It is incredibly frustrating to feel like you’ve checked every box, only to have Google’s "Profile Strength" meter treat you like you’re still a work in progress. In 2026, Google has made that percentage indicator more of an "Optimization Score" than a simple checklist. If you are stuck at 74%, it usually isn't because of a missing phone number or address—it’s because of the dynamic features Google wants you to use continuously. Here is the likely "missing" 26% and how to fix it: 1. The "Hidden" Sections Even if you think you’re done, double-check these specific areas that often stall the meter: • Attributes: These are small tags like "Identifies as Black-owned," "Wheelchair accessible," or "Free Wi-Fi." Google adds new ones frequently. If you haven't clicked into the "More" section of your Edit Profile menu lately, there are likely 5–10 new attributes waiting for a "Yes" or "No." • Secondary Categories: You have a primary category (e.g., "Plumber"), but you can add up to 9 secondary ones (e.g., "Drainage service," "Emergency service"). Adding 2–3 highly relevant ones often bumps the score. • Services with Descriptions: Many people list their services but leave the description for each service blank. Google’s 2026 AI weighs these descriptions heavily. 2. The "Active" Requirements Google no longer considers a profile "100%" if it is static. To get that last chunk of percentage, you often need to trigger activity signals: • Google Updates (Posts): If you haven't posted an update (like an offer or a "What's New") in the last 30 days, Google may deduct points from your "strength." • Unanswered Q&As: Check the "Questions & Answers" section. If there are questions from customers you haven't answered, or if you haven't posted your own "Frequently Asked Questions," the meter will stay lower. 3. The "Ad" Trap (The Most Common Culprit) Sometimes, Google subtly keeps the meter below 100% to encourage you to claim your "Free Credit" for Google Ads. Note: If the only task remaining in your "Next Steps" is "Claim your $500 advertising credit," then your profile is technically fully optimized for SEO. You can safely ignore the 74%—Google is just trying to upsell you on Ads.

My green circle is staying at 80% even after l have done everything google suggests. It tells me l have nothing else to do. BAFFLED

Recently l have made some videos to help the public drive in to my city centre as it has an LEZ zone. I have put this on Facebook, l have done a few more in the centre as it is a mess at the moment due to upgrading. My first video gained 50k views and many followers. My phone pings at all hours. The point of the post is that l wish that profile could make it easy to videos as for me it is a disaster.

How often do you log into your Google Business Profile Apart from the last week where ive been on vacation, i make this a daily habit. Why? Because I find its the quickest way to keep my profile 1. updated on areas that have lapsed 2. Discover new features 3. react to new reviews and changes So let me know how often you look at yours and do you use the browser default page trick? I'm now going to make an offer this morning...

Do you hate putting yourself out there, but still want your business to stand out on Google? I know I did for several years before I started showing my face on YouTube. Below is one of my early YouTube thumbnails, where i didn't want my face seen. Me as a cartoon character, which really confused my visitors. But the thing is I'm not alone. A client recently told me: “I don’t like being visible. I prefer to stay in the background.” It's totally understandable. But here’s the problem: when I looked at his Google Business Profile: - He had very few team photos - Mostly stock imagery - Little real-world proof This makes it tough for customers (and Google) to trust the business. So, what did we do? We didn’t turn him into a social media influencer. Instead, we: - Added real installation photos - Showed the team at work - Created simple case study posts - Encouraged review photos from customers No ‘look at me’ content. Just proof. The lesson: Google rewards real businesses doing real work. - Stock photos don’t build trust. - Generic posts don’t build authority. - Real people, real projects, and real reviews build prominence, and prominence drives rankings. You don’t need to be loud. You just need to be visible in the right way.