Choosing the Right Category for Your Google My Business Profile

Selecting the right primary category for your Google My Business (GMB) listing is one of the most important optimization tasks when setting up and managing your profile. Choosing the Right Category signals to Google and customers what your business does and determines how you rank in local search results.

With over 1 million business categories to select from, it can be daunting to pick the one that best represents your company. The wrong category can negatively impact local SEO and prevent your business from ranking for relevant searches. But don’t worry – this comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about Google My Business categories, including:

How categories impact local SEO
Best practices for researching and selecting your category
What to do if your business spans multiple categories
Tips for changing your category if needed
Solutions for common category-related issues

Follow this advice to make sure you choose the optimum Google My Business category for your business.

How Google My Business Categories Impact Local SEO

Choosing the Right Category — Source – Search Engine Journal

Before we dive into how to select your category, it’s important to understand why your GMB category matters for local SEO. Here are some of the key ways your category selection influences your ability to rank and be found locally:

Signals to Google what your business offers – Your category tells Google what your business does. Selecting a category that accurately represents your products and services helps Google understand your business and return your listing for relevant searches.
Affects ranking for category-related terms – You’re more likely to rank for searches related to your specific category. So picking the best category can help you place higher in local results for searches in that niche.
Impacts where you show up in local packs – Google My Business listings grouped together in local search results are called local packs. Your category helps determine which packs you appear in for different queries.
Influences visibility in Google Maps – Your primary category can affect whether your business shows up when users search for related terms right in Google Maps.
Provides context for customers – Customers rely on your GMB category to get a quick understanding of what your business offers. An inaccurate or overly broad category can be confusing.

The takeaway is that your Google My Business category isn’t just for organizational purposes. It’s a core optimization signal that impacts local SEO and visibility. Read on to learn how to select the right one.

Also Read – Verifying Your Business: The Complete Guide

How to Research the Best Category for Your Business

Source – The Media Capital

With so much riding on your GMB category, you’ll want to put in the research to make sure you select the optimal option. Follow these best practices when determining which category is best:

Start with your existing business type or industry – If you have a retail clothing shop, you’ll want to explore the “clothing store” and related categories. Think about how you currently describe your business and market it to customers. This provides a jumping-off point for your category research.
Search for relevant keywords – See what keyword searches would be relevant for your business in local results. Search engines like the GMB category to match core search queries. If there are common terms your ideal customers would use that your existing or planned category doesn’t cover, that’s a sign it may not be the best fit.
Review competitor categories – Look at GMB listings for businesses similar to yours and see what categories they are using. Especially note competitors ranking well in your target areas. If you notice a common category path, it’s worth considering.
Search official category lists – Google provides a Local Categories file with its recommended primary categories and sub-categories. Search this list for options specific to your business type. The Google Local Service Ads categories can also provide guidance.
Think about categories from a customer’s perspective – Put yourself in your potential customer’s shoes. If someone was searching locally for your products or services, what category would come to mind? Match this customer intent.
Talk to industry peers – Reach out to other business owners in your niche, especially experienced ones with established listings, about their GMB category selection process. See what has worked well for them.

Once you’ve conducted thorough research through these methods, you should have a solid shortlist of potential categories to choose from. Next, we’ll cover some key factors to evaluate when making your final selection.

Choosing Between Potential Categories

After developing a list of possible categories for your business, here are some things to keep in mind as you make your final selection:

Accuracy – First and foremost, make sure the category accurately and specifically represents what your business does. Don’t select something overly broad or unrelated just because the name contains relevant keywords. You want the category to match your offerings.
Search intent – Pick a category that matches the language and terminology users would apply when searching for your products and services locally. Consider common customer search queries and choose accordingly.
Competitor alignment – If direct competitors have honed in on a specific primary category, that is a sign it is likely optimal. Don’t stray just for the sake of differentiation. Consistency in categories also helps customers.
Ranking opportunity – While you want to align with competitors, also consider whether there may be less competition in similar but less commonly used categories. This can provide a ranking advantage. Just be sure it still accurately reflects your business.
Growth potential – If your products and services are evolving, make sure to pick a category that will remain relevant even as you grow and expand your offerings over time.
User experience – The category should help the customer easily understand what you do. Don’t pick something overly vague or confusing just because the keywords are a match. Think about clarity for the end user.
Synergy with other signals – Your category will be one of many local ranking signals. Make sure your other metadata, content, and optimization align with and support your category choice.
Trust your research – At the end of the day, trust the insights gathered during your research process. Don’t overthink or second-guess the category that the data suggests is the best fit.

Picking a primary Google My Business category is a balance between optimizing for Google’s algorithm and presenting your business clearly and accurately. Keep these factors in mind as you make your choice.

What If Your Business Encompasses Multiple Categories?

For some businesses, selecting a single category is challenging because the business spans several different areas. A restaurant with a live music venue or a retail clothing shop with a cafe inside are examples of businesses that could potentially fall under multiple categories.

In these cases, you have two main options:

Choose a primary umbrella category that covers the overall business. For the examples above, this might be “Restaurant” or “Clothing Store.” You can then explain what makes your business unique (e.g. live music, coffee shop) in the business description.
Choose the category that represents the largest share of your business. If you mainly operate as a restaurant but also host live music, “Restaurant” would be the best primary category even if you’d also technically qualify for “Live Music Venue.”

In some circumstances, it may also make sense to create two separate Google My Business listings to cover each distinct category. But for most businesses with secondary elements, picking one primary overarching category is best.

Just make sure your description text expands on what your business offers so customers understand the full breadth of products and services. The category gets users to the door, and your description welcomes them inside with the specifics.

How to Change Your Google My Business Category

Don’t panic if you realize after setting up your listing that your current Google My Business category isn’t optimal. You can change your category at any time through your GMB dashboard.

Here are tips for changing your category:

Do your updated research – You still want to select the new category strategically, not arbitrarily. So do your keyword research, competitor analysis, and evaluation before requesting a change.
Only change once – Pick a new category with confidence and only submit one change request. Frequently changing categories can negatively impact your listings.
Realign other signals – After changing your category, update your GMB description, photos, attributes, etc. to realign with the new category focus. Optimize your website and online profiles too.
Give it time – Local ranking algorithms take time to respond to changes. Keep optimizing but wait at least 2-3 months after changing your category to fully evaluate the impact.
Use secondary categories if needed – If your business spans multiple areas, you can select up to 9 secondary categories in your GMB profile to cover additional services.

With careful consideration and proper alignment, changing your Google My Business category can lead to significant improvements in local SEO and visibility. Just be patient – you likely won’t see overnight results.

Also Read – How to Set Up and Optimize Google My Business [2024]

Common Google My Business Category Issues and Solutions

Choosing the right categories on Google My Business (GMB) is crucial for visibility and attracting target customers. However, it’s not always smooth sailing, and several common issues can arise. Let’s delve into the most common category-related problems and their solutions:

Issue 1: Missing or Incorrect Categories

Problem: Your listing either lacks relevant categories or has inaccurate ones, making it harder for potential customers to find you.
Solution: Research industry-specific categories that accurately reflect your offerings. Double-check your selection and update your listing accordingly. Utilize Google’s suggested categories as a starting point but explore further options to ensure comprehensiveness.

Issue 2: Too Many Categories

Problem: Overloading your listing with categories can dilute your focus and confuse potential customers.
Solution: Prioritize! Choose 3-5 primary categories that best represent your core business. Use additional categories sparingly for niche aspects. Remember, quality trumps quantity in this case.

Issue 3: Vague or Generic Categories

Problem: Categories like “Services” or “Business” offer minimal information, hindering targeted searches.
Solution: Get specific! Use categories that tell users what you do. For example, instead of “Restaurant,” choose “Italian Restaurant” or “Pizza Restaurant” depending on your cuisine.

Issue 4: Difficulty Finding Relevant Categories

Problem: Google’s suggestions might not offer ideal options for your unique business.
Solution: Get creative! Consider using broader categories and adding descriptive attributes in your business description. You can also suggest new categories to Google through their dedicated form.

Issue 5: Competitor Miscategorization

Problem: Competitors misuse categories to appear in searches irrelevant to their actual offerings.
Solution: Report such instances to Google through the “Suggest an edit” feature. Remember to document your reasoning for a stronger case.

Bonus Tip: Regularly review your category selection as your business evolves or expands. Adapt your GMB listing to stay relevant and attract the right kind of customers.

By addressing these common issues, you can ensure your Google My Business listing is categorized effectively, maximizing your online visibility and attracting your target audience.