GMB Category Selection Guide: Choose Right Categories for Indian Business

GMB Category Selection Guide: Choosing the Right Categories for Your Indian Business

Selecting the correct Google Business Profile categories is crucial for your local SEO success. Categories are one of the strongest ranking signals in Google Maps and Search. Choosing the wrong category—or being too generic—can severely limit your visibility to potential customers.

Why Categories Matter

Categories help Google understand:

• What your business does
• What searches you should appear for
• How to group similar businesses
• Which competitors to compare you against

A well-chosen category can dramatically improve your rankings, while a poorly chosen one can keep you invisible to your target audience.

Primary vs. Secondary Categories

Primary Category:

• Your main business type
• Most important for rankings
• Only one primary category allowed
• Should be the most specific, accurate category

Secondary Categories:

• Up to 9 additional categories
• Support your primary category
• Help you appear for related searches
• Should reflect services/products you actually offer

How to Choose Your Primary Category

1. Be Specific, Not Generic

   • ❌ "Restaurant"
   • ✅ "North Indian Restaurant" or "South Indian Restaurant"

2. Match Customer Searches

   • Think about what customers actually search for
   • Use Google's autocomplete to research popular searches
   • Choose categories that match high-intent searches

3. Consider Your Main Service

   • What is 70%+ of your business?
   • That should be your primary category
   • Don't choose based on what you "also do"

4. Check Competitor Categories

   • See what categories successful competitors use
   • This can give you insights into effective choices
   • But don't blindly copy—ensure accuracy

Common Category Mistakes

Mistake 1: Choosing Too Generic

• "Store" instead of "Jewelry Store" or "Electronics Store"
• "Service" instead of "Plumbing Service" or "AC Repair Service"

Mistake 2: Category Stuffing

• Adding irrelevant categories just to appear in more searches
• This confuses Google and can hurt rankings

Mistake 3: Using Wrong Category for Desired Traffic

• Choosing "Restaurant" when you're a "Catering Service"
• Customers searching for restaurants won't be your target audience

Mistake 4: Not Updating Categories

• Your business evolves, but categories stay the same
• Review and update categories annually

Category Selection by Industry (India-Specific)

Restaurants & Food:

• Primary: "Restaurant" (with cuisine type if applicable)
• Secondary: "Vegetarian Restaurant," "Takeout Restaurant," "Dine-in Restaurant"

Healthcare:

• Primary: Specific specialty ("Cardiologist," "Dentist," "Pediatrician")
• Secondary: "Hospital," "Medical Clinic," "Diagnostic Center"

Retail:

• Primary: Specific store type ("Jewelry Store," "Clothing Store")
• Secondary: "Retail Store," "Wholesale Store"

Services:

• Primary: Specific service ("AC Repair Service," "Plumbing Service")
• Secondary: "Home Improvement Service," "Maintenance Service"

Education:

• Primary: "School," "Coaching Center," "Training Center"
• Secondary: Subject-specific categories

How to Add or Change Categories

1. Go to your Google Business Profile
2. Click "Edit profile"
3. Scroll to "Business category"
4. Click the category field
5. Start typing to search categories
6. Select the most specific match
7. Click "Apply"

For secondary categories:

1. Click "Add another category"
2. Repeat the selection process

Researching the Best Categories

Use these methods to find optimal categories:

1. Google Autocomplete: Type "best [your business type] in [city]" and see suggestions

2. Competitor Analysis: Check top-ranking competitors' categories

3. Google's Category Suggestions: When editing, Google suggests categories—pay attention

4. Category Testing: Monitor performance after changing categories (wait 2-4 weeks to see impact)

Best Practices

• Review Annually: Business focus changes, categories should too
• Be Accurate: Only choose categories that accurately describe your business
• Think Local: Consider local terminology and how customers search
• Test and Monitor: Change categories if rankings drop or you're missing relevant searches
• Document Your Choices: Keep track of category changes and their impact

Troubleshooting Category Issues

Issue: Can't find the right category

• Use broader category and optimize description for specificity
• Contact Google Business Profile support

Issue: Changed category but rankings dropped

• Give it 2-4 weeks to stabilize
• Ensure all other optimization factors are strong
• Consider if the new category is actually more accurate

Issue: Appearing in wrong searches

• Your category may be too broad or inaccurate
• Review and select more specific categories
• Update your business description to clarify your focus

Choosing the right GMB categories is a foundational step in local SEO. Take time to research, select accurately, and monitor performance. A well-chosen category can be the difference between being found by hundreds of customers or being invisible online.