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 Soccer club?
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 Soccer club.
Category list for Soccer club:
Soccer club
Sports Complex
Youth Organization
Stadium
Sports Club
Fitness Center
Event Venue
Sports Bar
Sports Memorabilia Store
Sports Medicine Clinic
Sports Nutrition Store
Sports School
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:
Service list for Soccer club:
Sports complex:
Indoor Soccer Leagues, Basketball Court Rentals, Volleyball Open Gym, Badminton Court Rentals, Indoor Tennis Programs, Fitness Center Access, Group Fitness Classes, Yoga and Pilates Classes, Martial Arts Training, Gymnastics Lessons, Indoor Swimming Pool, Aquatics Programs, Swimming Lessons, Water Aerobics Classes, Personal Training Sessions, Youth Sports Programs, Adult Sports Leagues, Sports Camps, Birthday Parties Hosting, Corporate Events Hosting, Indoor Running Track, Rock Climbing Wall, Racquetball Court Rentals, Table Tennis Facilities, Sports Equipment Rentals, Cafe and Snack Bar, Locker Room Access, Sports Therapy Services, Massage Services, Nutrition Coaching, Physical Fitness Assessments, Exercise Programs Design, Weightlifting Area, Cardio Equipment Access, Team Building Events, Indoor Golf Simulators, Indoor Softball/Baseball Training, Squash Court Rentals, Functional Training Zone, CrossFit Classes, Indoor Cycling Classes, Boxing and Kickboxing Classes, Zumba and Dance Classes, Sports Retail Store, Memberships and Day Passes, Kids' Activity Center, Indoor Turf Rentals, Cheerleading and Dance Lessons, Parent's Night Out Events, Yoga and Meditation Workshops
Youth organization:
Youth Leadership Programs, Community Service Opportunities, Mentoring Programs, College Preparation Workshops, Cultural Exchange Programs, Entrepreneurship Workshops, Youth Sports Programs, Scholarship Assistance, Tutoring Services, Career Exploration Events, STEM Activities, Art and Music Programs, Public Speaking Workshops, Civic Engagement Initiatives, Youth Summer Camps, Internship Opportunities, Bullying Prevention Programs, Social Skills Training, Conflict Resolution Workshops, Health and Wellness Programs, Teen Parent Support Services, Mental Health Resources, Substance Abuse Prevention, Financial Literacy Workshops, Online Safety Training, Anti-discrimination Programs, Volunteer Training, Youth Advocacy Initiatives, Peer Mediation Training, Environmental Education Programs, Character Building Workshops, Disability Support Services, Cyberbullying Prevention, Youth Networking Events, Multicultural Activities, Language Learning Programs, Nutrition Education, Study Abroad Opportunities, Girls Empowerment Programs, Boys Empowerment Programs, LGBTQ+ Support Services, Digital Skills Training, Physical Fitness Programs, Outdoor Education Activities, Youth Job Training, Dance and Theater Workshops, Creative Writing Programs, Film and Media Production, Educational Field Trips, Youth Awards and Recognition
Stadium:
Football Matches, Soccer Matches, Baseball Games, Basketball Games, Hockey Games, Concerts, Festivals, Motorsports Events, Athletics Competitions, Cricket Matches, Rugby Matches, Boxing Matches, MMA Events, Wrestling Events, Gymnastics Competitions, Swimming Competitions, Cycling Races, E-Sports Tournaments, Exhibitions, Trade Shows, Corporate Events, Graduation Ceremonies, Charity Events, Outdoor Cinema, Marathons, Triathlons, Fitness Classes, Yoga Sessions, Food and Drink Festivals, Cultural Celebrations, Family Fun Days, Art Shows, Educational Events, Networking Events, Job Fairs, Public Speakers, Seminars, Workshops, Private Parties, Stadium Tours, VIP Experiences, Tailgating Events, Sporting Goods Expo, Fitness Expos, Healthy Lifestyle Conventions, Photography Sessions, Drone Racing Events, Outdoor Markets, Stadium Rentals, Team Building Events
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
Sports bar:
Live Sports Streaming, Happy Hour Specials, Beer on Tap, Craft Beers, Private Party Booking, Indoor and Outdoor Seating, Pool Tables, Darts, Foosball, Trivia Nights, Karaoke Nights, Sports Memorabilia, Local Team Support, Family Friendly, Cocktails, Signature Drinks, Whiskey Selection, Wine List, Sports Themed Decor, Big Screen TVs, Projector Screens, Surround Sound, Tailgate Parties, Game Day Specials, Appetizers and Snacks, Burgers and Sandwiches, Salads and Wraps, Wings and Sliders, Nachos and Quesadillas, Tacos and Burritos, Pizza and Flatbreads, Grilled Entrees, Vegan and Vegetarian Options, Gluten-Free Options, Kids Menu, Desserts, Soft Drinks, Coffee and Tea, Juices and Smoothies, Takeout and Delivery, Online Ordering, Gift Cards, Loyalty Program, Catering, Hosted Events, Themed Nights, Local Bands and DJs, Reservations, Sports Bar Merchandise, Sports Betting, Weekly Specials, Seasonal Events
Sports memorabilia store:
Autographed Jerseys, Signed Sports Equipment, Vintage Sports Collectibles, Basketball Memorabilia, Football Memorabilia, Baseball Memorabilia, Hockey Memorabilia, Soccer Memorabilia, Golf Memorabilia, Boxing Memorabilia, Tennis Memorabilia, NASCAR Memorabilia, Olympic Memorabilia, Sports Cards, Limited Edition Prints, Autographed Photos, Sports Artwork, Framing Services, Display Cases, Plaques and Trophies, Sports Figurines, Autograph Authentication, Memorabilia Appraisals, Custom Engraving, Game-Used Jerseys, Vintage Sports Posters, Rare Sports Books, Sports Coins, Sports Stamps, Sports Patches, Signed Team Memorabilia, Stadium Souvenirs, Sports Magazines, Autographed Helmets, Signed Sports Shoes, Sports Movie Memorabilia, Athlete Meet and Greets, Sports Auctions, Memorabilia Repair, Sports Ticket Stubs, Sports Trading Pins, Signed Mini Helmets, Signed Balls, Autographed Bats, Championship Rings, Autograph Sessions, Sports Watches, Sports Jewelry, Sports Puzzles, Sports Board Games, Sports Glassware
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.
