Small, specific edits to your GBP that consistently produce more calls and direction requests from local searchers.
Most Des Moines businesses set up their Google Business Profile once and never touch it again. That's the opportunity. Here are ten quick wins we run on every new client — usually within the first week.
1. Pick a hyper-specific primary category
'Mexican Restaurant' beats 'Restaurant.' 'Family Chiropractor' beats 'Chiropractor.' Google uses the primary category more heavily than any other single signal for map ranking.
2. Add every relevant secondary category
You get up to nine secondary categories. Use them. A West Des Moines med spa should list Skin Care Clinic, Laser Hair Removal Service, Medical Spa, and Facial Spa — not just one.
3. Fill out the Services section with descriptions
Each service should have a 200–300 character description with your city and neighborhood mentioned naturally. This is prime real estate most competitors leave blank.
4. Upload real, geo-tagged photos monthly
Stock photos hurt you. Original photos of your storefront, team, and completed work — taken on-site so the EXIF data carries Des Moines coordinates — help.
5. Post weekly updates
Offers, events, and 'What's New' posts keep your profile active. Google favors profiles that look alive.
6. Answer questions before strangers do
Seed your Q&A section with the 5–10 questions customers actually ask. If you don't, a random user will answer for you — often incorrectly.
7. Use messaging and enable booking
Both increase engagement signals. Messaging especially — Google rewards profiles customers interact with directly.
8. Add products (yes, even for service businesses)
The Products section acts like a mini-catalog on your profile. Use it to showcase packages, service tiers, or featured offers.
9. Get reviews with the city named in them
Reviews mentioning 'Des Moines,' 'West Des Moines,' or 'Ankeny' reinforce your relevance for those geographies. Ask customers to mention where they visited from.
10. Respond to every review within 48 hours
Personalize the reply. Use the customer's name, reference the service, and mention the city. Google reads these responses.