DIY Google Business Profile vs Hiring RankMyLocal
Doing your own Google Business Profile is absolutely possible. We even publish a free checklist. The question is whether your time is worth more than the cost of having a specialist do it properly.
Who they are
You, evenings and weekends, watching YouTube tutorials and trial-and-error on a live profile.
Risks to know
Wrong primary category (kills visibility), suspension from edit mistakes, no benchmark for what 'good' looks like, and slow iteration.
Best for
Owners who genuinely enjoy learning marketing and have weekly time to maintain it.
Side-by-side
| Factor | DIY | RankMyLocal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | From £197 |
| Time | 5–15 hours setup, ongoing weekly | 0 — we handle it |
| Risk of errors | High (wrong categories = invisible) | Low — checklist-driven |
| Results timeline | Unknown — months of trial | 3–5 days to first changes live |
| Ongoing | You manage it | We manage it |
FAQ
Can I really do this myself?
Yes — and our free checklist will get you 60–70% of the way there. The hard parts are knowing which category to pick, how to structure services, and what's actually moving the needle.
What's the most common DIY mistake?
Picking the wrong primary GBP category. It's the single biggest ranking factor for the Map Pack — and it's the one most owners get wrong.
How long does DIY usually take?
Most owners we audit have spent 5–15 hours over a few months and still aren't ranking. With a specialist, the core setup takes 3–5 days.