Written by: Jeevan, SEO Consultant
Last updated: Oct 2026
To set up a Google Business Profile for doctors, claim or create your clinic’s profile, verify it, choose the most specific primary category, add every treatment as a service, upload real photos, post a short update every week and ask every patient for a review. Done properly, the first setup takes about two hours.
For a clinic, the profile is often the first thing a patient sees, before your website. When someone in Whitefield searches “pediatrician near me”, Google shows three clinics on a map, with their reviews, photos and a call button. This guide walks through each part of the profile in the order we set it up for clinics.
Before You Start: Clinic Profile or Doctor Profile?
Google allows one profile per location. How you set it up depends on how many doctors practise there:
- One doctor, one clinic: a single profile. If the clinic has a brand name, Google suggests the format “Clinic Name: Dr. Name”.
- Several doctors at one clinic: one profile for the clinic, plus an optional practitioner profile for each doctor who sees patients, with only the doctor’s name.
- More than one branch: one profile per branch, each with its own address and phone.
Sign in at business.google.com with an email the clinic owns, search for your clinic and claim it, or add it if it doesn’t exist. Google will then ask you to verify, usually with a short video showing your signboard, the inside of the clinic and proof that you manage it.
Step 1: Choose the Right Category
The primary category is one of the strongest signals for which searches you appear in. Pick the most specific one that matches your main service. Common choices for clinics in India:
Dental
Dentist, Dental clinic, Orthodontist
Skin and hair
Dermatologist, Skin care clinic
Children
Pediatrician
Women’s health
Obstetrician-gynecologist
Bones and joints
Orthopedic surgeon, Physiotherapist
Eyes
Eye care center, Ophthalmologist
Tip: search your speciality in your area, for example “pediatrician in Bellandur”, and look at the categories the top three clinics use. Add secondary categories only for services you really offer.
Step 2: Add Your Services
Patients search for treatments as often as they search for doctors. Add each treatment you offer as a service, with a one-line description in plain words. A dermatology clinic might list:
- Acne treatment: diagnosis and a treatment plan for active acne and scars
- Hair fall treatment: scalp check and medical treatment for hair loss
- Laser hair reduction: sessions planned after a skin assessment
- Skin allergy consultation: patch testing and treatment advice
Also write the 750-character business description: what the clinic treats, the doctors’ qualifications, the area you serve and your timings. Keep it factual.
Step 3: Upload Real Photos
Photos help patients recognise your clinic and trust it before they visit. Upload your own photos, not stock images:
- The building and signboard from the street, so patients can find you
- Reception and waiting area
- Consulting and treatment rooms
- Key equipment, such as the dental chair or X-ray room
- Each doctor and the team
Add a few new photos every month. Never post patient photos or before/after images; they need consent and go against NMC rules for doctors.
Step 4: Post a Weekly Update
Updates (Google calls them posts) show patients the clinic is active. One short update a week is enough. Ideas that work:
- A new doctor has joined, with their qualifications
- Changed OPD timings or holiday hours
- A health awareness note, such as dengue precautions during the Bengaluru monsoon
- A new service or new equipment
- A reminder about vaccination schedules or annual check-ups
Skip discount posters like “50% off this week”. They look like advertising, which the NMC code does not allow doctors to do.
Step 5: Get Genuine Reviews
Reviews are what most patients read before they call. Build a simple routine:
- Put a QR code with your review link at reception
- Send the review link on WhatsApp after the visit
- Ask every patient, not only the happy ones; Google doesn’t allow picking who to ask
- Don’t offer gifts or discounts for reviews
- Reply to every review within two days
Keep replies short and never mention the patient’s condition. For a good review: “Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad your visit went smoothly. – Team [Clinic Name]”. For a bad one: “We’re sorry to hear this. Please call us on [number] so we can look into it.”
Step 6: Check What’s Working Each Month
Open the Performance section of your profile once a month. It shows how patients found you and what they did next. Four numbers are worth noting in a simple sheet:
- Calls made from your profile
- Direction requests, which show people planning a visit
- Website clicks
- The search terms patients used to find you
If calls drop, check your hours and phone number first. If people find you by your clinic name but not by speciality, revisit your category and services. A clinic in HSR Layout, for example, might see most searches come from “skin clinic near me”, which tells you which service to write about next.
Common Mistakes Doctors Make
Keyword-stuffed name
“Dr. Rao Best Child Specialist HSR Layout” breaks Google’s rules. Use the name on your signboard.
Owned by a staff member’s Gmail
If that person leaves, you lose access. Make the clinic’s own email the primary owner.
Wrong or missing holiday hours
A patient who arrives to a closed clinic often leaves a one-star review. Update hours before every holiday.
Old doctor profiles left open
When a doctor leaves, mark their practitioner profile as moved, so calls don’t go to the wrong place.
Ignoring suggested edits
Anyone can suggest a change to your profile. Check it weekly so a wrong phone number doesn’t go live.
Words like “best” or “No.1”
They break NMC rules for doctors and add nothing for ranking. Keep the description factual.
Google Business Profile for Doctors: FAQs
Is a Google Business Profile free for doctors?
Yes. Creating and managing a Google Business Profile is free. You only pay if you choose to run Google Ads.
Can each doctor at my clinic have their own profile?
Yes, if they see patients there. Google allows a practitioner profile with only the doctor’s name, while the clinic keeps its own separate profile.
Which category should a doctor choose?
Choose the most specific category for your main speciality, such as “Pediatrician” or “Dermatologist”, rather than a general one like “Doctor”.
How often should a clinic post updates on Google?
Once a week is a good rhythm. Short, factual updates about timings, new doctors, services or health awareness work best.
Can I reply to patient reviews on Google?
Yes, and you should reply to every review. Never mention the patient’s condition or treatment, or confirm that they were your patient.
Conclusion
A complete, active profile is the base of every clinic’s local visibility, and you can set it up in an afternoon. When you are ready to add treatment pages, doctor pages and a steady review routine, see our healthcare SEO services.
Want Us to Check Your Profile?
We’ll review your Google Business Profile, category, services and reviews, and send you a short list of fixes.
About the author
Jeevan, SEO Consultant & Founder
4 years of SEO experience. Certified in Introduction to Google SEO (University of California, Davis, via Coursera).