Google Business Profile Optimisation Checklist

How to use this checklist

This is the checklist we run for every Marked Growth client. It is deliberately short. The point isn't to do more — it's to do the same right things every week, forever. Tick items off as you go; your ticks reset when you reload.

How it maps to the framework

Every task below moves one lever of the Marked Growth Local Visibility Framework™.

                     VISIBILITY

              RELEVANCE
                  +
              PROMINENCE
                  +
              CONVERSION

                  =

           More WhatsApp Leads

Weekly (15 minutes)

Monthly (45 minutes)

Quarterly (90 minutes)

Continue learning

1. 1

   The Complete Guide to Google Business Profile (2026)

   Published

   Everything South African service businesses need to set up, verify, optimise and rank a Google Business Profile in 2026.
2. 2

   Google Business Profile Verification (South Africa)

   Expected August 2026

   Postcard, video call and video recording verification — what South African owners need to prepare.
3. 3

   GBP Categories: Picking the Primary Category That Ranks

   Expected August 2026

   How to choose the primary and secondary categories that decide what searches you show up for.
4. 4

   Services: The Hidden Ranking Lever

   Expected September 2026

   Structuring your services list so Google understands every job you actually do.
5. 5

   Photos That Move Rankings

   Expected September 2026

   What to shoot, how often to upload and which photos Google rewards on South African profiles.
6. 6

   Reviews: Prominence, Freshness and Language

   Expected September 2026

   The review generation cadence that lifts prominence without violating Google policy.
7. 7

   Google Posts Weekly Playbook

   Expected October 2026

   A 15-minute weekly posting rhythm that keeps the profile active without becoming spam.
8. 8

   Products: Packaging Your Services on GBP

   Expected October 2026

   Turning service jobs into fixed-price Product cards buyers can compare at a glance.
9. 9

   Reading GBP Insights: What to Actually Do

   Expected November 2026

   How to convert Searches, Discovery, Calls and Directions data into next week's actions.
10. 10

    Suspended? The South African Recovery Playbook

    Expected November 2026

    Why profiles get suspended in South Africa and the reinstatement path that actually works.
11. 11

    Google Business Profile Optimisation Checklist

    PublishedYou are here

    A 40-point weekly checklist to keep your Google Business Profile fully optimised and outranking competitors.

Frequently asked questions