Google Business Profile checklist for businesses in Vientiane

Your Google Business Profile is the free listing that appears on Google Maps and in local search results. For many businesses in Vientiane it brings more calls and visits than the website itself. Work through the checklist below once, then keep it up to date.

1. Claim and verify your profile

Search for your business name on Google Maps. If a listing already exists, claim it. If not, create one at business.google.com. Google will ask you to verify that you own the business, for example by phone, email, video or postcard, depending on what Google offers for your listing.

• Use a company Google account, not one that belongs to a single employee
• Add at least one other manager, so you never lose access when someone leaves

2. Get the basic details exactly right

Google and your customers both rely on these details. They should be identical everywhere: on your profile, website, Facebook page and directories.

• Business name: your real trading name, without extra keywords
• Address or service area: if customers visit you, show the address; if you travel to customers, set a service area instead
• Phone number: one that is answered during opening hours, ideally with WhatsApp
• Website: link to the most relevant page
• Opening hours: including public holidays and special hours

Street addresses are not always precise in Laos. Place the map pin accurately, and use a Plus Code if your address is hard to find.

3. Choose the right categories

Your primary category is one of the strongest signals for which searches you appear in. Choose the category that describes your main business as specifically as possible, for example "Thai restaurant" rather than "Restaurant". Add secondary categories only for things you genuinely offer.

Then fill in the services or products section with short, plain descriptions. These help Google match your profile to more specific searches.

4. Add real photos

Photos help customers decide before they visit. Add your own pictures rather than stock images:

• The outside of your building, so people can recognise it
• The inside, your team at work, and your products or completed projects
• A clear logo and cover photo

Add new photos regularly, for example when you launch a product or renovate.

5. Build a steady flow of genuine reviews

Google says prominence, which includes reviews, is one of the main factors in local ranking. More importantly, customers read them.

• Ask satisfied customers for a review right after a good experience, using the short review link from your profile or a QR code at the counter
• Reply to every review, positive or negative, politely and in the language it was written in
• Never buy reviews or write them yourself. Google removes fake reviews and can suspend profiles

6. Keep the profile active

Profiles that are updated regularly give customers confidence that the business is open and active.

• Publish posts for offers, events and news
• Answer questions in the Q&A section
• Update hours before public holidays
• Check monthly that nobody has suggested wrong edits to your details

7. Check what is working

Your profile shows how many people viewed it, called you, asked for directions or visited your website. Check these numbers every month. If calls drop, review your hours and phone number first; if views drop, look at categories, photos and reviews.

If you want an outside view, our free Digital Health Check includes your Google presence, and our SEO services cover the website side of local visibility.