A/B Testing Photos on Google Business Profile: Does It Work?
- Published: December 08, 2025
Why Getting Your Primary and Secondary Categories Right Can Make or Break Local SEO
When it comes to ranking your business on Google Maps and Local Search, one factor quietly carries more weight than most realize—your Google Business Profile (GBP) categories.
At Local View, we’ve analyzed hundreds of local listings across industries, and we’ve seen the same pattern: the right category setup can dramatically increase impressions, while the wrong one can bury a business in search results.
Let’s break down how categories influence visibility, ranking, and engagement—and how to choose the right ones to maximize your local reach.
What Are Google Business Profile Categories?
Your GBP categories tell Google what your business is, not just what it does. They help Google match your listing to users’ search intent.
Each listing can include:
- One primary category – the most important signal for what your business is.
- Up to nine secondary categories – to describe additional services or offerings.
For example, a plumbing business might use:
- Primary: Plumber
- Secondary: Drainage service, Water heater installation, Emergency plumber
These categories determine which keywords trigger your profile to appear in Google’s local results.
Why Categories Matter for Search Visibility
1. They Shape Your Search Rankings
Your chosen categories directly affect what searches you appear for.
If your primary category doesn’t align with your main service, you might rank for irrelevant terms—or not rank at all.
Example:
If you set “Contractor” as your primary category but most of your business involves waterproofing, you’ll miss out on people searching “basement waterproofing near me.”
2. They Influence Your Local Pack Placement
Google uses categories as a key ranking factor in the Local 3-Pack (the top map results).
A business that’s correctly categorized has a much higher chance of showing up when nearby users search for that service—especially on mobile.
3. They Affect Visibility in “Discover” and Related Searches
GBP categories also help Google understand what related searches to show your business in, like:
- “Businesses similar to…”
- “People also search for…”
Accurate secondary categories broaden your reach across these discovery surfaces.
How to Choose the Right Categories
Step 1: Identify Your Core Service
Your primary category should reflect the single main service your business provides. Ask yourself:
“If a customer could only find me for one search, what would it be?”
For example:
- A local clinic → Medical clinic
- A marketing agency → Marketing agency
- A roofing company → Roofing contractor
Step 2: Add Supporting Secondary Categories
Secondary categories help Google understand the range of what you do.
Choose complementary options that support your main focus—not random ones that dilute your ranking strength.
Example – Basement Waterproofing Company:
- Primary: Waterproofing service
- Secondary: Foundation repair service, Contractor, Drainage service
Step 3: Use Competitor Research
Search your top competitors in Google Maps and note their category combinations.
Often, the highest-ranking profiles share similar setups—use that as inspiration.
Step 4: Avoid “Category Stuffing”
Adding every possible category doesn’t help—it can actually confuse Google.
Stick to 3–5 highly relevant categories that accurately describe your business.
How Local View Helps Businesses Optimize Their Categories
At Local View, our local SEO specialists use real performance data to:
- Audit your current GBP setup
- Compare category performance with local competitors
- Test primary/secondary combinations for higher engagement
- Track ranking changes across Google Search and Maps
We align your profile’s category structure with the search intent and keywords that actually convert—turning visibility into phone calls and leads.
Final Thoughts
Categories are the backbone of your Google Business Profile’s local visibility. A few well-chosen categories can mean the difference between ranking #3 on the map—and not showing up at all.
Whether you’re a local service provider or multi-location business, optimizing your categories is one of the quickest, most effective ways to boost your Google visibility.
