Loonglade Web StudioBlog
5 Google Business Profile Mistakes Costing Canadian Trades Jobs
Customers stopped flipping through the Yellow Pages. Now they pull out a phone, search "plumber near me", and call whoever Google shows first. If your Business Profile has one of the mistakes below, that first call is going to someone else.
Mistake 1: Your categories are wrong or missing
Your primary category is the single strongest signal you send Google. "Contractor" is not a category. If your profile says something vague while your competitor says "Electrician", Google shows them first. Fix: pick the most specific primary category you qualify for, then add every relevant secondary category.
Mistake 2: Your hours and service areas are inconsistent
Google cross-checks your profile against your website and local directories. If your website says one phone number, your profile another, and an old listing a third, Google loses confidence — and so do customers. Fix: make your name, address, phone and hours identical everywhere.
Mistake 3: No photos — or the same three photos for years
Profiles with fresh photos get more clicks. Period. Google reads photo recency as a sign you're active. Fix: add real job photos weekly — finished work, crew, trucks. No stock images; customers and Google both notice.
Mistake 4: You never ask for reviews (or ask at the wrong moment)
Happy customers forget to review. It's not ingratitude — it's life. The fix is asking right after the job, by text, with a direct link that takes two taps. Ask two weeks later and the goodwill has evaporated. Fix: automated SMS review requests sent the same day. Here is how to get more Google reviews.
Mistake 5: You ignore your Google Posts
Google Posts expire, so a profile that was busy six months ago looks abandoned today. Fix: one post a week — a finished job, a seasonal reminder, a quick offer. Ten minutes, real impact.
Fix all five in one move
We fix these exact mistakes for trades across Canada — and the free audit shows you which ones are on your profile. It takes about 5 minutes and costs nothing. Get my free GBP audit →
I run Loonglade Web Studio, where I build websites for Canadian trades and handle the local SEO around them — Google Business Profile optimization, review requests, and missed-call text-back. I also build the tools behind the studio, including a business directory platform and an automated site-generation pipeline. I'm based in British Columbia, and I write about what actually gets local businesses found and called.
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