Of all the fields in your Google Business Profile, your categories have one of the most direct and powerful impacts on your ranking. They are the primary way you tell Google what your business is and what kind of customers you serve. Getting them wrong means showing up in irrelevant searches—or not showing up at all. It's a cornerstone of our GBP optimization guide.
Primary vs. Secondary Categories
Google allows you to choose one primary category and up to nine secondary categories.
- Primary Category: This is your most important category. It should represent the core identity of your business. If you're a restaurant that sells mainly pizza, your primary category should be "Pizza restaurant," not just "Restaurant."
- Secondary Categories: These are for the other services or aspects of your business. For that same pizza restaurant, secondary categories could be "Italian restaurant," "Catering," "Bar," and "Food delivery."
How to Choose Your Primary Category
Your primary category carries the most weight. Follow these rules to select the best one:
- Be Specific: Always choose the most specific category that accurately describes your main business. "Nail salon" is better than "Beauty salon." "Criminal justice attorney" is better than "Law firm."
- Think Like a Customer: What is the main term a customer would use to find a business like yours? That should guide your choice.
- Spy on Competitors: Search for your main keyword in your area and see what primary category the top-ranking businesses are using. This is a strong clue as to what Google values for that search term.
Optimize Your Profile with Confidence
MyGoProfile's optimization checklist guides you through every step, including category selection, to ensure your GBP is perfectly configured.
Leveraging Secondary Categories
Once your primary category is set, use secondary categories to capture a wider range of relevant searches.
- Cover All Your Services: If your plumbing company also does "HVAC contractor" work, add it as a secondary category.
- List Features and Amenities: A "Restaurant" can add "Bar" or "Outdoor seating."
- Don't Add Everything: Only choose categories that are genuinely part of your business. Adding "Vegan restaurant" when you only have one vegan option is misleading and can hurt your credibility.
The Bottom Line
Choosing your Google Business Categories is a strategic decision, not an afterthought. By selecting a specific primary category and a comprehensive set of secondary categories, you provide Google with a clear, powerful signal about your business's identity. This clarity is rewarded with higher rankings in the searches that matter most to your bottom line, like "near me" searches.