If your clinic isn’t showing up when patients search “doctor near me, dentist near me” you’re losing appointments silently, every day. A fully optimised Google Business Profile (GBP) – formerly known as Google My Business profile fixes that. Here’s exactly what needs to be done.
9 Steps in Optimising your Google Business Profile
1. Profile Creation & Claim
- Claim or Create Your Google Business Profile : Before anything else, own your listing. Either you need to create fresh or claim the existing one (in case, you do not have access to your GBP Listing). Unclaimed profiles are incomplete, uncontrolled, and often inaccurate, so it is necessary to claim it.
2. NAP Consistency
Your Name, Address, and Phone must be same everywhere on the internet. Even minor mismatches hurt your local rankings.
- Add your clinic name exactly as it appears on your signage.
- Verify and correct your full address.
- List the right phone number.
- Get the phone number approved via proof submission to GBP Verification team
- Add your website URL.
- Set accurate hours of operation – including breaks and holidays.
In some cases, you need to verify the business by creating and uploading Business Video at the business location. In this video, you need to show the neighborhood, address verifying signage boards, your setup, equipment etc.
Document proofs for GBP profile verification
- Business Registration: A certificate of incorporation, business license, or articles of incorporation.
- Proof of Address: A recent utility bill (water, gas, electricity) or bank statement dated within the last 90 days showing the business name and address.
- Official Correspondence: Tax documents (like GST registration) or an official lease agreement.
- Authorization: A government-issued photo ID of the business owner or authorized representative.
3. Category Selection
- Primary Category – Be specific: “Orthopedic Surgeon,” “Pediatrician,” “Dermatologist”
- Secondary Categories – Add supporting specialties to capture more search queries
The right categories directly decide which patient searches trigger your listing.
4. High-Quality Photos
Patients decide emotionally. Photos build trust before a single word is read.
- Reception area
- Doctor’s consulting desk
- Waiting room
- Medical equipment
- Staff and team
- Clinic branding – logo, signage, standee
- Hygiene standards
- Clinic exterior
- Neighbourhood surroundings
5. Reviews – Collect, Encourage & Respond
Reviews are the #1 trust signal in healthcare searches.
- Place a GBP QR code at reception for instant review collection.
- Actively encourage satisfied patients to share their experience.
- Respond to every review : positive or negative – professionally.
- Extend reputation building to social media with location tags.
- Participate in local forums and Q&A platforms to build community authority.
6. Posts & Updates
An active profile ranks higher. Keep it alive.
- Publish your treatments and services with descriptions
- Highlight new services or procedures as they launch
- Share seasonal health tips and care reminders
- Announce events, offers, and holiday hours
7. Appointment Links
29. Enable direct appointment booking: Let patients go from “found you” to “booked” without leaving Google. One of the highest-converting GBP features, and most clinics still haven’t turned it on.
8. Off-Page Listings
GBP Galone isn’t enough. Build your presence across the web.
- Create profiles on Justdial, Sulekha, About.me
- List on Practo, 1mg, and healthcare-specific directories
- Publish classified ads on high-traffic websites
- Build a Google Site for your clinic and submit it via Google Search Console
Every listing reinforces your credibility and sends local ranking signals to Google.
9. Monitoring & Insights
- Track patient interactions – calls, direction requests, bookings
- Monitor local keyword rankings using Google Search Console + Analytics
What doesn’t get measured doesn’t get improved.
Partner With Amit Gupta SEO Services
We understand that while you are busy with handing patients, travelling to your clinics and hospitals, it maybe not possible for you to manage your Google Business profile or website. To assist you in building credibility for you and your services, We at Amit Gupta SEO Services handles every activity on this checklist, end to end so you stay focused on patients while your clinic climbs local search rankings.
Connect with us for more details.
