Step 1
Claim and verify your Google Business Profile
Search your business name on Google Maps. If a listing exists, click 'Claim this business' and complete the postcard or video verification. If none exists, create one at business.google.com.
Local SEO playbook
The Google Business Profile checklist for South Sound wedding pros
A tight GBP is the single biggest local-ranking lever you have. Work through the eight steps below in order. Most vendors finish in a weekend and see Local Pack movement within 30 days.
Step 2
Pick the most specific primary category
Match your primary category exactly to one of: Wedding Photographer, Wedding Planner, Florist, Wedding Venue, DJ Service, Caterer, Hair Salon, Makeup Artist. Add up to 9 secondary categories — but keep the primary tight.
Step 3
Set service area to the South Sound cities you cover
Add every city below as a service area. Google uses this to rank you in 'near me' searches across the South Sound.
Step 4
Match your NAP to every directory listing
Your business Name, Address, and Phone number must be identical on your website, GBP, our Tacoma Wedding listing, The Knot, WeddingWire, and Yelp — character for character.
Step 5
Upload 20+ geo-tagged photos in the first month
Use your phone with location enabled when shooting at South Sound venues. Upload weekly. Caption every photo with the venue + city + the year.
Step 6
Earn 5 Google reviews in the first 30 days
Send the prefilled review link from your GBP dashboard to your last 10 weddings. Ask in the post-delivery email. Reply to every review within 48 hours.
Step 7
Post weekly to GBP for the first 90 days
Use the 'Update' post type. One sentence + one photo + one link back to a relevant page on tacoma-wedding.com. This is the strongest local freshness signal Google has.
Step 8
Add booking + messaging
Turn on Google messaging and add a booking link. Faster response time directly improves Local Pack ranking.
Cities to add as service areas
Tacoma, WAOlympia, WAGig Harbor, WAPuyallup, WALacey, WAJBLM, WADuPont, WAUniversity Place, WASteilacoom, WATumwater, WABremerton, WASilverdale, WAYelm, WASeattle, WA