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Choose relevant categories
Distinguish the primary business identity from additional real services.
This lesson is ready to read and practise. English narration is awaiting production and source review; Thai narration follows next.
Understand
Categories describe what the business is. Select a primary category that fits its main activity, then consider additional categories only for genuine parts of the business. Use the choices currently available in Google's category selector. A category is not a place to list every product, keyword or service you would like customers to search for.
Make the choice from confirmed operations, not a competitor's profile alone. Ask the owner which activity best represents the business and which additional activities are actually offered. Category choices can affect the controls available in the profile, but adding a category does not promise a position in Maps. Retain your rationale and inspect the saved choices after any authorised change.
Practice example
A fictional repair shop mainly repairs bicycles and sells some parts. Explain the repair-focused primary choice using the actual selector, rather than adding an unrelated car-repair category to reach more searches.
RIM coaching: Write one sentence of business evidence for each chosen category. If the owner cannot confirm it, leave it out of the proposed change.
Read the original source below. Identify which features apply to your business and which facts you need to confirm before making changes.
- Google Food and Drink Business Profile Playbook 2026Original Google instruction
- Current business representation policyCurrent Google policy
Practise
Apply to your business
Review the primary category and only add relevant categories available in Google's selector. Record the business evidence for each choice.
Keep proof of your work
Selected categories, rationale and dated Google observation; a draft stays labelled as a draft.
A saved note is an owner report. Evidence is checked separately; keep drafts, applied changes and public observations distinct.
Check what changed
Recheck the accepted categories and later discovery data when available.
Your learning record
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