Skip to content If you’re a local landscaping business that’s looking to generate more leads and enquiries, your Google My Business profile is hands down one of the best return-on-investment marketing tools at your disposal.
Google My Business offers landscapers one of the quickest routes to get real enquiries without relying on paid ads. However, a vast majority of landscapers either haven’t even set up their Google My Business Profile or set one up ages ago and just forgot about it.
But that’s great for your business, as you can easily outcompete local competitors and reach the top of Google rankings with much less time and effort than other marketing channels, such as traditional SEO or paid ads.
In this guide, we’re going to provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to get your Google Business Profile generating leads and enquiries within 90 days by utilising a clear, repeatable Google My Business strategy that is specifically designed for local landscaping businesses.
Straightforward. Practical. Focused on results. Let’s get straight into it!
If you want the TLDR version, here it is:
– Claim, verify and set up your Google Business Profile. You’ll need to provide basic business details and verify your legitimacy through a verification process
– Once your profile has been generated, you’ll want to fill in as much of the profile as possible. Key elements include the business name, business description, opening hours, logo, photos, FAQs, service area, categories, and services.
– To support your GBP, build a website and create a service page for every key service you offer. Try your best to ensure you have a service page for every category and service listed in your GBP.
– Build authority signals so Google learns to trust you and rank you higher than your competitors. You can acquire these links from trade directories, local sponsorships, local news outlets and social media profiles.
– Get reviews from your clients. The more reviews you have, the better your GBP will perform
– When combining all these optimisations, you’ll gain visibility in organic searches and map packs, creating a consistent stream of leads and enquiries.
– It isn’t about trying to outsmart Google. It’s about carrying out the fundamentals more effectively than other landscapers in your area. This is all it takes to win local search results.
Google Business Profile (previously known as Google My Business), is what allows your landscaping business to appear in local search results and Google Maps for searches in your area.
If you’ve ever typed a query into Google, such as “landscaper near me,” and seen three businesses and a map at the top of the results, that’s Google Business Profile in action.
This matters more than almost any other marketing channel for landscaping businesses.
Here’s why.
Typically, when someone is looking to have landscaping work done, they are at the ‘bottom of the funnel’. These types of searchers are not interested in reading lengthy blog posts. Instead, they just want contact details and proof you’re real.
Most search queries for local services show the map pack before organic results, particularly on mobile. As a result, your Google Business Profile will likely appear before your website link, not the other way around.
This is why Google My Business for landscapers is no longer optional. It’s the front door to your business.
Once set up right, your Google Business Profile will become a consistent source of:
– Quote requests
– Phone calls
– High-intent local leads
You don’t need to outrank every competitor to get enquiries. You just need to go beyond what the average business does.
In many areas:
– Profiles have poor descriptions
– Services are missing or vague
– Photos haven’t been updated in years
– Reviews are ignored or not replied to
That creates a gap.
A Google Business Profile that is set up correctly and well-maintained can start generating enquiries for your business within weeks, whether your brand is unknown or you have a basic website.
That is why Google My Business for landscapers is described as a quick win that delivers long-term value.
When Google can clearly understand:
– What services you offer
– Where you work
– That customers trust you
It will have every reason to show your business, and to the right people.
To prevent you from running into the same issues that hold other landscapers back, we’re going to walk you through the process of claiming, verifying and optimising your Google Business Profile properly to lock in consistent leads and enquiries.
Let’s get straight into the step-by-step process for Google My Business domination.
Before you can rank, show up on Google Maps, or get calls, you must properly claim and verify your Google Business Profile.
To begin, check if your business already exists on Google.
Search your business name on Google or Google Maps. If a listing that is your business does appear, it could have been:
– Auto-created by Google
– Added by a past customer
– Set up years ago and forgotten
If this is the case and one exists, you should claim it rather than create a new one. Creating duplicates can cause ranking issues or suspensions.
However, if no listing exists, you will need to create a new Google Business Profile.
For landscaping, it is almost always best to set up your business on Google as a service-area business.
Because this means:
You do not need to show your home address
Customers don’t visit your location
You travel to them
You’re able to keep your home address hidden while still listing the areas that your business covers. This is standard procedure for landscaping businesses and is fully allowed by Google.
Google has to verify that your business is legitimate before it can be shown widely across the platform. The usual methods of verification for landscapers are:
– Postcard
– Phone
– Or video verification
Video verification is increasingly becoming more widespread. The process typically involves proving your identity by recording a video of:
– Your vehicle with signage
– Tools or equipment
– Proof that you operate in your service area
During verification:
– Do not change your business name
– Do not change categories
– Do not edit your address repeatedly
Making too many changes at this point can reset the process.
You’ll also be asked to add some basic information about your business. Here’s a broad overview of the types of things you’ll be expected to include:
Your business’s name on Google must be an exact match for its real-world name. Do not add:
Extra keywords
Service lists
Town names, unless they’re part of your legal name
For example:
❌ “Joe’s Landscaping – Patios, Fencing & Turf”
✅ “Joe’s Landscaping Ltd”
Stuffing keywords in this area is one of the fastest ways to trigger a flag.
If you have a website, ensure the address you add to the GBP is an exact match of the address listed on your website. Same uppercases, same spaces, same symbols.
List all the locations you serve in a 10-15-mile radius. We don’t recommend going any broader than this, as you won’t appear in the map pack for searches outside this parameter. A tight service area beats a broad one every time.
Add as many landscaping services as you can think of. Google will auto-suggest some already, but don’t be afraid to add custom services it hasn’t suggested. Be as comprehensive as possible here, as every service you add maximises your chance of being seen in search results when someone searches for that service in your service area.
Self-explanatory, add your business hours.
Add your business logos and some photos of previous work. Refrain from adding stock photos; instead, use as many real photos of your work as possible. The more photos you add, the more signals you provide to Google that you’re a genuine business.
Once you have claimed and verified your Google Business Profile, the real work can begin.
Proper optimisation closes the gap between having a listing and actually getting enquiries from it. It’s super important to optimise your profile as Google utilises your profile information to make a decision on:
– What searches you appear for
– Where you appear on the map
– Whether your business looks trustworthy enough to show
Below, we have included the fields that have the greatest impact on your business and how to handle each one. Although some of this information may already have been provided during verification, we’ll cover everything to ensure optimisation, just in case.
Use a phone number local to the areas you serve and ensure calls go directly to your business. If you have provided a phone number on your website or in directories, ensure it’s an exact match on your GBP. Consistency is key. Your phone number should appear the same everywhere it is listed online.
Although we’ve likely already added some service areas during verification, it’s time to get super granular. Open up your Google Maps and make sure you’ve listed every key town/village/city within your 10-15-mile radius.
Don’t include areas you never work in to chase your reach. Google tracks behaviour through the website and customer locations. Narrowing your service area often leads to better performance than trying to cover too much.
Set your working hours accurately and keep them up to date. A sneaky trick to get an edge on your competitors is to be open during hours when the top results in the local map pack aren’t open.
The main reason for this is that if your business is the only one open at the time of a search, you’ll have a far better chance of being near the top of search results for those hours.
For landscapers, you don’t have to be physically in an office; just being available to take calls during those hours is good enough!
You’re allowed 750 characters for your description. Use them effectively. Your description should cover your location, services, and reasons the searcher should choose you over competitors.
You should also sprinkle in the main keywords that you want to rank for. If you’re not sure which keywords are best, start with the service you offer and your location. For example:
“Landscaper in London”
“Hardscape service in Cardiff”
“Leeds Paving Contractor”
When optimising your GBP, choosing the right primary and secondary categories in your Google Business Profile is vitally important. To remove the guesswork from choosing categories, a free browser tool called GMB Everywhere is available that allows you to see:
– What primary category are your competitors using
– What secondary categories did they add?
– Which listings are ranking strongest in your area
If you were to search for a landscaping service on Google Maps and open up competitor listings, GMB Everywhere will display their category data immediately.
This data is useful so you can:
– Spot patterns among top-ranking landscapers
– Avoid guessing or copying blindly
– See which categories Google already rewards in your area
Blindly copying everyone isn’t the aim. The goal is to identify what Google already sees as locally relevant. Use this to:
– Confirm your primary category choice
– Add sensible secondary categories that support your services
– Avoid irrelevant categories that dilute your focus
Done correctly, this step alone will boost your visibility even without touching anything else.
This is often an underused section by most landscapers.
Once you’ve chosen your core categories using data from GMB Everywhere, it’s time to add some services within these categories. Google will auto-suggest some services for you; make sure to include the ones relevant to your business. You’ll also want to supplement these auto-suggested services with ones that Google hasn’t covered.
Make sure you add a short description to each service to provide Google with contextual information. Doing this boosts your chance of appearing in search results when someone searches service keywords you have covered.
Your pin on Google Maps must be placed at your business’s location, regardless of whether the address is hidden. This is because Google cross-checks the data it receives. So don’t drag the pin to a city centre or a random location; make sure it’s precisely where you are.
Add a link to your website. This is super important because Google periodically scans the website linked to your GBP. The more content you have on your website supporting the core categories and services listed in your GBP, the better results you’ll get.
If you have social media pages, such as Facebook or Instagram, make sure to link them in your GBP. This provides Google with high-quality trust signals that you’re a legitimate business.
Even if you hardly ever post on these socials, that’s fine. Just make sure you have a logo, contact details, and a few posts on social media, and that’ll do.
Adding photos is a vital part of Google My Business Optimisation. Although it may seem inconsequential, adding genuine photos of your business helps Google trust you and increases trust among searchers who come across your profile.
– Use real photos:
– Your team
– Your work
– Your vehicles
– Before and after shots
Regularly uploading photos signals activity to Google and builds trust. However, using stock images from the internet will have the opposite effect.
Make sure you add real photos of recent jobs, and aim to have more photos on your GBP than your competitors.
People typically associate “keywords” with websites. But keywords also play an important role in Google Business Profile optimisation.
To find the best keywords for your business, thinking like your customer is a great way to brainstorm some ideas. Ask yourself: what would a potential customer type if they were looking for my service?
Would searchers type in “landscaper” or something more service-specific, such as “garden fencing,” “garden paving,” or “turf laying”? Undertake this activity for every core service you offer.
If you want a more definitive approach to finding the keywords your customers use, sign up for Mangools, an SEO tool that allows you to find the exact keywords your customers are using and the number of searches each keyword gets every month.
Once you have a solid list of keywords, make sure they appear naturally in your Google My Business Profile. Common places to add them include:
– Your business description
– Your services section
– Google Posts
– FAQs
Don’t spam the keywords to the point where your text looks unnatural; just add the keywords where they naturally fit. By doing this, you’ll help Google understand the services you offer and increase your visibility on page 1 of Search Results when people search for your keywords. In turn, this will help increase your leads and enquiries.
Setting up your Google Business Profile is only part of the process. The businesses that stay active on Google Maps are usually the ones that win. Here are the things you need to keep on top of once your profile has been set up and optimised:
Reviews are probably the most important factor in influencing how often you appear in the local map pack. Reviews do two things:
– They help customers turn you
– They help Google trust you
In terms of how many reviews you need to keep it simple, you need more than your competitors, who are already showing in the Google Map Pack.
You’re aiming for a slow, steady flow of real reviews from real customers you’ve actually completed work for. Simple ways to achieve this include:
– Ask the customer if they will leave a review after the job is finished.
– Include a short follow-up message when sending your review link.
– Integrate it into your close-out process.
You should reply to all reviews regardless of whether they’re positive or negative. Use short, polite responses. This signals to Google and your customers that your business is active.
Google Posts lets you post updates directly to your business profile.
Some posts that would be useful for landscapers include:
– Recent jobs
– Seasonal services
– Short tips
– Special offers
Weekly posting isn’t required. One or two posts a month keep your profile active.
Posting on your profile increases engagement and creates more opportunities for customers to contact you.
This section gets overlooked by most profiles.
It shouldn’t be.
Add common customer queries yourself, for example:
– Do you offer free quotes?
– What areas do you cover?
– How far in advance should I book?
Provide clear answers to each question. This eliminates doubt in the customer’s mind before they call you.
One of the easiest wins as a landscaper.
Recommended uploads include:
– Job photos
– Progress shots
– Finished results
New photos show Google that your business is still active today. Landscapers who upload regular photos to their profiles often see their businesses gain visibility without making any other changes.
After reviews, having a high-quality website should be your top priority. A well-built website significantly improves your Google Business Profile’s performance. Additionally, it gives you a chance to rank in the organic results and the local map pack, increasing leads and enquiries further.
When building your website, rather than just creating one service page with all your services listed vaguely, you should build:
– A separate page for each core landscaping service.
– A clear explanation of the service on each page ( 500 words minimum per page)
– Each page should be linked logically from your main navigation.
– Ensure that the service pages you build are directly aligned with the services outlined in your GBP as this creates congruency and helps Google to really understand what you offer as a business.
Aim to create 20-30 individual pages for the best results. You don’t need dozens of pages overnight. Start with your most profitable services and expand over time.
You’ll also want to create a homepage, a contact us page, an about us page, and a testimonials page.
Mentions of your business across the web are tracked by Google and play an important role in how well your GBP and Website are positioned in search results. Put simply, the more local players that mention your website, the more trust Google has that you’re a legit business. The more legitimacy you build, the better you rank.
Here are just a few places you should look to get your business mentioned:
– Local directories
– Industry listings
– Local news outlet
– Sponsorships (local sports teams, charity events and schools)
It only takes a small number of consistent and accurate listings to reinforce trust. You don’t need to dump hundreds of listings on the web at once. True to commit to one per month and run a 12-month campaign.
The reason most landscapers struggle with Google Business Profile isn’t that it’s complicated. It’s down to minor mistakes that quietly limit your visibility and trust. The most common ones we see in the industry are:
Uploading stock photos to your GBP is one of the quickest ways to lose trust. Not only can Google tell when images are stock, taken elsewhere, or reused, but your customers can, too. When people are considering which business to enquire with, they want to see examples of:
– Your work
– Your standards
– Real results
Real images beat polished ones every time. Even photos taken on your phone will perform better than refined stock images.
The primary category you select in your GBP has a massive impact on the searches your business appears for. For some landscapers, they pick categories like:
– Gardener
– Contractor
– Property maintenance
If landscaping is what you’d consider your primary work, then your primary category should reinforce that. Secondary categories are there to support it, but the primary needs to be selected correctly.
A good business will often fall behind weaker competitors in the rankings because of this one mistake. Again, we recommend installing GMB everywhere to see which primary category the top 3 businesses in the map pack are using and go with them if it makes sense for your business.
Some businesses will rely solely on their GBP. Google Business Profile will generate leads on its own. However, it is often difficult to build long-term trust for a profile with no website.
To get the best possible results from your GBP, build a website with at least 20-30 service pages. Although this seems like a lot of work, 90% of your competitors aren’t doing it, leaving the door open to easy wins if you commit.
This happens frequently. A profile will be set up and then left unmaintained for months or even years. As you can imagine, neglect is not rewarded by Google.
Profiles that:
– Add new photos
– Get fresh reviews
– Post updates occasionally
Consistently outperform static ones in the long run. Small but consistent efforts are more effective than a one-off big effort.
Most landscapers will assume that Google is only tracking their profile. This is not the case. Google will check whether your business appears elsewhere online in a consistent way. Trust builds slowly if no local players mention you.
You don’t have to spam your business across directories. Just add them to high-quality directories and look for links from local news outlets, schools, or sports teams.
By avoiding those five mistakes, you will put yourself ahead of most other landscaping businesses in your area.
It’s easy to assume your Google Business Profile isn’t working if you don’t track the right signals, even when it is.
Many landscapers are tracking the wrong data.
They’re concentrating on:
– Rankings alone
– Profile views
– Or nothing at all
The real measure is whether your profile generates real actions. In the first 30, 60 and even 90 days, you should be paying attention to:
This signal is the most critical. At the dashboard for your Google Business Profile, you are able to see:
– How many people called you
– When they called
– Whether calls are increasing
If the number of calls you receive is increasing month by month, even when rankings are still fluctuating, you know your profile is moving in the right direction.
Missed calls impact your profile too. Google notices if a customer calls but can’t reach you.
If the link to your website is configured correctly, Google will reveal how many people clicked through. This tells you:
– Your profile is being seen
– People want more details before contacting you
If people are visiting your website but still not calling you. The problem could be the website and not your Google Business Profile.
Google will show you the phrases actual people have used previously to find your business.
You can use this to confirm:
– Whether you’re appearing for landscaping-related searches
– Which services are gaining visibility
– If Google understands what you do
If you notice your business appearing in search results for vague or irrelevant terms, it is a sign to refine your optimisation.
It’s not about getting perfect ratings
What really makes a difference is:
– New reviews coming in
– Honest feedback
– Replies to reviews
A steady flow of reviews for your business is one of the strongest signals of trust to both Google and your Customers.
At its core, Google Business Profile success as a landscaper relies on nailing a few fundamentals. Here are the actions that are most impactful for maximising visibility, leads and enquiries:
– Choosing the right primary and secondary categories
– Adding services within these categories
– Completely filling out all areas of your GBP
– Regularly adding photos, posts and FAQ’s
– Getting regular and consistent positive reviews from customers
– Building a website with 20-30 service pages that align with the services you have added to your GBP
– Building trust and authority by getting backlinks from directories and local organisations
If you’re able to nail these steps, you won’t fall into a forgotten listing, and your profile will become a reliable source of local enquiries.
Google Business profiles are one of the few remaining marketing channels that landscapers can use to win without long lead times or huge budgets. When someone searches for landscaping services, Google will show them a business that looks active, real, and trusted. If your profile clearly meets all these targets, Google has every reason to show your website.
Most landscapers aren’t struggling with knowing what to do. They just can’t find the time to do it consistently alongside running jobs, dealing with customers, and managing their staff. This is the point at which many businesses halt.
If you’re trying to get your Google Business Profile to be a proper lead source for your business, hiring a top-tier Landscaping SEO Service provider like Landscape Leads is a no-brainer. We work specifically with clients in the green industry, so we understand your industry and know what it takes to outcompete local competitors and generate a GBP that consistently churns out leads and enquiries.
If you would like assistance in dominating Google and generating local leads on tap, get in touch with one of our friendly experts today. No stress, no hard selling, just honest advice on what is required to get your business to the top of Google search results!
Joe is the founder of Landscaping Leads. With years of experience in digital marketing and entrepreneurship, he is very experienced in developing and executing effective digital marketing strategies that help companies generate more leads.
Looking to generate more leads and enquiries for your business? Landscape Leads specialises in helping businesses in the green industry with Google Lead Generation.
Contact us today to arrange a free, no-obligation discovery call with one of our friendly industry experts!
No stress, no pressure, just honest advice from seasoned pros!
Don’t let your competitors win all the local jobs.
Book A free No Obligation Consult Call with one of our friendly experts today.
No pressure, no sleazy sales tactics, just honest advice from industry experts!
Optimized by Seraphinite Accelerator
