capability |
| Team photos | 5-10 | Build personal connection |
| Before/after pairs | 10-20 | Dramatic transformation appeal |
Photo Best Practices
- Upload original, high-quality images - No stock photos (Google can detect them)
- Add 2-5 new photos per week - Consistent uploads signal an active business
- Use descriptive file names before uploading - "calacatta-quartz-kitchen-island-dallas.jpg" not "IMG_3847.jpg"
- Show variety - Different materials, colors, edge profiles, kitchen styles, bathroom vanities
- Include people when appropriate - Your team working, happy customers (with permission)
Video on GBP
Google now supports short videos (up to 30 seconds) on business profiles. Effective video content:
- Time-lapse of a countertop installation
- 360-degree view of your showroom
- Quick walkaround of a completed project
- Brief intro from the shop owner
Google Business Posts: Staying Visible
GBP posts are mini-updates that appear on your listing. They expire after 7 days, so consistency matters.
Post Types That Work for Fabricators
| Post Type | Example | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Project showcase | "Just completed this waterfall island in Calacatta Laza quartz" | Weekly |
| New inventory | "New Taj Mahal quartzite slabs just arrived" | When applicable |
| Promotions | "Free edge upgrade on all projects this month" | Monthly |
| Tips | "3 things to know before choosing your countertop material" | Biweekly |
| Events | "Open house this Saturday - see our new showroom displays" | As scheduled |
Post Best Practices
- Always include a photo
- Keep text under 300 words (shorter is usually better)
- Include a call-to-action button (Call, Learn More, Get Offer)
- Post at least once per week to maintain freshness signals
Managing Reviews Through GBP
Your GBP dashboard is where you monitor, respond to, and manage all Google Reviews.
Daily Review Management Routine
Spend 5-10 minutes each morning:
- Check for new reviews
- Respond to positive reviews with personalized thanks
- Address negative reviews with empathy and a resolution offer
- Flag any spam or fake reviews for removal
Requesting Reviews
GBP provides a shareable review link. Share this link:
- Via text after installation
- In follow-up emails
- On printed materials (business cards, invoices)
- Through your customer communication platform
Using a tool like SlabWise's Customer Portal to manage project communication naturally creates touchpoints where satisfied customers are more willing to leave a review.
GBP Insights: Understanding Your Performance
Google provides performance data through the Insights tab. Key metrics to monitor:
| Metric | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Search queries | What terms people use to find you |
| Direct vs. discovery searches | Brand awareness vs. new customer discovery |
| Actions taken | Calls, website visits, direction requests |
| Photo views | Engagement with your visual content |
| Popular times | When customers visit or search for you |
Using Insights to Improve
- Low discovery searches? Your categories and description need work
- Few actions despite views? Your photos or reviews may be lacking
- Declining photo views? Upload fresh content more frequently
- Most calls on Tuesday at 10 AM? Staff your phones accordingly
Common GBP Mistakes Fabricators Make
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Keyword-stuffed business name | Use your exact legal name |
| No photos or outdated photos | Upload 2-5 new project photos weekly |
| Ignoring reviews | Respond to every review within 48 hours |
| Inaccurate hours | Update hours immediately when they change |
| No weekly posts | Set a recurring calendar reminder |
| Wrong categories | Research which categories competitors use |
| Duplicate listings | Merge or close duplicates through GBP support |
| Not using the Q&A section | Seed common questions and answers yourself |
FAQ
How long does Google Business Profile verification take?
Most businesses are verified within 5-14 days via postcard. Phone and email verification are instant to 3 days but are not available to all businesses. Video verification typically takes 1-5 business days.
Can I have multiple GBP listings for one business?
Only if you have multiple physical locations with separate addresses. A single-location business should have one listing. You can serve multiple areas through the service area settings.
How do I change my business category on GBP?
Go to your GBP dashboard, click "Edit profile," then "Business category." You can change your primary category and add up to 9 secondary categories at any time.
What happens if someone else claims my listing?
Contact GBP support through the "Request ownership" process. You will need to verify your association with the business through documentation.
How often should I post on Google Business Profile?
At least once per week. Businesses that post weekly see 2x more profile interactions than those that post monthly. Posts expire after 7 days, so consistency matters.
Do GBP posts help with SEO?
GBP posts do not directly affect your organic website rankings, but they do influence your local pack visibility. Active profiles with regular posts get more impressions and engagement.
Can I use my home address for my GBP listing?
If you operate from home and customers visit your location, yes. If you only travel to customer locations (service-area business), you can hide your address while still setting a service area.
How do I handle a fake or spam review?
Flag it through your GBP dashboard by clicking the three dots next to the review and selecting "Report review." Provide specifics about why the review is fake. Google typically reviews flagged content within 1-3 weeks.
What is the difference between Google Business Profile and Google Ads?
GBP is free and displays your business in organic local results. Google Ads is paid advertising that places your business above organic results. Both are valuable - GBP for long-term visibility, Ads for immediate traffic.
Should I add products to my GBP listing?
Yes. Adding your countertop materials as "products" with photos, descriptions, and price ranges gives searchers more information and keeps them on your listing longer.
Get Found by More Countertop Buyers
Your Google Business Profile is the front door to your online presence. A well-optimized profile puts your shop in front of homeowners right when they are searching for countertop help.
Start your 14-day free trial of SlabWise and pair your online visibility with an operations platform that impresses customers from first contact through installation - turning every project into a 5-star review.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help Center - official optimization guidelines
- BrightLocal GBP Study - photo, post, and profile completion impact data
- Moz Local Search Ranking Factors - GBP signals and local ranking analysis
- Google Search Central Blog - local search updates and best practices
- Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors Survey - category and citation impact
- Search Engine Land - GBP features and optimization strategies