If you're a real estate agent who wants more local leads, your Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful (and free!) tools you have for local SEO. But if your profile isn't optimized correctly, you could be missing out—especially if you've overlooked one specific setting that quietly controls your visibility. Let’s uncover this hidden feature and show you how to fix it in minutes.
The Setting Most Realtors Miss for Local SEO
When you first claimed your Google Business Profile for local SEO, you probably chose “Real Estate Agent” as your primary category—and stopped there. But Google allows you to select additional categories that better reflect your services, like “Real Estate Consultant” or “Commercial Real Estate Agency.” These secondary categories help Google match your profile with more search queries, increasing your visibility when buyers and sellers are Googling terms beyond just “realtor.”
How to Update Your Categories in Less Than 5 Minutes
Here’s how to upgrade your local SEO fast for Realtors and real estate agent teams.
Log into your Google Business Profile, navigate to the “Edit profile” section, and look for “Business category.” From there, you can add or adjust your primary and secondary categories. Pro tip: Use Google’s auto-suggestions as you type—this ensures your categories align with what people are actually searching for. Don’t overdo it, though—stick with 2–3 highly relevant categories to avoid confusing the algorithm.
Get More SEO By Adding Local Service Areas
If you serve real estate clients in multiple cities or neighborhoods, you must list them all in your “Service Area” section. This tells Google where to show your business in local search results. Make sure to include every zip code or city you actively work in—even if you don’t have a physical office there. This tweak alone can significantly improve your chances of showing up in surrounding markets.
Don’t Let a Missed Setting Cost You Local SEO Leads
Most real estate agents and teams are sitting on untapped visibility—and it’s all hidden in their Google Business Profile settings. By reviewing your business categories and service areas, you’ll increase your chances of ranking higher in local searches and capturing more inbound leads.
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