Google · 8 min read · Updated
Google Business Profile checklist: 20 steps to rank higher on Google Maps (2026)
A complete 2026 Google Business Profile checklist for local businesses in Bangladesh: setup, categories, photos, reviews, posts and monthly upkeep.
When someone nearby searches for a dentist, a gym, a boutique or a place to eat, Google Maps is usually the first thing they see. For many local businesses in Bangladesh, the Google Business Profile matters more than the website: it’s where people check your hours, read reviews, look at photos, get directions and call you.
Quick answer: a fully optimised Google Business Profile has a verified listing, your real business name, the most specific primary category, an exact map pin, correct and holiday hours, a full description, services and products, at least 20 real photos, a steady flow of reviews with replies, and weekly posts. The 20 steps below cover each one.
This is the same checklist we run for every new client. Work through it once to set your profile up properly, then use the monthly section to keep it ranking.
New to local SEO? Read our step-by-step guide to ranking on Google Maps in Bangladesh first, then come back to this checklist.
Part 1: Get the basics exactly right
1. Claim and verify your profile
Search your business on Google Maps. If it exists, claim it. If not, create it at business.google.com. Verification usually means recording a short video of your premises or entering a code sent by phone, text or email. Until you’re verified, you can’t control what customers see.
2. Use your real business name
Use your name exactly as it appears on your signboard. Don’t add keywords like “Best Biryani Dhanmondi”. It breaks Google’s rules and can get your listing suspended.
3. Choose the most specific primary category
Your primary category is one of the strongest ranking signals. Choose the most specific option: “Biryani restaurant” instead of “Restaurant”, “Cosmetic dentist” instead of “Dentist” if that’s what you mainly do.
4. Add relevant secondary categories
Add a few more categories for other things you genuinely offer. A café that also does catering can add “Caterer”. Don’t add categories you don’t really serve.
5. Set the correct address and map pin
Check that the pin sits exactly on your entrance. In busy areas of Dhaka, a pin on the wrong side of the road or in the wrong building sends customers away.
6. Add a phone number someone actually answers
Use a number that’s answered during opening hours. Add WhatsApp or a booking link if that’s how customers prefer to reach you.
7. Set accurate opening hours
Keep regular hours correct, and set special hours for Ramadan, both Eids, Pohela Boishakh, Puja and public holidays. Nothing loses a customer faster than arriving to a closed shutter.
Part 2: Show what you sell
8. Write a clear business description
Describe what you do, who you serve and where, in natural language. Mention your main services and your area once or twice, without stuffing keywords. You have 750 characters; the first 250 matter most.
9. List your services or menu
Add each main service or menu section with a short description and prices where it makes sense. This helps you appear for more specific searches.
10. Add your products
Showcase best-sellers with photos, short descriptions and prices. Products appear prominently on your profile, especially on mobile.
11. Upload at least 20 real photos
Cover the outside (so people recognise you from the street), the inside, your team, and your best products or work. Use real photos, not stock images, and keep them bright and sharp.
12. Add short videos
A 10 to 30 second clip of your space, kitchen, workshop or process makes your profile stand out.
13. Set your attributes
Tick everything that applies: delivery, takeaway, dine-in, parking, wheelchair access, Wi-Fi, payment options and more. Customers filter by these.
14. Add action links
Add links for booking, ordering, menus or appointments, so customers can act straight from Google without searching for your website.
Part 3: Win reviews and trust
15. Ask every happy customer for a review
Reviews are one of the strongest ranking factors and the first thing customers read. Ask at the moment people are happiest, and make it easy with a short review link.
16. Print a review QR card
Put a small QR card at the counter, on tables, receipts and packaging. Add the review link to your Messenger saved replies and WhatsApp follow-ups too.
17. Reply to every review
Thank people by name for positive reviews. Reply calmly to negative ones, apologise where it’s deserved and offer to fix the problem. Future customers read your replies as much as the reviews.
Never buy fake reviews or offer rewards for positive ones. Google removes them and may restrict your profile.
Part 4: Keep it active every month
18. Post updates every week
Share offers, new arrivals, events and holiday hours as Google posts. Active profiles tend to rank better and give customers a reason to choose you.
19. Add new photos regularly
Upload a few fresh photos every week or two: new dishes, new stock, finished projects, seasonal decorations.
20. Check your profile every month
Anyone can suggest edits to your listing, and Google sometimes accepts them automatically. Check monthly that your name, hours, phone, category and pin haven’t changed without you. While you’re there, look at the performance report: searches, calls, direction requests and website clicks.
Your monthly Google Business Profile routine
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Publish a Google post (offer, update or event) | Weekly |
| Upload new photos | Every 1–2 weeks |
| Reply to new reviews | Within 2–3 days |
| Update special hours | Before every holiday or festival |
| Check for unwanted edits | Monthly |
| Review calls, directions and searches | Monthly |
Common Google Business Profile mistakes
- Keywords in the business name.
- A vague primary category.
- A map pin in the wrong place.
- Different phone numbers or addresses on Google, Facebook and your website.
- No special hours for Eid and public holidays.
- Ignoring negative reviews.
- Uploading photos once and never again.
- Creating duplicate listings for the same location.
Where to start this week
If you only do three things this week: fix your hours, add 20 good photos and print a review QR card. Those three changes alone often lift calls and direction requests within a month.
Want us to manage it for you?
Google Business Profile management is included in every WAVE monthly package: setup and optimisation, fresh photos and posts, review replies and monthly reporting. Learn more about our Google Business Profile service, or book a free strategy call and we’ll audit your profile against your nearest competitors.
Frequently asked questions
How do I optimise my Google Business Profile?
Verify your listing, choose the most specific primary category, complete every section, add at least 20 real photos, list your services or products, collect and reply to reviews, and post updates every week.
How many photos should a Google Business Profile have?
Start with at least 20 good photos covering the outside, the inside, your team and your best products or work, then add a few new ones every week or two.
How often should I post on Google Business Profile?
One to two posts a week is enough for most local businesses. Share offers, new products, events and holiday hours.
Why is my business not showing on Google Maps?
The most common reasons are an unverified listing, a wrong or vague category, an incorrect address or pin, a suspended listing, or strong competitors closer to the person searching.
Can I change my business name on Google to rank higher?
No. Use your real business name exactly as it appears on your signboard. Adding keywords or locations to the name breaks Google's guidelines and can get your listing suspended.
