1. Choose the right primary category
It’s the strongest relevance signal you control. Pick the one that matches what most customers search for (Plumber, not Plumbing supply store), then add secondary categories only for services you really offer.
2. Fill in everything
Services with short descriptions, a plain description of what you do and where, opening hours (holidays too), service areas, your Eircode, your website and a phone number someone answers.
3. Get reviews every week
Ask every happy customer, with a direct review link or a QR code on your invoice. A steady flow of recent reviews beats a big batch from two years ago. Never pay for reviews or review yourself.
4. Reply to every review
Thank people by name and mention the job (“the boiler service in Malahide”). Answer bad reviews calmly with what you’ll do to put it right. Future customers read the replies too.
5. Add real photos every month
Your work, your van, your team, your premises. Real photos added regularly show Google and customers that you’re active. Skip the stock photos.
6. Post every week
A short Google post about a recent job, an offer or a seasonal tip keeps your profile fresh. One post a week beats ten in January and nothing after.
7. Back it up with your website
A page for each main service and each town you cover, the same name, address and phone as on Google, LocalBusiness schema, fast on mobile, and a big tap-to-call button.
8. Same details everywhere
Your name, address and phone number should match exactly on your website, Google, Facebook, directories and trade bodies. Mismatches make Google less sure which is right.
9. Earn local links
Suppliers, trade associations, clubs you sponsor, local news. A few genuine links from real Irish websites do more than hundreds from link farms, and they can’t get you penalised.
10. Measure from where customers are
Maps results change street by street. Check your main searches from the centre of each town you want, the same way every month, so you know what’s working.