20/08/2026
Choosing the wrong primary category on your Google Business Profile is the number one negative ranking factor in local SEO (Whitespark, 2026)
Most clinic owners set this once during setup, pick something that sounds close enough, and never revisit it.
Your primary category needs to match your core service precisely. "Psychologist" or "Psychology clinic", not "Health consultant". "Physiotherapist" or "Physical therapy clinic", not "Wellness centre". The difference between the right category and a close one is the difference between appearing in local search results and not appearing at all.
Secondary categories matter too. A psychology clinic might legitimately add "Counselling service" or "Mental health clinic". A physio might add "Sports injury clinic". But padding it with categories that don't reflect what you actually offer works against you.
If your bookings have plateaued and your GBP hasn't been reviewed since you first set it up, this is the first thing worth checking.