GMB Categories is one of the topmost ranking factors. Getting this correct will make a big difference for your ranking and traffic. In this article we go through how you can go about selecting the most relevant categories and services for your business.
It is very important you have more relevent and many categories. Google allow 1 primary category and 9 secondary categories. Here are some of the reasons you should do this:
Adding all relevant categories can help Google identify what your business is about. This way Google can get your GBP to a wider audience.
You will rank better with search terms that matches those particular categories.
There is a strong positive correlation between having more categories and ranking better.
All categories don't have the equal traffic. So finding the categories with good traffic and using that can greatly improve your traffic.
Some primary categories allows you add add services, so having those will help you provide additional information to Google.
Updating categories is one of those things where a fixed amount of work initially can provide a big increase in traffic during the life time of the GBP.
In this article, we help you with finding the best GMB Categories for your business and provide you data to make this informed decision. We also go through services you can add if your business is allowed to have services.
What are the best categories if you are a Chinese restaurant?
These are two methods by which you can find the best GMB Categories and Services for your business.
Please note that Method 1 provides raw data while Method 2 shown below provides very interactive and precise data. Click here to go directly to Method 2: Go to Method 2.
Method 1:
In method one, just use the data provided here to find the best GMB Categories and Services for your business.
Here are list of other catgeories you can add if you are a Chinese restaurant.
Category list for Chinese restaurant:
Chinese restaurant
Asian Fusion Restaurant
Dim Sum Restaurant
Noodle Shop
Sushi Restaurant
Takeout Restaurant
Seafood Restaurant
Vegetarian Restaurant
Caterer
Buffet Restaurant
Family Restaurant
Fast Food Restaurant
Delivery Restaurant
Banquet Hall
Event Venue
Tea House
Food Court
Lounge
Bistro
Use these criteria to decide if one or more of the above can be added to your GMB. Please go through the above list with these criteria:
Relevance: Ensure the category closely matches your products or services.
Specificity: Choose a category that is as specific as possible to your core business.
Search Volume: Look at how often users are searching for that specific category or related keywords.
Competition: Analyze the competition within that category. If it’s highly competitive, ensure you have a robust strategy to stand out.
Compliance: Be mindful of Google’s guidelines, as selecting an irrelevant category may lead to penalties.
Customer Expectation: Think from a customer's point of view. Does the category define what they would be looking for?
All categories mentioned above is not available in every country, so I would suggest manually trying out these categories in your countries.
Similarly, these are the services you can add to the services for the category mentioned above.
Here are the services available for each categories mentioned above:
Traditional Dim Sum, Cantonese Dim Sum, Szechuan Dim Sum, Vegetarian Dim Sum, Vegan Dim Sum, Gluten-Free Dim Sum, Seafood Dim Sum, Pork Dim Sum, Beef Dim Sum, Chicken Dim Sum, Dumplings, Rice Noodle Rolls, Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf, Fried Spring Rolls, Fried Wontons, Steamed Buns, Baked Buns, Egg Tarts, Sesame Balls, Custard Buns, Prawn Dumplings, Shumai, Har Gow, Fung Zhao, Pai Gwut, Lo Mai Gai, Char Siu Bao, Cheong Fun, Baozi, Xiaolongbao, Jian Dui, Potstickers, Turnip Cake, Taro Cake, Fried Radish Cake, Mango Pudding, Tofu Pudding, Red Bean Paste Buns, Almond Cookies, Coconut Tarts, Chinese Tea Service, Dim Sum Takeout, Dim Sum Delivery, Private Dining, Banquet Services, Catering Services, All-You-Can-Eat Dim Sum, Dim Sum Brunch, Dim Sum Lunch, Dim Sum Dinner, Group Reservations
Wedding Receptions, Corporate Events, Birthday Parties, Anniversary Celebrations, Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Quinceañeras, Sweet Sixteen Parties, Graduation Parties, Retirement Parties, Holiday Parties, Charity Events, Gala Dinners, Award Ceremonies, Product Launches, Networking Events, Seminars and Workshops, Training Sessions, Team Building Events, Trade Shows, Exhibitions, Art Shows, Fashion Shows, Wine Tastings, Food Festivals, Cultural Events, Themed Events, Outdoor Events, Sports Banquets, Reunions, Engagement Parties, Christenings, Funeral Receptions, Memorial Services, Business Luncheons, Cocktail Parties, Non-profit Fundraisers, Auctions, Movie Screenings, Concerts, Live Performances, Comedy Nights, Karaoke Nights, Dance Parties, Casino Nights, Murder Mystery Dinners, Trivia Nights, Game Nights, Talent Shows, Masquerade Balls, New Year's Eve Parties
Event venue:
Wedding Venue, Conference Center, Corporate Event Space, Party Hall Rental, Banquet Hall, Outdoor Event Space, Indoor Event Space, Exhibition Hall, Trade Show Venue, Concert Venue, Theater Venue, Meeting Room Rental, Reception Hall, Private Event Space, Networking Event Space, Gala Dinner Venue, Ceremony Venue, Festival Grounds, Art Gallery Rental, Product Launch Venue, Retreat Center, Sports Event Space, Fundraiser Venue, Catering Services, Event Planning Assistance, Audio-Visual Equipment Rental, Live Streaming Services, Team Building Activities, Birthday Party Venue, Holiday Party Venue, Anniversary Party Venue, Bridal Shower Venue, Baby Shower Venue, Graduation Party Venue, Prom Venue, Award Ceremony Venue, Film Screening Venue, Fashion Show Venue, Comedy Show Venue, Lecture Hall Rental, Photo Shoot Location, Film Production Location, Food and Beverage Services, VIP Lounge, Themed Event Space, Rooftop Event Space, Parking and Transportation Services, On-site Event Staff, Accessible Event Venue, Multi-purpose Event Space
Tea house:
Loose Leaf Tea Sales, Tea Tastings, Tea Workshops, Tea Pairing Events, Boba Tea, Matcha Tea, Chai Tea, Herbal Tea, Organic Tea, Iced Tea, Green Tea, White Tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea, Yellow Tea, Pu-erh Tea, Tea Gift Sets, Tea Accessories, Tea Brewing Equipment, Tea Subscriptions, Tea Parties, Tea House Private Events, Tea Tasting Tours, Afternoon Tea, High Tea, Cream Tea, Tea House Catering, Tea House Merchandise, Tea House Gift Cards, Tea House Loyalty Program, Custom Tea Blends, Tea Infused Foods, Tea Infused Drinks, Tea House Book Club, Tea History Lessons, Tea House Art Exhibits, Tea House Live Music, Tea House Poetry Readings, Tea House Workshops, Tea House Yoga, Tea House Meditation, Tea House Networking Events, Tea House Movie Nights, Tea House Game Nights, Tea House Themed Nights, Tea House Trivia Nights, Tea House Gardening Workshops, Tea House Plant Sales, Tea House Cooking Classes, Tea House Pottery Classes
Food court:
Fast Food Restaurants, Pizza Corner, Sandwich Shop, Burger Joint, Chinese Food Stall, Mexican Food Stand, Indian Food Kiosk, Sushi Counter, Salad Bar, Dessert Station, Ice Cream Parlor, Bubble Tea Booth, Coffee Shop, Juice and Smoothie Bar, Vegan Food Stand, Gluten-Free Options, Seafood Counter, BBQ Grill, Breakfast and Brunch Spot, Bagel and Pretzel Kiosk, Middle Eastern Food Stall, Italian Food Stand, Greek Food Corner, Thai Food Booth, Korean Food Kiosk, All-Day Breakfast, Panini and Wrap Station, Bakery and Pastry Shop, Gourmet Sandwiches, Custom Salad Creations, Gelato and Frozen Yogurt, Hot Dog and Sausage Stand, Steak and Grill, Chicken Wings and Tenders, French Fry Station, Soup and Stew Corner, Pasta and Noodles Bar, Crepe and Waffle Spot, Taco and Burrito Stand, Dim Sum and Dumpling Kiosk, Donut and Pastry Counter, Churros and Funnel Cakes, Candy and Snack Bar, Soft Pretzel Stand, Popcorn and Cotton Candy, Nacho and Quesadilla booth, Pho and Ramen Station, Ethnic Street Food, Loaded Baked Potato Stand, Gyro and Shawarma Kiosk, Hot Beverage Stand, Catering Services
Lounge:
Cocktail Bar, Happy Hour Specials, Live Music Performances, Outdoor Seating, Private Event Hosting, Tapas and Small Plates, Wine Tasting Events, Themed Nights, Art Exhibitions, DJ Nights, Karaoke Nights, Craft Beer Selection, Signature Drink Menu, Ladies' Night, Dance Floor, Food Pairing Recommendations, Weekly Drink Specials, Sports Viewing Parties, Trivia Nights, Comedy Shows, Cabaret Performances, Open Mic Nights, Sunday Brunch, Cigar Lounge, Rooftop Lounge, Movie Nights, Board Game Nights, Networking Events, Book Readings, Culinary Workshops, Speed Dating Events, Acoustic Sessions, Seasonal Cocktail Menu, Guest Mixologist Nights, Sangria Sundays, Mojito Mondays, Wine Down Wednesdays, Tequila Tuesdays, Throwback Thursdays, Fancy Fridays, Social Saturdays, Industry Nights, Dog-Friendly Patios, Bottomless Mimosas, Food Truck Collaborations, Tiki Bar Nights, Holiday Parties, Mixology Classes, Singles Nights, Piano Bar, Rum Tasting Events
All categories dont have the option to add services, so if you have this option only then add these services mentioned above. Also make sure first that these are services you offer before adding them. Add the one you think is relevant one after the other.
Method 2
The second and more easy way is to use our Category Finder Tool. The tool allows 5 free usages a month, so you can do this with the free plan.
The above is an interactive application which helps you find the following:
Find related categories.
Find search volume for these categories.
Find services inside these categories.
Easily compare trends on categories on Google Trends.
You can use the free version of the category Finder Tool to find this. Signup here: Category Finder Tool
The screenshot below shows how you can use this.
How to use the tool?
Here are the steps you need to follow to most effectively use the tool.
Screenshot shows the category finder tool.
Step 1: Navigate to the Category Finder Tool, where you'll be redirected to the signup page to create an account.
Step 2: Upon signing up, you'll land on the Category Finder Tool homepage. Here, enter the main category for your business, designated as '1' in the image above.
Step 3: After completing step 2, numerous categories will appear in section 2. Click on any to uncover more relevant categories, with the dark bubble displaying the keyword search count.
Step 4: At the category page's bottom, you'll find related services, or additional categories to include. By clicking the 'Compare on Google Trends' button, you can contrast these categories to analyze category comparisons and seasonal variations in keyword searches.
How to choose a Primary Category from a list of Categories.
Selecting the right primary category for your business in Google My Business is a crucial step in improving your local SEO performance. The primary category you choose should accurately represent the core service or product you offer. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make the best choice:
Understand Your Business: Identify the central service or product your business offers. This will guide you towards the most fitting category.
Explore the GMB Categories: Explore the categories we provide you in Method 1 and Method 2. See which one of them is the most relevant for your business.
Check Keyword Search Volume: The number we provide in the dark bubble in Method 2 is the average monthly search volume. Make sure that the primary category you selected has enough search volume.
Seasonal changes: There are seasonal changes in search volume for some categories. For example an A/C mechanic won't have enough demand in winter and on the other hand a snow plough operator won't have much search traffic in Summer. So, that is why in method 2 you can search on Google trends to see how search changes with time.
Analyze Competitors: Look at what primary categories your successful competitors are using. This can give you insights into what might work for your business too.
Consider Customer Perspective: Think about the terms your customers might use to search for your services or products. Selecting a category that aligns with customer search behavior can enhance visibility.
Monitor and Adjust if Necessary: SEO is a constantly evolving field. Regularly review the performance of your selected category and be prepared to make adjustments if you find that it's not providing the expected results.
Conclusion:
Selecting the right categories in Google My Business (GMB) is crucial for your online success. Your choices in primary and secondary categories directly impact how your business ranks and who finds you.
In this article, we've shown you how to choose relevant categories and why they matter. Whether manually selecting from a provided list or using the Category Finder Tool, the aim is to align with your business's core offerings and customer needs.
Remember, the right categories help Google understand your business better, connecting you with a wider audience. Regularly review and adjust your selections to keep up with trends and demands. With careful planning and insight, your GMB profile can be a powerful tool in growing your business.
