How to Fill In Your GBP Services Section Properly

The Section Most Tradespeople Either Ignore or Get Wrong

Open your Google Business Profile dashboard right now and click on "Edit profile," then "Services." What do you see? If the answer is a blank page, a couple of vague entries, or a messy list you filled in once and never touched again, you are in the majority. And you are leaving visibility on the table.

The services section is one of the most underused parts of Google Business Profile, which is strange because it directly affects which searches your business appears for. Google uses the text in this section to understand what you do. If it is empty or vague, Google has to guess. and Google is not always a good guesser.

This guide explains exactly how to fill in your services section properly, with trade-specific examples, common mistakes to avoid, and a clear process you can follow in about twenty minutes.

Where to Find the Services Section

Log into your Google Business Profile. If you manage it through Google Search, search for your business name while signed in and click "Edit profile." You will see several tabs. Click on "Services."

If you manage through the Google Business Profile Manager dashboard, navigate to your listing and look for the "Services" section in the left menu or within your profile editor.

You will see options to add service categories and individual services within each category. The interface lets you add a service name, an optional price, and a description.

How Google Actually Uses This Data

The services section feeds directly into Google's understanding of your business. When a homeowner searches "boiler installation Llandudno," Google checks several things: your primary category, your business description, your reviews, your website. and your services section.

If "Boiler installation" appears as a listed service with a description that mentions the types of boilers you install and the areas you cover, Google has a strong signal to match your profile with that search. If your services section just says "Plumbing" with no further detail, the signal is weaker.

This is particularly important for trades that cover a wide range of work. A plumber might handle everything from tap repairs to full bathroom installations. An electrician might do consumer unit upgrades and EV charger fitting. Without the services section spelling these out, Google may not connect your business with more specific searches.

It ties into the broader picture of how Google ranks local businesses. Relevance is one of the three main ranking factors, and your services section is a primary source of relevance signals.

How Many Services Should You Add?

There is no official limit that matters for practical purposes, but aim for between ten and twenty services as a starting point. Too few and you are not giving Google enough information. Too many and you risk diluting your focus or listing services you do not actually provide, which can lead to poor customer experiences and negative reviews.

Think about it this way: if a customer called and asked "Do you do X?", and the answer is yes, then X should be in your services section. If you would have to refer them elsewhere, leave it out.

A builder might list: extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions, new builds, structural alterations, groundwork, brickwork, block paving and demolition. That is ten services, all specific, all genuinely offered.

A roofer might list: roof repairs, flat roofing, pitched roofing, slate roofing, lead work, chimney repairs, fascias and soffits, gutter replacement and emergency storm damage repairs.

Service Names vs Descriptions. Both Matter

Each service has two fields: the name and the description. The name should be clear and specific. The description gives you space to add detail.

Service name: Keep this concise and searchable. Use the terms homeowners would actually type into Google. "Boiler installation" is better than "Heating system commissioning." "Rewiring" is better than "Full domestic electrical infrastructure renewal."

Service description: This is where you can add more detail without stuffing keywords into the name. A good description might read: "Full house rewiring for older properties. We replace outdated wiring and ensure your home meets current BS 7671 regulations. Available across Bangor, Gwynedd, and surrounding areas."

Notice what that description does. It explains the service in plain language, mentions a relevant technical standard (which adds credibility), and includes location names (which adds geographic signals). It is natural and useful to both Google and potential customers.

Trade-Specific Examples

Plumber

- Emergency callout. 24/7 emergency plumbing for burst pipes and blockages - Boiler installation. New boiler fitting including combi and conventional boilers - Boiler servicing. Annual boiler service to maintain efficiency and warranty compliance - Bathroom plumbing. Complete plumbing for new bathroom installations and refurbishments - Radiator installation. Fitting new radiators and power flushing - Tap and toilet repairs. Dripping taps and cistern replacements - Blocked drains. Drain unblocking using manual and high-pressure jetting methods - Water heater installation. Electric and gas water heater fitting and replacement - Leak detection. Tracing and repairing hidden leaks in domestic properties - Outside tap fitting. Installation of garden taps and external water points

Electrician

- Consumer unit upgrade. Replacement of old fuse boxes with modern RCD-protected consumer units - Full rewiring. Complete rewiring for older homes that do not meet current standards - Additional sockets and switches. Installing new power points and light switches - Lighting installation. Indoor and outdoor lighting including spotlights and garden lights - EV charger installation. Home electric vehicle charging point installation - Electrical safety inspection. EICR testing and certification for homeowners and landlords - Fault finding. Diagnosing tripping circuits and other electrical faults - Smart home wiring. Installation of smart switches and home automation wiring - Commercial electrical work. Electrical services for shops and commercial premises - Emergency electrician. Urgent callout for dangerous faults and power loss

Heating Engineer

- Boiler installation. Gas and oil boiler fitting including system design and commissioning - Boiler repair. Diagnosis and repair of all major boiler brands - Central heating installation. Full central heating systems for new builds and older properties - Power flushing. Clearing sludge and debris from radiators and pipework - Gas safety certificates. CP12 inspections for landlords and homeowners - Underfloor heating. Installation of wet and electric underfloor heating systems - Thermostat installation. Smart thermostat fitting including Hive and Tado - Radiator replacement. Upgrading and replacing individual radiators - Cylinder installation. Fitting unvented and vented hot water cylinders - Heating system design. Planning and designing efficient heating systems for domestic properties

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too vague. "Plumbing services" as your only service tells Google almost nothing. Be specific.

Too few. Three or four services is not enough. If you offer ten different types of work, list all ten.

Keyword stuffing in names. "Best cheap emergency plumber near me 24/7 fast response" is not a service name. Google can and does penalise this kind of thing. Keep names natural.

Listing services you do not provide. If you cannot actually install solar panels, do not list it. Homeowners who call expecting a service you cannot deliver will leave unhappy. and possibly leave a bad review.

Never updating. Your services should evolve with your business. If you have added EV charger installation to your offering, add it to your profile. If you have stopped doing a particular type of work, remove it. Review your services section at least every three months. Our guide to seasonal GBP strategy explains how to keep your profile aligned with demand throughout the year.

Missing descriptions. A service name with no description is a missed opportunity. Even a single sentence adds context for Google and for customers.

Pricing. To Show or Not to Show

Google gives you the option to add prices to your services. This is a personal choice and there is no universal right answer.

Arguments for showing prices: It filters out tyre-kickers. If your boiler service costs £75 and someone is looking for one under £50, they will not waste your time calling. It also builds trust. transparent pricing shows confidence.

Arguments against showing prices: Every job is different. A "rewire" price depends on the size of the house. Showing a single price can create expectations that do not match reality, leading to awkward conversations. Many tradespeople prefer to quote on a job-by-job basis.

If you do show prices, use them for standardised services with fixed or near-fixed costs. boiler services, EICR inspections, tap replacements. Leave prices off for variable jobs like extensions, full rewires, or bathroom installations.

How This Connects to Everything Else

Your services section does not work in isolation. It is one part of a complete profile that includes your categories, description, posts and photos. When all of these elements align, when your services section lists "boiler repair," your recent post mentions boiler repairs, and your latest review talks about a boiler repair, the combined signal is powerful.

This is the approach we take at Local Markers when working with tradespeople across North Wales. Every element of your profile reinforces the others. You can see the full picture on our how it works page or look at real results we have delivered for local businesses.

If you would like us to review your services section, along with the rest of your profile, request a free audit. We will tell you exactly what is missing and how to fill it in properly.

The services section takes twenty minutes to complete. The effect it has on your visibility lasts for as long as your profile exists. That is a good trade.