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 Japanese 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 Japanese restaurant.
Category list for Japanese restaurant:
Japanese restaurant
Sushi Restaurant
Ramen Restaurant
Asian Fusion Restaurant
Teppanyaki Restaurant
Seafood Restaurant
Noodle Shop
Takeout Restaurant
Delivery Restaurant
Vegetarian Restaurant
Gluten-Free Restaurant
Family Restaurant
Fine Dining Restaurant
Buffet Restaurant
Caterer
Bar
Lounge
Event Venue
Cooking Class
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:
All-You-Can-Eat Buffet, Asian Cuisine Buffet, Breakfast Buffet, Brunch Buffet, Build-Your-Own Salad Bar, Carving Station, Catering Services, Cheese and Charcuterie Buffet, Children's Buffet, Chinese Buffet, Chocolate Fountain, Crab Leg Buffet, Dessert Buffet, Dim Sum Buffet, Early-Bird Buffet, Family-Friendly Dining, Fish and Seafood Buffet, Fruit and Yogurt Bar, Gluten-Free Options, Gourmet Buffet, Group Dining Reservations, Halal Buffet Options, Healthy Eating Options, Holiday Buffet, Indian Buffet, International Buffet, Italian Buffet, Japanese Buffet, Korean BBQ Buffet, Late-Night Buffet, Live Cooking Stations, Lunch Buffet, Mexican Buffet, Middle Eastern Buffet, Omelette Station, Outdoor Seating, Pasta Buffet, Pizza Buffet, Private Event Space, Salad Bar, Seafood Buffet, Senior Discount, Soup and Sandwich Buffet, Southern-Style Buffet, Steakhouse Buffet, Sushi Buffet, Taco Bar, Takeout Buffet, Teppanyaki Buffet, Vegan Buffet, Vegetarian Buffet, Weekday Specials, Weekend Buffet
Caterer:
Wedding Catering, Corporate Event Catering, Birthday Party Catering, Private Party Catering, Outdoor Event Catering, Themed Catering, Buffet Catering, Business Lunch Catering, Cocktail Party Catering, BBQ Catering, Breakfast Catering, Lunch Catering, Dinner Catering, Beverage Catering, Dessert Catering, Brunch Catering, Holiday Party Catering, Graduation Party Catering, Bridal Shower Catering, Baby Shower Catering, Funeral Catering, Vegan Catering, Vegetarian Catering, Gluten-Free Catering, Kosher Catering, Halal Catering, Food Truck Catering, Mobile Catering, Banquet Catering, Boxed Lunch Catering, Picnic Catering, Bespoke Catering, Catering Consultation, Custom Menu Planning, Event Catering Coordination, Full-Service Catering, Catering Equipment Rental, Catering Staff Services, Catering Setup and Teardown, Food Preparation and Cooking, Food Delivery and Pickup, Ethnic Catering, Health Conscious Catering, Farm-to-Table Catering, Organic Catering, Seasonal Catering, Sustainable Catering, Gourmet Catering, Appetizer Catering, Hors d'Oeuvres Catering, Finger Food Catering, International Cuisine Catering, Seafood Catering, Catering for Dietary Restrictions
Bar:
Craft Beer Selection, Signature Cocktails, Wine by the Glass, Bottle Service, Happy Hour Specials, Live Music Nights, DJ Performances, Karaoke Nights, Trivia Nights, Open Mic Events, Sports Viewing Parties, Outdoor Seating, Rooftop Bar, Private Events, Themed Nights, Dance Floor, Pool Tables, Dart Boards, Tabletop Games, Beer Pong, Food Menu, Appetizers and Snacks, Burgers and Sandwiches, Vegan and Vegetarian Options, Gluten-Free Options, Pub Grub, Taco Tuesdays, Wing Wednesdays, Sunday Brunch, Bottomless Mimosa Brunch, Gin and Tonic Bar, Bloody Mary Bar, Whiskey Tastings, Wine Tastings, Cocktail Classes, Bartending Courses, Local Brewery Collaborations, Ladies' Night, College Night, Industry Night, Holiday Parties, New Year's Eve Celebrations, St. Patrick's Day Events, Halloween Parties, Charity Events, Networking Events, Singles' Night, Speed Dating, Art Shows, Comedy Nights, Pet-Friendly Patio
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
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
Cooking class:
Basic Cooking Skills, Vegetarian Cooking, Vegan Cooking, Gluten-Free Cooking, International Cuisine, Baking Basics, Pastry Making, Pizza Making, Bread Making, Sushi Rolling, Knife Skills, Grilling Techniques, BBQ Masterclass, Healthy Cooking, Low-Calorie Cooking, Kids Cooking Classes, Teen Cooking Classes, Couples Cooking, Cooking for One, Cooking for a Crowd, Holiday Cooking, Appetizer Creation, Dessert Making, Soup & Stew Mastery, Pasta Making, Sauce & Condiment Techniques, Food Presentation, Food Pairing & Menu Planning, Cooking with Wine, Cooking with Beer, Slow Cooker & Instant Pot, Pressure Cooking, Air Fryer Techniques, Meal Prep & Planning, Cooking for Diabetics, Keto Cooking, Paleo Cooking, Plant-Based Cooking, Molecular Gastronomy, Gourmet Cooking, Iron Chef Workshops, Team Building Cooking Classes, Corporate Cooking Events, Culinary Travel & Food Tours, Farm-to-Table Cooking, Food Safety & Sanitation, Food Photography & Styling, Nutrition & Superfoods, Cooking with Herbs & Spices
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.
