Google Business Profile for Boston Practices

Most Boston clinics have a Google Business Profile.

Almost none use it right.

They set it up once, forgot about it, and wonder why the phone’s not ringing.

Let me be blunt:

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Your Google Business Profile is not a checkbox.

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It’s not a “nice-to-have.”

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It’s free real estate sitting at the top of Google, and if you’re not owning it, you’re getting smoked by the practice two blocks away that is.

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In 2025, here’s what’s changed:

• The majority of patients catch a glimpse of your GBP before they ever touch your website.
• Most bookings come from the map pack, not your homepage.
• And 90% of your competition is asleep at the wheel.

You want more patients?
Start here.
Here’s how to win in Boston, today, for zero ad spend.

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Why This Matters More in Boston Than Anywhere Else

Boston is dense.
You’re not the only therapist in Cambridge.
You’re not the only ENT in Back Bay.
You’re not the only urgent care near the T.

People don’t Google your name.
They Google the problem.

• “Therapist in South End”
• “Pediatrician accepting MassHealth”
• “Vein clinic near Fenway”

The first thing they see isn’t your website.
It’s your Google Business Profile.

And in five seconds, they decide:

• Does this place look legit?
• Are there reviews from people like me?
• Can I get there on the T?
• Can I book online or do I have to call and wait on hold?

If your profile builds trust, you get the click.
If not, they’re gone. End of story.

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Six Reasons Your Profile Isn’t Booking Patients

1. No real photos. Just generic junk or nothing at all.
2. Weak, copy-paste business description. Says nothing.
3. Missing services. You literally don’t show up for what you do.
4. No review strategy. You’re at 17 reviews from 2018.
5. Inconsistent Name/Address/Phone across platforms. Google hates that.
6. Your Q&A section is either blank or filled with nonsense.

That’s the audit.
Now here’s the fix.

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Step 1: Upload Real Photos That Prove You’re a Real Business

Not stock. Not some waiting room pulled from Pinterest.
Boston patients know fake when they see it.

Take real shots:

• Headshots of each doctor
• Group photo of your team
• The inside of your clinic (patients want to know what they’re walking into)
• Front of your building — with a recognizable Boston street or landmark if possible

Pro move: swap or add new ones every 90 days. Google notices.

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Step 2: Rewrite Your Business Description So It Actually Says Something

Most sound like this:

“We provide compassionate care in a state-of-the-art environment…”

So does everyone else.

You’re not trying to sound good. You’re trying to get bookings.

Use this formula:

• What do you fix?
• Who do you fix it for?
• What result do they get?
• Why should they believe you?

Example:

“We help busy professionals in Boston get pain-free legs with non-surgical vein treatments. In and out in under an hour. Free parking available.”

That’s outcome > features. That’s what sells.

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Step 3: List Every Service You Actually Offer (In Human Language)

If it’s not listed on your profile, Google won’t rank you for it.
Plain and simple.

Don't just put:

“Vascular Treatments”

Put:

• “Spider vein removal Boston”
• “Laser vein treatment in Fenway”
• “Leg pain therapy South End”

Patients don’t speak in CPT codes. Neither should your profile.

Update your services every quarter. New offering? Add it. Old one? Delete it.

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Step 4: Get Reviews. Real Ones. Now.

Boston patients are skeptical.
They read reviews like Yelp is gospel.
If you’ve got 12 reviews from 2017, you look like you quit.

You need 50+ and growing. Not fake. Not friends.

How to do it:

• Ask every happy patient before they leave.
• Send an email 24 hours later.
• Automate the ask with tools like Birdeye or Podium.
• Make it dead simple to leave one.

Bonus: reviews that mention services and locations help you rank.

“I got laser vein treatment near Harvard Square. Super fast and painless.”

That sentence alone could rank you for multiple terms.

Also: Reply to every review. It shows Google and future patients you’re alive.

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Step 5: Make Your NAP Consistent Across the Web

NAP = Name, Address, Phone.
If it’s not exactly the same across:

• Google
• Your website
• Facebook
• Zocdoc
• Healthgrades
• Yelp

…you lose ranking power.

Google gets confused. You disappear.

Fix this once, then re-check every 6 months. Use BrightLocal or Whitespark if you’re serious.

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Step 6: Own Your Q&A Before Someone Else Does

Anyone can ask questions on your profile.
That includes your competitors. Trolls. Strangers.

Don’t leave this section blank.

Here’s the move:

• Go in as a user, ask the questions you wish people asked
• Log in as your clinic, answer them clearly
• Check weekly for new ones

Example:
Q: “Do you take MassHealth in Somerville?”
A: “Yes — we’re accepting new MassHealth patients. Click ‘Book Now’ or call to schedule.”

Seed trust. Control the narrative. Own the space.

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Final Checklist (No Fluff)

• Real photos of team + space
• Outcome-driven business description
• Every relevant service listed in plain English
• 50+ reviews with keywords
• NAP is identical across every platform
• Q&A filled, managed, and used for visibility

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Why This Is the Highest-ROI Marketing Move You Can Make in Boston

• It’s free.
• It’s fast.
• It shows up before your website.
• It books people before they even see your homepage.
• Your competitors aren’t doing it.

One fix here can drive hundreds of visits and dozens of bookings per month.
Without spending a dollar.

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Want Me to Fix Yours?

I do free audits for Boston clinics.

You’ll get:

• A complete breakdown of your profile
• Specific actions to take
• Bonus recommendations if you’re in a saturated market (like dermatology or mental health)

Email me: designedbyjake.co@gmail.com
DM me: linkedin.com/in/jake-cochran

Let’s turn your profile into the only thing it should be:
Your #1 sales rep that works 24/7 and never takes a sick day.

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