Free · Flathead Valley · Google Business Profile

DIY Google Business Profile checklist for Flathead shops

A practical pass for Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, and west-gate businesses that want their Maps listing honest, findable, and posting again — without inventing licenses or fake “#1” claims.

Who this is for

This is planning and hygiene guidance. Follow Google’s rules. Don’t buy fake reviews. Don’t claim licenses you don’t hold.

15-minute DIY checklist

#CheckPass when…
1Business nameMatches the name customers actually search / see on your truck or door
2AddressStorefront or shop is correct; not a home address you don’t want public
3Primary phoneOne live number that humans answer during posted hours
4Secondary phonesOld Google Voice / dead lines removed
5WebsiteOpens to a real page (not a parked domain)
6Primary categoryMatches what you mostly sell (Handyman ≠ General Contractor if you’re not GC)
7Secondary categoriesOnly services you still offer; no licensed trades you aren’t licensed for
8HoursMatch intake truth — including Sundays closed if you’re closed
9Special hoursHolidays / wildfire closures updated when you know them
10DescriptionLocal, honest, no “statewide bonded” unless you are; no “cheapest in the valley”
11Hero photoYour job / truck / storefront — not stock interiors
12Photo setEx-employees and outdated crew shots archived; best work near the top
13PostsAt least one real update in the last 30 days (season + proof + service spotlight rotate)
14Q&APublic questions answered; wrong self-answers fixed
15DupesOld DBA / moved pin checked; report or claim what you find

Flathead-specific notes

  • Seasonality: Summer west-gate traffic and shoulder-season “fix it before winter” calls should show up in posts — not just a static description.
  • Service area: List towns you’ll actually drive (e.g. Kalispell, Evergreen, Somers, Bigfork). Don’t claim West Glacier winter work you won’t take.
  • Wildfire / road closures: When official orders change access, update hours or a Google post — don’t leave “Open” if you’re not serving.
  • Reviews: Unanswered Google reviews are a separate problem. If you want every reply drafted, that’s the Review Reply Retainer ($99/mo) — not this checklist.

Fictional sample snapshot (Ridge Line Handyman Co.)

Invented shop for teaching. Not a real client. Grades and numbers are demo only.

Executive snapshot
AreaGradeFinding
NAP / identityCDBA mismatch vs website; secondary phone only on GBP
CategoriesC+Primary too broad; missing Handyman / Deck Builder
HoursB−Sunday listed Open; intake says closed
DescriptionDInvented “licensed & bonded statewide”
PhotosCStock kitchen as hero; truck wrap buried
PostsFLast post 14 months ago
Q&ACTwo unanswered; one wrong same-day claim

Bottom line: Fix identity + hours + description + photo order this week; ship a 4-week post cadence so the profile looks alive before shoulder season.

Example Week-1 posts (paste-ready style)

Post 1A — Season

Fall’s here in the Flathead — shorter days, more “can you look at this before winter?” calls. We’re booking handyman visits in Kalispell, Evergreen, Somers, and Bigfork for decks, doors, trim, and odd jobs. Send a few photos and the town you’re in; we’ll reply with whether it’s in scope and a quote window. Sundays we’re closed so the crew gets a real day off.

Post 1B — Proof / process

Tidy job sites matter to us. On finished visits we sweep, haul our cut-offs, and leave the workspace how we’d want a neighbor to leave ours. If you need carpentry, door adjustments, or small repairs around Kalispell, we’re a local crew — not a call center.

Full 8-post setup pack ships with GBP Cleanup Desk. Voice is rewritten for your shop — never copy these verbatim onto a real listing.

Want it done for you?

GBP Cleanup Desk — one-time $249 setup live on Gumroad: audit + punch list + 4 weeks of paste-ready Google posts for your Flathead shop. Optional $99/mo ASSUMED hygiene after.

Pay $249 setup — Gumroad Browse free sample audit Full offer page Email YES — desk@

Seller: Frontcountry · desk@frontcountrymt.com · Distinct from review-reply retainers.

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