Agent skill

Gbp Optimization

by garrettjsmith in garrettjsmith/localseoskills

When the user wants to set up, optimize, or manage a Google Business Profile, or improve visibility in Google's local map pack.

MITAuto-check passedMarketing & SEO

Install Gbp Optimization

skills CLI
$ npx skills add garrettjsmith/localseoskills --skill gbp-optimization -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install garrettjsmith/localseoskills gbp-optimization --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/garrettjsmith/localseoskills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/gbp-optimization .claude/skills/gbp-optimization && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
gbp-optimization
GitHub stars
114
Token cost
~2.3k tokens
SKILL.md length
1,069 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
38
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

When the user wants to set up, optimize, or manage a Google Business Profile, or improve visibility in Google's local map pack.

  • Works in 3 steps: Business Type: Storefront, SAB, or… → Current State: Claimed/verified? Last… → Goals: Target keywords?…
  • Wants to set up
  • SKILL.md covers Initial Assessment, The Local Ranking Algorithm, Optimization Priority Order and Business Information, plus 12 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Gbp Optimization is an agent skill from garrettjsmith/localseoskills. When the user wants to set up, optimize, or manage a Google Business Profile, or improve visibility in Google's local map pack. Also use when the user mentions "GBP," "Google Business Profile," "Google My Business," "GMB," "business listing," "Google Maps listing," "optimize my profile," "map pack," "local pack," "3-pack," "Google Maps ranking," or "why am I not in the map pack." For review strategy, see review-management. For GBP posts, see gbp-posts. For suspension issues, see gbp-suspension-recovery.

Its SKILL.md is about 2.3k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.

It sits in Marketing & SEO, covering Local SEO. It works with Google Maps Platform. The repository describes itself as: Open-source Claude SEO tool for local search visibility — skills, tool integrations, and automation templates that turn Claude into a Local SEO expert. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Wants to set up
  • Manage a Google Business Profile
  • Improve visibility in Googles local map pack
  • The user mentions GBP

Example prompts

  • “s local map pack. Also use when the user mentions”
  • “Google Business Profile,”
  • “Google My Business,”
  • “/gbp-optimization”

Workflow steps

3 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

  1. Business Type: Storefront, SAB, or hybrid? Single or multi-location?
  2. Current State: Claimed/verified? Last updated? Suspensions? Current map pack position?
  3. Goals: Target keywords? Calls/directions/visits? Geographic coverage?

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 405ce20. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md.

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Gbp Optimization loads about 2.3k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 131 tokens; SKILL.md has 1,069 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~131
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~2.3k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from garrettjsmith/localseoskills at commit 405ce20, republished under its MIT licence (© garrettjsmith). 1,069 words, ~2,269 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/gbp-optimization/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
gbp-optimization
description
When the user wants to set up, optimize, or manage a Google Business Profile, or improve visibility in Google's local map pack. Also use when the user mentions "GBP," "Google Business Profile," "Google My Business," "GMB," "business listing," "Google Maps listing," "optimize my profile," "map pack," "local pack," "3-pack," "Google Maps ranking," or "why am I not in the map pack." For review strategy, see review-management. For GBP posts, see gbp-posts. For suspension issues, see gbp-suspension-recovery.
metadata.version
1.1.1
metadata.author
Garrett Smith

GBP Optimization & Map Pack Visibility

You are an expert in Google Business Profile optimization with deep knowledge of how GBP signals impact local rankings and map pack visibility.

Initial Assessment

  1. Business Type: Storefront, SAB, or hybrid? Single or multi-location?
  2. Current State: Claimed/verified? Last updated? Suspensions? Current map pack position?
  3. Goals: Target keywords? Calls/directions/visits? Geographic coverage?

The Local Ranking Algorithm

Three pillars: Proximity (distance to searcher — can't control), Relevance (GBP matches query — primary category is strongest signal), Prominence (trust/authority — reviews, citations, links, engagement).

Ranking Signal Categories (Current Industry Consensus)

Ranked by influence on local pack/Maps rankings. Specific percentages shift year to year — what matters is the relative weight.

  1. GBP Signals (Strongest): Primary category, business name, completeness, hours/openness
  2. On-Page/Website Signals (Rising): NAP, local keywords, domain authority, page content quality, internal linking
  3. Review Signals (Critical): Recency and velocity (top-tier — recent reviews matter more than total count), rating, keywords in reviews, response rate
  4. Behavioral/Engagement Signals (Rising fast): Clicks, calls, direction requests, post engagement, photo engagement. Google rewards profiles that "look alive"
  5. Link Signals: Local links, domain authority, anchor text
  6. Citation Signals: NAP consistency, volume, quality. Regaining importance because AI models pull from diverse web sources
  7. Business Hours/Openness (Confirmed 2023, now top-5): Being open at search time boosts rankings. Rankings degrade in the final hour before closing
  8. Social Signals (Confirmed 2026): Social engagement is now measurable. Google testing prominent display of social posts on GBP
  9. AI Search Signals (New category): Entity clarity, web presence breadth, content structure. See ai-local-search for strategy

Optimization Priority Order

  1. Business Information Accuracy (foundation)
  2. Category Selection (ranking signal)
  3. Business Description & Services (relevance)
  4. Photos & Visual Content (engagement)
  5. Reviews & Reputation (trust signal)
  6. Posts & Updates (freshness signal)
  7. Q&A Management (content + trust)
  8. Products & Services Catalog (relevance)

Business Information

Name: Must match real-world name exactly. Keyword stuffing = #1 spam tactic. Report competitors who do it.

Address: Match USPS formatting. Consistent suite/unit numbers everywhere. SABs hide address, set service areas. Multi-location: separate profile per location.

Phone: Local number (not toll-free) as primary. Same number across all citations. Enable messaging if staffed.

Hours: Now a confirmed ranking factor — not just informational. Businesses open at search time rank higher. Set accurate regular hours. Special hours for holidays BEFORE the holiday. "More hours" for service-specific hours. Consider whether legitimate hour extensions are possible — every additional hour of operation is an additional hour of ranking visibility. Rankings begin to degrade in the final hour before closing.

Website URL: Most relevant page (homepage single-location, location page multi). Add UTM: ?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp


Category Selection

Primary Category

Single most important ranking factor after proximity.

  • Must describe what the business IS, not what it DOES
  • Choose most specific available
  • Check top-ranking competitors' categories
  • Research: search target keywords in Maps, use GMB Spy or Pleper tools
Additional Categories
  • Up to 9 additional — add all legitimately applicable
  • More categories = more keyword associations
  • Only active services, not aspirational

Business Description (750 chars)

  1. What the business does + primary service area
  2. Key services/specialties
  3. Differentiators (years, certifications, awards)
  4. CTA

No keyword stuffing, URLs, phone numbers, promotional language, or all-caps.


Services & Products

Services: Every service with descriptions, grouped logically. Natural keyword variations. Pricing if competitive.

Products: Physical products or service packages with photos and prices. Link to website pages.


Photos & Visual Content

Priorities: Cover photo (16:9) → Logo → Interior (3+) → Exterior → Team → Service/product → At-work

Guidelines: 10-15 minimum, add 2-3/month. Geo-tag EXIF data. Descriptive filenames. No stock photos. 720px+ wide. JPG or PNG.

Video: 30s-3min, upload directly, under 75MB.


Q&A Management

Google no longer allows users to ask questions via the Google Business Profile. Answer everything existing if possible. Google may show AI generated Q&A section on profile based on what they know about the business from the profile data and other web sources.


Show full SKILL.md (436 more words)Show less

Attributes

Complete ALL applicable. Categories determine availability. Key: accessibility, ownership, service-specific (free estimates, emergency, online booking), payment methods.


Map Pack Optimization Playbook

Quick Wins (Week 1-2)
  1. Fix primary category
  2. Complete all GBP fields
  3. Add photos to 10+ minimum
  4. Respond to all unanswered reviews
  5. Fix NAP on website
  6. Add/fix LocalBusiness schema
Month 1
  1. GBP posting 1-2/week
  2. Review generation campaign
  3. Top-tier citations (Apple, Bing, Yelp, Facebook)
  4. Create/optimize location page
  5. Fix citation inconsistencies
Month 2-3
  1. Industry-specific citations
  2. Service-area content
  3. Local link opportunities
  4. Seed Q&A, add video
Ongoing

Weekly: reviews, Q&A, posts, edit monitoring. Monthly: photos, insights, hours check. Quarterly: competitor audit, category review.


Diagnosing Map Pack Issues

Not showing at all: Verified? Suspended? Category correct? Location page exists? Website linked?

Strong nearby, weak at distance: Normal proximity. Strengthen relevance/prominence. Citations + content + reviews mentioning weak areas.

Dropped rankings: Check for unauthorized GBP edits. Algorithm update? Competitor improved? Lost reviews? Website changes?

Outranked by competitor with fewer reviews: Check their category (more specific?). Keyword in name (spam?). Stronger citations? Better website? Closer proximity?


Common Mistakes

  • Keyword-stuffed business name (suspension risk)
  • Wrong primary category (biggest lever)
  • Stale profile (no posts/photos in months)
  • Inconsistent NAP across web
  • Ignoring Q&A
  • Stock photos
  • Incomplete services section

Task-Specific Questions

  1. Storefront, SAB, or hybrid?
  2. Primary services/keywords?
  3. Geographic coverage needed?
  4. Verified and active? Suspension history?
  5. How many locations?
  6. Current map pack position?

What to Do Next

After optimizing a GBP profile, the next step depends on what you found:

What You FoundNext ActionSkill
Profile is optimized but rankings are weakRun a geogrid scan to see WHERE you rank and WHERE you don'tgeogrid-analysis
Review count is low vs. competitorsBuild a review generation strategyreview-management
Website has no LocalBusiness schemaImplement structured data matching GBP exactlylocal-schema
No recent posts or engagementStart weekly post cadencegbp-posts
Business has multiple locationsApply this process per-location with centralized standardsmulti-location-seo
Profile is at suspension risk (keyword-stuffed name, address issues)Follow suspension prevention steps before making changesgbp-suspension-recovery
Also need Apple Maps and Bing coverageOptimize those platforms too — they share some signals but have different requirementsapple-business-connect, bing-places
Managing 10+ locationsUse the GBP API for bulk operationsgbp-api-automation

Default next step: If the profile looks good, run a geogrid scan. Profile optimization without ranking measurement is guesswork.

Tools for This Skill

See docs/tool-routing to pick based on what's connected.

  • Geogrid scan (measure ranking impact of optimization) → Local Falcon (only option)
  • Live SERP check (verify how profile appears in results) → live SERP tools (multiple options)

© garrettjsmith, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

Just SKILL.md in skills/gbp-optimization of garrettjsmith/localseoskills.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 405ce20

Compare with similar skills

Gbp Optimization next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Gbp Optimization compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Gbp Optimization this skillgarrettjsmith/localseoskills114—~2.3kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Google Mapscablate/mcp-google-map468—~909Automated safety check: PassMIT
Google Maps Local SEOcablate/mcp-google-map468—~633Automated safety check: PassMIT
Google Maps Travel Planningcablate/mcp-google-map468—~710Automated safety check: PassMIT
Maps Intelligence for Local SEOAgriciDaniel/claude-seo18k1 repos~3.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Local SEOnowork-studio/notfair-plugin3.9k—~1.6kAutomated safety check: PassMIT

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Categories

Questions about Gbp Optimization

What does Gbp Optimization do?

When the user wants to set up, optimize, or manage a Google Business Profile, or improve visibility in Google's local map pack. Gbp Optimization is an agent skill from garrettjsmith/localseoskills. When the user wants to set up, optimize, or manage a Google Business Profile, or improve visibility in Google's local map pack.

When should I use Gbp Optimization?

Gbp Optimization fits situations like: wants to set up; manage a Google Business Profile; improve visibility in Googles local map pack; the user mentions GBP.

How do I install Gbp Optimization in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add garrettjsmith/localseoskills --skill gbp-optimization -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/gbp-optimization in garrettjsmith/localseoskills) into .claude/skills/gbp-optimization in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Gbp Optimization in Codex?

Run `npx skills add garrettjsmith/localseoskills --skill gbp-optimization -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/gbp-optimization in garrettjsmith/localseoskills) into .agents/skills/gbp-optimization in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Gbp Optimization in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add garrettjsmith/localseoskills --skill gbp-optimization -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/gbp-optimization, .gemini/skills/gbp-optimization, .github/skills/gbp-optimization and .opencode/skills/gbp-optimization in your project.

What does Gbp Optimization need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Gbp Optimization is instructions for the agent only.

Does Gbp Optimization access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Gbp Optimization safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Gbp Optimization use?

Gbp Optimization is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Gbp Optimization use?

About 2.3k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 9.1k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Gbp Optimization?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Gbp Optimization: Google Maps (cablate/mcp-google-map, 468 stars), Google Maps Local SEO (cablate/mcp-google-map, 468 stars), Google Maps Travel Planning (cablate/mcp-google-map, 468 stars) and Maps Intelligence for Local SEO (AgriciDaniel/claude-seo, 18k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Gbp Optimization?

garrettjsmith (a GitHub user) maintains it in garrettjsmith/localseoskills, which has 114 GitHub stars. The repository holds 38 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on August 15, 2026.

Source: garrettjsmith/localseoskills on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.