How to Choose the Right Google Business Profile Categories
Your Google Business Profile category is one of the strongest local ranking signals. Learn how to pick your primary and additional categories the right way.
Read articleIt’s one of the first questions every business owner asks me: “Should I run Google Ads, or should I do Local SEO?” The honest answer is — it depends on what you need right now. Here’s a simple way to decide.
The simple difference
- Google Ads is like renting a spot at the top of Google. You pay for every click. The moment you stop paying, the visits stop.
- Local SEO is like owning the spot. It takes a few months to earn, but once you rank in Google Maps and local results, customers keep coming without paying per click.
Start with Google Ads if…
- You need enquiries this week — a new opening, a sale, or an admission season.
- You want to test which services people actually search for before investing long term.
- Your market is very competitive and you can’t wait months to be seen.
Start with Local SEO if…
- Customers find you through “near me” and Google Maps searches — shops, clinics, salons, restaurants, local services.
- You want steady calls and visits that don’t depend on an ad budget.
- Your Google Business Profile is incomplete, has few photos or few reviews. Fixing this is often the quickest win of all.
The best answer for most businesses: both, in the right order
For many businesses, the smartest plan is to fix the basics of Local SEO first (it’s affordable and lasts), and use Google Ads to fill the gap while rankings grow. In my pharmacy college case study, SEO and Google Ads together brought 300+ inquiries and cut the cost per lead by 27%.
A quick checklist before you spend anything
- Is your Google Business Profile complete — categories, hours, photos, products?
- Do you have at least a few recent reviews with replies?
- Does your website (or landing page) make it easy to call or WhatsApp you?
- Do you know how many calls and enquiries you get from Google today?
If you answered “no” to any of these, start there. Ads send people to your profile and website — if those aren’t ready, you pay for clicks that don’t turn into customers.
Not sure what’s right for you? Book a free strategy session and I’ll give you an honest recommendation.
