The Service-Area Business Challenge Setup Steps Profile Content Photos to Upload Google Posts Plan Getting Your First Reviews Ongoing Maintenance

The Service-Area Business Challenge

Post & Beam Studios is a home-based service-area business — you don't have a physical storefront that clients visit. This creates a specific GBP situation:

Your competitive advantage: Most local web designers in mid-Michigan don't have an optimized GBP. If you set yours up correctly, you could rank in the Maps pack for "web designer Midland MI" — and that's inbound leads showing up without cold outreach.

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1 — Create your GBP listing
  1. Go to business.google.com — sign in with your personal Google account or create a dedicated account at kegan@postandbeamstudios.com
  2. Click Add your business to Google
  3. Business name: Post & Beam Studios
  4. Primary category: Web Designer
  5. Do customers come to your location? Select No (service area business)
  6. Service area: Add all counties/cities you serve — Midland County, Bay County, Saginaw County, Isabella County, Clare County, Gladwin County, Gratiot County — and specific cities like Midland, Bay City, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, Clare, Harrison, Alma, Gladwin
  7. Phone: your business phone
  8. Website: https://postandbeamstudios.com
Step 2 — Verify your listing

For a home-based service-area business, verification options may be limited. Common options:

  • Phone/SMS: Google calls or texts your business number. Fastest — choose this if available.
  • Email: PIN sent to your email. Quick.
  • Video: Record a short video showing yourself at work (laptop open, post & beam studios visible, maybe your business card). Upload in GBP manager.
  • Postcard: Sent to your address (won't be shown publicly). 5-14 days. Works fine.
If you get the video verification option, just record a 30-second clip at your desk: show your laptop open to postandbeamstudios.com, hold up your business card, say "I'm Kegan Ball, owner of Post & Beam Studios in Midland, Michigan." That's all they need.
Step 3 — Add secondary categories

Add these secondary categories to capture more search types:

  • Internet Marketing Service
  • Marketing Agency
  • Social Media Marketing Service
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Company
  • Graphic Designer (if you offer logo design)

Profile Content to Write

Business Description (750 characters max)
PBS GBP Business Description — use this or customize

Post & Beam Studios is a web design and digital marketing agency in Midland, Michigan, built specifically for trades businesses. We help contractors, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, roofers, and other skilled tradespeople get found online and turn online searches into real phone calls.

Services include custom website design, Google Business Profile setup and optimization, social media management, and monthly website maintenance. We serve clients throughout mid-Michigan including Bay City, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, Clare, Harrison, Alma, and surrounding communities.

No long contracts. Fair prices. Straightforward service from someone who actually understands the contractor world.

Services to List in GBP
ServiceDescription (add in GBP)Price
Website CleanupFix mobile responsiveness, speed, SSL, outdated content, and broken links on your existing website.$250-$500
Starter WebsiteCustom-designed 1-5 page website. Mobile-friendly, SEO-ready, with professional copywriting. Delivered in 7-10 days.$800
Professional Website6-15 page website with service area pages, photo gallery, blog, and advanced SEO structure.$1,500-$2,500
Google Business Profile SetupCreate and verify your Google Business Profile so your business shows up on Google Maps.$150
Google Business Profile OptimizationFull overhaul of your existing listing - keyword description, photos, services, review strategy.$300
Social Media Management - Starter12 posts per month to your Facebook page. Custom graphics, engagement monitoring, monthly report.$297/mo
Social Media Management - Growth20 posts per month to Facebook and Instagram. Semi-custom content, daily monitoring, monthly strategy call.$497/mo
Monthly Website MaintenanceWordPress updates, weekly backups, security monitoring, minor content changes.$75/mo
Q&A to Pre-Populate
PBS Q&A Set

Q: Do you require long-term contracts?
A: No. We believe in earning your business every month. All social media and maintenance plans are month-to-month with no contracts — cancel anytime with 30 days notice. Website projects are one-time flat-fee with no ongoing commitment.

Q: How long does a website project take?
A: Website cleanups are typically completed in 3-5 business days. New starter websites are delivered in 7-10 business days. Larger professional websites take 2-4 weeks. You'll always know the expected timeline before we start.

Q: Do you work with trades businesses outside of mid-Michigan?
A: Yes - while we're based in Midland, MI, we work with clients remotely across Michigan and nationally. All communication and project management is handled online, so distance is never an issue.

Q: What makes you different from other web designers?
A: We specialize exclusively in trades businesses. We understand how contractors operate, how homeowners search for services, and what makes a trades business website actually generate calls. We also offer transparent pricing upfront - no surprises.

Q: How much does a website cost?
A: Prices start at $250 for a website cleanup (fixing an existing site) and $800 for a new 1-5 page website. We display all pricing publicly at postandbeamstudios.com. No "contact us for a quote" runaround.

Q: Do you offer free estimates?
A: Yes - we do a free website health review showing exactly what's wrong with your current site and what we'd fix, before you spend anything.

Photos to Upload

Photo TypeWhat to use
Logo (profile photo)PBS square icon mark — 500x500px PNG
Cover photoPBS cover image with tagline — 1640x924px
Team photoA professional photo of you at your desk — even a good phone photo works
Work samplesScreenshots of websites you've built (even personal/practice projects)
Before/afterScreenshot of a prospect's bad PageSpeed score + a good score side by side — this is a powerful photo that shows your work without needing client permission
Business card / brandingPhoto of your business cards, or a branded mockup from Canva
Your workspaceDesk setup — shows you're a real operation, not a faceless agency

Google Posts Plan — Monthly

Post 2-4 Google Posts per month to show the listing is active and keep it ranking well.

WeekPost TypeContent Idea
Week 1Service spotlightHighlight one service — GBP setup, website cleanup, social media management
Week 2Tip or educational"3 signs your business website is costing you calls" — links to website
Week 3Case study / result"We helped a Bay City HVAC company improve their site speed from 28 to 74 — here's what we fixed" (fictional/anonymized)
Week 4Offer or CTA"Free website review for mid-Michigan trades businesses — no strings attached. Link in bio."

Getting Your First Google Reviews

Without reviews, your GBP listing will struggle to rank. Getting the first 5 reviews is the priority.

  1. Ask anyone you've ever done web work for — freelance projects, family businesses, friends — ask for an honest Google review
  2. Do 2-3 free or deeply discounted projects for local businesses in exchange for a review (and a testimonial you can quote)
  3. Ask Lowe's contacts who already know you — even if you haven't built their site yet, ask them to leave a review mentioning what they know about you professionally
  4. Ask former colleagues or clients from your previous web development work (GlaxoSmithKline, Viztek, etc.) to leave a professional endorsement mentioning your expertise
Your review link: Once verified, get your PBS Google review link from your GBP manager → "Get more reviews" → copy the short link. Add it to your email signature.

Ongoing GBP Maintenance