When someone in Redding searches "electrician near me" or "best breakfast Redding CA," the first things they see are the Google map and the three businesses in the local pack below it. Getting into that pack starts with your Google Business Profile (GBP).
Your GBP is free. It takes a few hours to set up properly. And for most Redding businesses, it's the fastest path to showing up on page one. Here's how to do it right.
Step 1: Claim and Verify Your Profile
Go to business.google.com and search for your business. If it already exists (Google sometimes auto-creates listings), claim it. If it doesn't, create it from scratch.
Verification is required before your listing goes live. For most Redding businesses, Google sends a postcard to your business address with a verification code — this takes 5-10 days. Some businesses qualify for instant phone or email verification. Choose the fastest option available to you.
Important: if your business is a service-area business (you go to customers rather than having a physical storefront), you can still claim a GBP — just don't display your home address publicly. Set your service area instead.
Step 2: Complete Every Field
An incomplete GBP is a weak GBP. Fill in everything:
- Business name — use your real legal name. Don't add keywords here (e.g., don't write "Smith Plumbing | Best Plumber Redding CA"). Google will flag this as spam and can suspend your listing.
- Primary category — this is the single most important field in your entire profile. Be specific. "Plumber" beats "Contractor." "Mobile RV Repair Service" beats "Automotive Repair Shop."
- Secondary categories — add 2-5 additional relevant categories
- Business description — 750 characters max. Write naturally but include your primary service, your city (Redding, CA), and your key differentiator. Don't keyword-stuff.
- Services — list every service you offer with descriptions
- Hours — accurate, and keep them updated for holidays
- Phone number — local Redding area code preferred over 800 numbers
- Website URL — link to your actual website, ideally the most relevant page rather than just your homepage
Step 3: Photos and Regular Posts
Photos: Google says profiles with photos get noticeably more clicks than those without. Add real photos — not stock images. For a Redding restaurant, that means actual food photos from your kitchen. For a contractor, that means before-and-after project photos. For a service business, photos of your team and your work.
Add at minimum:
- A professional-quality cover photo
- Your logo
- 5-10 photos of your work, your team, or your location
Posts: GBP lets you publish updates, offers, and events that appear directly on your profile. Most Redding businesses ignore this feature entirely, which is a mistake. Post at least once a week:
- Seasonal specials or promotions
- Completed project highlights (great for contractors)
- New services or hours changes
- Links to new blog posts on your website
Step 4: Get and Respond to Reviews
Reviews are a major ranking factor and an even bigger conversion factor. Customers comparing two Redding plumbers will almost always call the one with more and better reviews.
How to get reviews ethically:
- Create a direct link to your review page: in your GBP dashboard, find your "Share review form" link and send it to customers via text right after you complete a job
- Ask in person at the moment of peak satisfaction
- Add a review link to your email signature
- Respond to every review — positive and negative. It shows you're engaged and professional.
Never buy reviews or ask for them in exchange for discounts. Google's systems detect this, and getting caught can get your entire listing suspended.
Step 5: Connect Your Website
Your GBP and your website work together. A fully optimized GBP without a quality website is like a great storefront leading to an empty room. When Google sees that your GBP and your website consistently reinforce the same signals — same business name, same location, same services, same phone number — your authority increases.
The businesses in Redding ranking at the top of local search results almost universally have both a strong GBP and a well-built website working together.
If you want help building a site that turns your GBP traffic into customers, see my SEO services or start a project.