

You’ll appear in someone’s search results if they search for “Bed & Breakfast” or “Restaurant. Google’s search engine will then use this information to make you appear in potential customers’ search results.įor example, you listed your restaurant as “Breakfast Restaurant” as its primary GMB category. When setting up your GMB category, Google will ask you for one primary GMB category and up to ten secondary GMB business categories. You can drive more customers to your store by setting up its Google My Business category list. Let’s say you own a local breakfast restaurant in town. If you still can’t visualize how a Google My Business category list works, think of it this way. They work closely with local SEO citations, PPC, and social media ads to make you appear in relevant search results across Google Maps and Search. Google puts more weight and emphasis on the primary category, which is why it’s important to optimize the primary category for local SEO based on business objectives. You can only select one primary category but you can choose multiple secondary categories. Google My Business categories are one of the most crucial SEO factors. There is a primary and secondary category. They connect you to potential customers searching for similar products or services online. Photo agency remains SAB eligible and has no address restriction.Categories in Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google Maps categories, describe the nature of your business.Switch to a similar category without the restriction: Photography.The services section of GMB allows businesses to create custom service categories and add detailed descriptions. Switch to a similar category without the restriction: Auto window tinting service Figure 6.12 - Services in Google My Business.Switch to a similar category without the restriction: Pet funeral services or ritual service.Switch to a similar category without the restriction: Body shaping class.Switch to a similar category without the restriction: Car repair.Swith to a similar category without the restriction: Wheel Store.Switch to a similar category without the restriction: Car Repair.This will be non restricted by the end of Q3.If you find yourself in such a situation, please report it in the GMB Help Community.įor most users, this restriction is really just an indicator that GMB would like you to choose a more appropriate category for your business.Īccording to Ben Fisher, from Google My Business, some category guidance: While such a simple check is likely to work for the majority of listings, there may be problems in some fringe cases. This new feature is an automated, anti-spam protection designed to reduce category misuse across millions of business profiles. If you’re trying to create a SAB and come up against this warning that you need to display a physical location, simply look for an alternative category that doesn’t impose this restriction. This applies only to pure service area businesses. It’s worth noting that this new restriction has no impact on hybrid businesses because they show an address. On the other hand, if you don’t have a physical yoga studio and instead, travel to teach yoga at your clients’ location, then the category “Yoga instructor” is a better fit. Requiring such a business to show an address in GMB is a logical requirement. Some business types, such as a “Yoga studio” are, quite obviously, located at some physical address.
Google my business categories how to#
How To Handle GMB Categories That Require A Location Google confirmed this week that this is a new, anti-spam measure. Note how in the example above, the error message is displayed for a secondary category choice. How to Add Product Category in Google Business Profile Click on Products on main menu Press on a Product already created or click on Add product for a new. This new restriction is not limited to your primary category. The exact error message, which was displayed when changing or adding categories, reads “Not available unless your business location appears on Google Maps.” In July 2020, users started reporting cases in the GMB Community forum in which Google My Business would not allow them to create a service area business (SAB). Categories in Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google Maps categories, describe the nature of your business.

Google’s policies generally require you to create a listing that mirrors your business model.
Google my business categories free#
Historically, GMB users were free to decide whether or not to include an address with their business profile, as long as they did not violate the Guidelines.
