The Q&A section sits on your Google Business Profile and is visible to anyone who views your listing in Search or Maps. Questions and answers are public. Google indexes the content.
Most trade businesses are unaware it exists, which creates two problems: unanswered questions make the business look unresponsive, and incorrect answers from third parties can sit on the profile for months without being challenged.
Why it matters
It is visible on your listing, which means a question with no answer is noticed. A potential customer who sees unanswered questions forms a quick impression that the business does not pay attention to its profile.
The section is also open. meaning competitors or members of the public can occasionally post inaccurate information. If you are not monitoring it, you may not notice for months.
There is a less obvious upside: business owners can post questions themselves and answer them. This is an intended feature of the platform, not a workaround. It gives you control over the information that appears on your profile.
Of consumers read Q&As before contacting a business
Businesses can seed their own questions and answers
Questions worth adding
Think about what customers ask before they book. Common examples for trade businesses:
- Are you Gas Safe registered?
- Do you cover [town]?
- Do you offer emergency callouts?
- What areas do you serve?
- Do you provide free quotes?
- Are you fully insured?
Post the question yourself through your profile, then answer it as the business owner. The answer stays permanently on your profile and removes a barrier for customers who would otherwise have to call to find out.
If you don't answer the questions on your profile, strangers on the internet will — and their answers might not be accurate.
How to monitor it
Set up notifications in your Google Business Profile dashboard so you receive an alert when a new question is posted. Respond within 24 hours.
If an inaccurate answer from a third party already appears on your listing, you can flag it for removal using the report option on that answer. Post a correct answer alongside it while you wait for the incorrect one to be reviewed.
Write 10 to 15 common questions customers ask you on the phone, then answer them on your own GBP. This builds trust and targets long-tail keywords.
Why keywords appear naturally here
Questions and answers that describe your services and areas naturally include terms Google looks for. An answer that says "Yes, we cover emergency boiler repairs across Rhyl, Prestatyn, and Colwyn Bay" contains location and service terms in a format that Google indexes alongside the rest of your profile.
This is not keyword stuffing. It is accurate information in a natural format.
The time involved
Adding five to ten common questions and answers takes about 30 minutes as a one-time task. Checking for new questions takes a few seconds per week. The cost of ignoring it entirely is that incorrect information can accumulate unchallenged.