Add a comprehensive list of services to your Google Business Profile.
Module 3 · Lesson 3
Services
Add and optimise your service listings to help customers understand exactly what you offer.
Learning Outcomes
Write clear, keyword-rich service descriptions that improve your search visibility.
Organise services by category for easy navigation.
Understand how services listings differ from product listings and when to use each.
Key Concepts
Services vs Products
Google Business Profile distinguishes between Products (physical items you sell) and Services (activities or work you perform for customers). If you run a service business — plumber, accountant, hairdresser, consultant, cleaner — the Services section is your primary showcase. Service listings help Google understand exactly what you offer, improving your relevance for specific service searches.
The Services Section
Navigate to Services in your profile dashboard. Depending on your business category, Google may pre-populate a list of common services that you can select from. You can also add custom services that are not in Google's default list. For each service, you can add a name, price (optional), and description of up to 300 characters.
Writing Service Descriptions
Service descriptions are indexed by Google and appear on your profile. Write each description as a concise, clear explanation of what the service involves, who it is for and what the outcome is. Include relevant keywords naturally. For example, a cleaning company's description for "End of Tenancy Cleaning" might read: "Comprehensive end of tenancy cleaning service for rental properties in Wellington. Deep clean including oven, carpet, windows and bathrooms to meet tenancy inspection standards."
Service Categories
Group your services into logical categories — for example, a plumber might use categories like "General Plumbing", "Gas Services", "Emergency Plumbing" and "Commercial Plumbing". Categories make it easy for customers to find the specific service they need and improve the overall organisation of your profile.
Services and Ranking
Each service you list is a potential keyword match for customer searches. A plumber who lists "Hot water cylinder replacement" as a service is much more likely to appear when someone searches "hot water cylinder replacement [city]" than a plumber who has only their general category. The more services you list accurately, the wider the net of relevant searches your profile can appear in.
Step-by-Step Practice
Open the Services section of your Google Business Profile.
Select all applicable pre-populated services from Google's suggested list for your category.
Add custom services that are not in Google's list but that your business genuinely offers.
Write a description for each service — include what it is, who it is for and key benefits.
Organise services into categories for easy navigation.
Ian's practical tip: I have added a comprehensive list of services with descriptions. Services are organised into logical categories. Service descriptions include relevant keywords naturally. I have compared my services to competitors and filled any gaps.
Practical Activity
Complete and record this task
Think of your services list as a mini-website sitemap. Every service is a potential search query. The more specific and accurate your service list, the more long-tail searches your profile can rank for. Do not overlook specialist services that your competitors might not list.