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Local SEO and Google Business Profile Prompts for Bookkeeping Firms

Audit your bookkeeping firm's Google Business Profile categories and attributes with AI

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Short answer

Use this when you set up or inherit a firm's Business Profile, after you add a new service line, or once a year. The prompt compares your categories and attributes with the services you actually offer and flags anything that is missing, vague or used as a keyword.

These prompts help with marketing copy and Google Business Profile upkeep. They are not legal, tax or professional advice. Check Google's current guidelines, and your professional body's advertising rules if you hold a license, before you publish.

What the source describes

Google's Business Profile Help says to pick a primary category that best describes the business, choosing the most specific option on its list, and notes you cannot create your own category. You can add up to 9 more categories, but Google says not to use categories as keywords or to describe features. Changing a category may trigger re-verification. Attributes describe the business, some factual ones can be edited, and subjective ones come from Google users.

Result or outcome

According to the source, you pick a primary category from Google's list (the most specific option that describes the business) and may add up to 9 more, without using categories as keywords or to describe features. Changing a category may trigger re-verification. Factual attributes can be edited in the profile; subjective ones come from Google users.

How to run it

  1. Write down the services you do and do not provide, in plain words, before you open the profile.
  2. In the profile editor, type a few related words into the category box and copy the categories Google offers.
  3. Copy your current primary category, additional categories and attributes into the prompt.
  4. Read the tables and answer the three questions it raises.
  5. Make the changes in the profile yourself, one at a time, and expect a possible re-verification.

Try it yourself

Copyable prompt

Act as a Google Business Profile reviewer for a bookkeeping firm. Use only the facts I give you and Google's category rules below. Do not guess what the firm offers.

Firm facts:
- Services we actually provide: [list services, for example monthly bookkeeping, payroll, catch-up bookkeeping, QuickBooks setup]
- Services we do NOT provide: [list, for example tax preparation, audits]
- Who we serve: [for example small businesses, churches, contractors]
- How clients meet us: [office visits / we visit clients / online only]
- Current primary category: [category]
- Current additional categories: [list]
- Current attributes shown in the profile editor: [list, with yes/no values]
- Categories Google's picker offered when I typed related words: [list exactly as shown]

Rules to apply:
1. The primary category should be the most specific category from Google's list that describes the main business.
2. Additional categories (up to 9) should each match a service we really provide. Flag any category that is used as a keyword or that describes a feature instead of a business type.
3. Flag any category for a service in the "do NOT provide" list.
4. Only suggest categories from the list I pasted from Google's picker. If none fits, say so.
5. For attributes, list which ones are factual and editable, which are missing, and which look wrong. Do not suggest attributes that are not in my list.

Output:
A. A table: Category | Keep / Change / Remove / Add | Reason
B. A table: Attribute | Current value | Suggested value | Reason
C. Three questions I should answer before changing anything.
D. A reminder that changing a category may require verifying the business again.

Replace the [bracketed] placeholders. Remove client names, account numbers, and personal data before pasting into any AI tool.

Works in ChatGPT, Claude, Grok and Gemini. Paste only the category names Google's picker shows you; the AI does not know Google's current list.

Sample output (illustrative, fictional firm)
A. Categories
| Category | Action | Reason |
| Bookkeeping service (primary) | Keep | Most specific match for the main business on the list you pasted. |
| Accountant | Keep | You listed monthly financial statements and payroll; it fits as an additional category. |
| Tax preparation service | Remove | You listed tax preparation under services you do NOT provide. |
| Payroll service | Add | Payroll is in your services list and appeared in the picker. |
| QuickBooks | Flag | Not a business category; this reads as a keyword. Mention QuickBooks setup in services instead. |

B. Attributes
| Attribute | Current | Suggested | Reason |
| Online appointments | No | Yes | You said clients meet online. |
| Onsite services | Not set | Yes | You said you visit clients. |

C. Questions before you change anything
1. Is payroll a service you want more inquiries for right now?
2. Do you see clients at the office address shown on the profile?
3. Is "Accountant" accurate for how you describe the firm under your state's rules?

D. Changing a category may ask you to verify the business again.

What to review

Check each suggested category against Google's picker yourself; the assistant cannot see Google's list. Remove anything that describes a service the firm does not offer, and make sure titles like "Accountant" match how your firm is allowed to describe itself.

Related free download: Local SEO Prompts for Bookkeeping Firms (Prompt pack (PDF))

Source: Google Business Profile Help (Manage your business category); also Edit your Business Profile

See also

Not professional advice. This is general information, not accounting, tax, legal or financial advice. Check AI output yourself and consult a licensed professional for your situation. See our Terms of Use.

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