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 Physiotherapist?
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 Physiotherapist.
Category list for Physiotherapist:
Physiotherapist
Sports Medicine Clinic
Rehabilitation Center
Chiropractor
Massage Therapist
Acupuncture Clinic
Occupational Therapist
Orthopedic Clinic
Physical Therapy Clinic
Sports Massage Therapist
Pilates Studio
Yoga Studio
Wellness Center
Personal Trainer
Fitness Center
Health Consultant
Nutritionist
Podiatrist
Medical Spa
Home Health Care Service
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:
Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release, Sports Injury Rehabilitation, Pre-Event Sports Massage, Post-Event Sports Massage, Maintenance Sports Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Muscle Energy Techniques, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Hydrotherapy, Cryotherapy, Heat Therapy, Kinesiology Taping, Therapeutic Stretching, Active Release Technique, Joint Mobilization, Muscle Activation Techniques, Range of Motion Improvement, Injury Prevention Education, Athletic Performance Enhancement, Prenatal Sports Massage, Sports Massage for Seniors, Orthopedic Massage, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Post-Surgical Rehabilitation, Gait Analysis, Posture Correction, Muscle Imbalance Assessment, Functional Movement Screening, Core Stability Training, Strength and Conditioning, Sports Nutrition Consultation, Home Exercise Programs, Running Technique Analysis, Bike Fitting and Assessment, Swimming Technique Analysis, Sports Massage for Youth Athletes, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization), Cupping Therapy, Acupressure, Reflexology, Chair Massage, Hot Stone Therapy, Aromatherapy, Oncology Massage, Stress Reduction Techniques, Relaxation Techniques
Pilates studio:
Beginner Pilates Classes, Intermediate Pilates Classes, Advanced Pilates Classes, Private Pilates Sessions, Group Pilates Classes, Pilates Mat Classes, Reformer Pilates Classes, Pilates Circuit Training, Pilates Barre Classes, Pilates for Pregnancy, Postnatal Pilates Classes, Pilates for Seniors, Pilates for Athletes, Pilates for Dancers, Pilates for Rehabilitation, Pilates for Back Pain, Pilates for Injury Prevention, Pilates for Weight Loss, Pilates for Flexibility, Pilates for Core Strength, Pilates for Posture Correction, Pilates for Stress Relief, Pilates for Balance and Coordination, Pilates for Muscle Toning, Pilates for Cardiovascular Fitness, Pilates Equipment Sessions, Pilates Workshops, Pilates Teacher Training Courses, Online Pilates Classes, Pilates Memberships, Pilates Apparel and Accessories, Pilates Gift Certificates, Corporate Pilates Programs, Pilates for Kids, Pilates for Teens, Pilates for Men, Pilates for Women, Pilates for Couples, Pilates Party Packages, Pilates Retreats, Pilates Wellness Programs, Pilates Nutrition Consultations, Pilates Meditation Sessions, Pilates for Chronic Pain Management, Pilates for Arthritis, Pilates for Scoliosis, Pilates for Osteoporosis, Pilates for Neurological Conditions, Pilates for Joint Replacement, Pilates for Spinal Fusion
Yoga studio:
Beginner Yoga Classes, Intermediate Yoga Classes, Advanced Yoga Classes, Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Postnatal Yoga, Kids Yoga, Senior Yoga, Hot Yoga, Aerial Yoga, Partner Yoga, Power Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Meditation Classes, Guided Relaxation, Pranayama Breathing Techniques, Kundalini Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Yoga for Athletes, Yoga for Back Pain, Yoga for Stress Relief, Yoga for Weight Loss, Yoga for Flexibility, Yoga for Strength, Yoga for Balance, Yoga for Anxiety, Yoga for Depression, Yoga for Sleep, Yoga for Mindfulness, Yoga for Energy, Yoga for Confidence, Yoga for Detox, Yoga for Chronic Pain, Yoga for Headaches, Yoga for Heart Health, Yoga for Digestion, Yoga for Hormone Balance, Yoga for Arthritis, Yoga for Diabetes, Yoga for Osteoporosis, Yoga for Menopause, Yoga for Pregnancy, Yoga for Posture, Yoga for Rehabilitation, Yoga Teacher Training
Wellness center:
Acupuncture Therapy, Aromatherapy, Art Therapy, Ayurvedic Consultations, Biofeedback Therapy, Chakra Balancing, Chiropractic Care, Counseling Services, Craniosacral Therapy, Cupping Therapy, Dance Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Detoxification Programs, Dietary Counseling, Energy Healing, Floatation Therapy, Guided Meditation, Herbal Medicine Consultations, Holistic Health Coaching, Homeopathy, Hot Stone Massage, Hydrotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Infrared Sauna, Integrative Medicine, Kinesiology, Life Coaching, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Magnetic Therapy, Meditation Classes, Mindfulness Training, Music Therapy, Myofascial Release Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutritional Counseling, Physical Therapy, Pilates Classes, Pranic Healing, Prenatal Massage, Reflexology, Reiki Healing, Shiatsu Massage, Sound Therapy, Sports Massage, Stress Management Coaching, Swedish Massage, Tai Chi Classes, Thai Massage, Therapeutic Massage, Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Therapy
Elderly Care, Personal Care Assistance, Companion Care, Dementia Care, Alzheimer's Care, Respite Care, Post-Hospitalization Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Medication Management, Wound Care, IV Therapy, Mobility Assistance, Meal Preparation, Light Housekeeping, Laundry Assistance, Transportation Services, Grocery Shopping Assistance, Social Interaction Support, Live-in Care, 24-hour Care, Hospice Support, Diabetes Care, Stroke Recovery Care, Cancer Care, Palliative Care, Incontinence Care, Bathing and Grooming Assistance, Toileting Assistance, Dressing Assistance, Feeding Assistance, Exercise and Wellness Support, Fall Prevention, Home Safety Evaluations, Medication Reminders, Errand Assistance, Medical Appointment Assistance, Family Caregiver Support, Long-Term Care, Short-Term Care, Home Health Aide Services, Certified Nursing Assistant Services, Registered Nurse Services, Licensed Practical Nurse Services, Case Management, Veterans Care, Emergency Response Services, Technology Assistance
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.
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.