Google Business Profile guide for acupuncturists
Set up a Google Business Profile that helps patients find and book your acupuncture practice.
Your profile is often the first thing a nearby patient sees: the map result, hours, photos, reviews and booking link. Set it up in this order, fix what is broken, then audit it and keep it accurate.
What a nearby patient sees, and what you control.
Google describes three inputs to local results for a search like “acupuncture near me”.
Relevance
How well the profile matches the search: categories, services and a complete, accurate description.
You control thisProminence
How well known the practice is, including reviews and links from other sites.
You influence thisDistance
How far the practice is from the person searching, or from the area they name.
You can’t change thisSet up your acupuncture practice’s Google Business Profile, in this order.
Work through these once. Each step has a matching item in the audit below, and the audit links back here for anything you leave unticked.
Claim and verify the profile
Search your practice name on Google Maps. If a profile exists, claim it; if not, create one. Google chooses the verification methods available to you, which may include video, phone, email, live video or mail.
Use your real-world business name
Use the name shown consistently on your storefront, website and stationery. Adding keywords, a tagline, hours or a phone number to the name is not permitted and can lead to suspension.
ExampleAllowed: Maple Street Acupuncture. Not allowed: Maple Street Acupuncture | Pain Relief Austin | Open Mon–Sat.
Pick the fewest specific categories that fit
For many practices, Acupuncturist is the primary category. Add another category only when it describes a real part of the business; categories are not a place to add search keywords.
If it appliesAcupuncturist as the primary category. Add Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner only if that describes how you practice, and use a massage category only if you actually offer massage.
Enter an eligible address, or use a service area
Use a real location where the business makes in-person contact with customers during its stated hours. If you travel to patients and do not serve them at your address, hide the address and set a service area instead.
Fill in hours, phone and website
Add regular and special hours so the profile does not say open when you are closed. Use a phone number you answer or return promptly, and keep the same contact details on your website.
Link directly to booking
Use the appointment-link field for your booking page so a patient who finds you on a map does not have to hunt through the website.
List services in plain language
Initial visit, follow-up visit, cupping, herbal consultation—whatever you actually offer—with a short description written the way a patient would say it.
Before and afterBefore: “Acupuncture therapy.” After: “First visit (75 min): health history, treatment and a plan for the next few weeks.”
Add current, useful photos
Show the entrance, waiting area, treatment room and practitioner so patients know what to expect and can find the door. Keep patients and their information out of every image.
Request genuine reviews without gating
Google allows a review link or QR code. Do not offer discounts or gifts, discourage negative reviews, or ask only the patients you expect to leave a positive review.
Reply without confirming the patient relationship
A short, generic thank-you is enough. Do not mention treatment or publicly confirm that the reviewer received care from you.
Example reply“Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We appreciate it and wish you well.”
Sources: Guidelines for representing your business on Google, Business eligibility and ownership, Tips to get more reviews, Prohibited and restricted content.
Fix a profile that already has problems.
Many practices start with a profile that already exists and is wrong. Find the one that matches what you see. These are handled through Google’s own processes, so follow Google’s current steps.
Someone else owns my profile
A former web designer, associate or landlord often holds ownership. Search your business at business.google.com/add and choose Request Access when Google says someone else may manage it. The current owner has a few days to respond, and you can appeal a denial.
Google: request ownership of a Business ProfileThere is a duplicate listing
Google allows one profile per business, and a profile it treats as a duplicate may not show in Search or Maps. Check which listing carries your reviews and history before you remove anything: removing a duplicate deletes its content and its managers.
Google: resolve duplicate profiles and ownership issuesMy profile is suspended
Fix the cause first, commonly a name with added keywords, an address that doesn’t qualify, or failed verification. Then submit one reinstatement request. Don’t submit repeat appeals or create a new profile for the same business while a request is under review.
Google: fix suspended or disabled profilesDetails are wrong or it says closed
If you control the profile, edit it directly. If you don’t, claim it first. Suggested edits from the public listing are a slower route that Google reviews.
A review looks fake or breaks Google’s policy
Flag it from your profile or from Google Maps so Google can review it against its policy. Reply in general terms, and never confirm that the person was a patient or discuss their care.
Google: prohibited and restricted contentAudit your acupuncture practice’s Google Business Profile.
Tick what is accurate today. Anything unticked links back to the setup step that fixes it.
Download the printable checklist- Own it
- Be findable
- Turn views into visits
- Reviews, safely
Your ticks stay in this browser. Nothing is sent to us.
Audit the website separately.
The profile earns the click; the website has to explain the practice and make booking easy. Continue with the acupuncture practice website guide and checklist.
Google Business Profile questions for acupuncture practices.
Is a Google Business Profile free?
Yes. Creating and managing a profile costs nothing. A consultant may legitimately charge for their time and expertise, but nobody can sell placement in Google’s local results or guarantee a top position.
Can an acupuncturist use a home address on Google?
Use an address only if the location is eligible under Google’s rules and patients can actually visit it during the stated hours. If you travel to patients and do not serve them at your address, hide the address and use a service area instead.
Can I ask patients for Google reviews?
Yes. Google lets you request reviews and share a link or QR code. Do not offer an incentive, discourage negative reviews, selectively ask only patients you expect to be positive, or tell people what to write.
Can I thank a reviewer by name in my reply?
Be careful. Confirming in a public reply that someone is your patient, or mentioning anything about their care, can disclose health information. A generic reply that does not confirm the relationship is the safer habit. Ask your compliance advisor to set the rule for your practice.
Do I still need a website?
For most practices, yes. The profile helps a patient discover you; your website explains the practice, answers first-visit questions and gives them a controlled path to book.
Give the profile somewhere useful to send patients.
A clear practice website and a direct booking link turn profile views into appointments. Subject to current availability, start free and we can build a preview from your existing site.