How to appear at the top of Google for free as a landscaper — the complete Google Business guide

Google shows a map with three businesses for local searches — the "Local Pack". When someone searches "landscaper Amsterdam", they see those three names and numbers immediately. No ad costs. No SEO expertise needed.

But if your profile isn't set up properly, you don't appear in those three. And those three capture an average of 60% of clicks.

Step 1: claim and verify your profile

Go to business.google.com and search for your business. Already created? Claim it. Not there yet? Create it.

Verification can be by post, phone or video. Choose phone or video for the fastest turnaround — post verification sometimes takes two weeks.

Without verification your profile isn't visible in the Local Pack. This is the first priority.

Step 2: complete the profile fully

A complete profile ranks higher than an empty one. Fill in: business name, address, phone number, website, opening hours, category (Landscaper or Garden Design), service area and services.

Add at least 10 photos: exterior of your work area, before/after of projects, team photo. Photos increase profile visits by an average of 42%.

Write a business description of 200–250 words. Use the words clients search for: landscaper, garden design, garden maintenance, name of the city or region.

Step 3: collect and respond to reviews

Reviews are the strongest ranking factor in the Local Pack — alongside relevance and distance. More reviews + higher score = higher ranking.

Minimum threshold to rank well: 10+ reviews with an average of 4.5 or higher. With 20+ reviews and regular new additions you'll appear in the Local Pack in most mid-sized cities.

Respond to every review — including negative ones. Google sees active engagement as a positive signal.

How much does this deliver?

A fully optimised profile with 20+ reviews generates 8–15 extra enquiries per month for most landscapers — without ad costs.

At an average project value of €8,000 and a 25% conversion rate: 2–4 extra projects per month. That's €16,000–€32,000 in extra monthly revenue from one free channel. The only investment: one hour per month.