Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) allows 750 characters for your business description, but only the first 250 characters display before users click “Read more.” Understanding these character limits is essential for local SEO and customer engagement, as exceeding them can truncate your message or cause rejection when you publish updates.

This guide covers every character limit in Google Business Profile, from descriptions and posts to services and Q&A sections, with optimization strategies for each field.

Google Business Profile Character Limits Overview

These limits are enforced by Google’s system. Exceeding them will either cause automatic truncation or prevent you from saving your changes. The most critical limit is the 750-character business description, where only the first 250 characters appear in initial search results.

Business Description (750 Characters)

Your business description is the primary text field that appears in your Google Business Profile. Google allows up to 750 characters, but only displays the first 250 characters before the “Read more” link appears.

Strategic approach for the 250-character cutoff:

The first 250 characters should function as a complete, standalone message. Include your primary keyword, core services, and unique value proposition within this space. Many users never click “Read more,” so front-loading is critical.

What to include in your description:

• Primary products or services (first 100 characters)
• Unique selling points or differentiators
• Service area or locations served
• Years in business or credentials
• Target customer type

What NOT to include:

• URLs or website addresses (use the dedicated website field)
• Phone numbers (use the phone field)
• Promotional language like “best” or “cheapest” excessively
• Keyword stuffing or repetitive phrases

Google has removed business descriptions that violate quality guidelines, particularly those containing contact information that belongs in dedicated fields. Keep your description focused on describing what you do and who you serve.

Example structure for a 750-character description:

Characters 1-250: “ABC Plumbing provides emergency and residential plumbing services in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Our licensed plumbers handle drain cleaning, water heater installation, pipe repairs, and bathroom remodeling with 24/7 emergency availability.”

Characters 251-750: “Since 2010, we’ve served over 5,000 Chicago-area homeowners with transparent pricing and same-day service. Our team specializes in older home plumbing systems, sewer line repair, and tankless water heater conversions. We offer free estimates, senior discounts, and warranty-backed work on all installations. Family-owned and operated, we treat every home like our own and guarantee your satisfaction on every job.”

This structure ensures that search users see your core offering immediately while providing additional detail for those who click through.

Post Character Limits (1,500 Characters)

Google Business Profile posts allow up to 1,500 characters, but the optimal length for engagement is 80-100 characters. Posts appear in your Business Profile and can include images, CTAs, and links.

Post types and their uses:

• What’s New posts: General updates, announcements, or news
• Event posts: Time-specific promotions or events with start/end dates
• Offer posts: Special deals or discounts with promo codes
• Product posts: Highlight specific products with pricing

Character limit strategy for posts:

While Google allows 1,500 characters, most users scan posts quickly on mobile devices. Posts with 80-100 characters receive significantly higher engagement than longer posts. Save detailed information for the call-to-action link to your website.

Post content best practices:

• Start with the most important information in the first line
• Use line breaks to improve readability (press Enter twice for paragraph breaks)
• Include a clear call-to-action
• Add relevant emojis sparingly for visual interest (1-2 maximum)
• Never include phone numbers in post text (use the CTA button)

Why phone numbers aren’t allowed in posts:

Google prohibits phone numbers in post content because they want users to click the dedicated “Call” button, which provides tracking metrics. Posts with phone numbers may be rejected or removed. Always use the call-to-action button options: “Call now,” “Learn more,” “Sign up,” “Buy,” or “Book.”

Post lifespan and frequency:

What’s New posts expire after 7 days, while Event and Offer posts expire on their specified end dates. For maximum visibility, publish 2-4 posts per week. Regular posting signals to Google that your business is active, which can improve local search rankings.

Service Description Limits (300 Characters)

Google recently reduced the service description field from 1,000 characters to 300 characters, catching many businesses off guard when they tried to update existing services. This change applies to each individual service you list in the “Services” section of your Business Profile.

Strategic approach for 300 characters:

With only 300 characters, you must be concise while still providing value. Focus on what the service includes, who it’s for, and one key benefit. Avoid generic filler text like “Contact us for more information.”

Service description template:

1. What the service is (40-60 characters)
2. What’s included or key features (100-150 characters)
3. Who it’s for or primary benefit (60-100 characters)

Example for a dental practice:

Service Name: Teeth Whitening

Description (285 characters): “Professional in-office teeth whitening treatment using advanced LED technology. Achieve 3-8 shades whiter in a single 90-minute visit. Safe for sensitive teeth with long-lasting results. Includes custom whitening trays for at-home maintenance. Ideal for special events or smile makeovers.”

Common mistakes with service descriptions:

• Writing the same generic description for every service
• Using all capital letters or excessive punctuation
• Including pricing that changes frequently (use the dedicated price field)
• Copying content directly from your website without adaptation

The 300-character limit encourages specificity. Differentiate each service clearly so potential customers understand exactly what they’re getting.

Product and Event Limits

Google Business Profile allows you to add products and events with their own character limits designed for different purposes.

Product listings (1,500 characters):

Product descriptions have the same 1,500-character limit as posts, but users expect more detail when viewing product listings. Use the full space to describe features, specifications, materials, dimensions, or use cases.

Product fields include:

• Product name: 58 characters
• Category: Select from Google’s predefined categories
• Price: Use decimal format ($49.99) or price ranges ($100-$500)
• Description: 1,500 characters
• Images: 10 images per product

Product description structure:

• First 100 characters: What it is and primary benefit
• Next 400-600 characters: Features, specifications, or unique qualities
• Final 400-800 characters: Use cases, who it’s for, or how it solves problems

Unlike posts, product descriptions don’t expire and remain on your profile permanently. Organize products into collections for easier navigation when you have more than 10 items.

Event posts (58 character title, 1,500 character description):

Event titles have a strict 58-character limit and should be clear and specific. Include the event type and most important detail (date, topic, or benefit).

Event title examples:

• “Spring Home Improvement Workshop - April 15” (47 chars)
• “50% Off All Inventory - Memorial Day Weekend” (47 chars)
• “Free Financial Planning Seminar for Retirees” (47 chars)

Event descriptions can use the full 1,500 characters. Include date, time, location, what attendees will learn or receive, registration instructions, and any requirements or prerequisites.

Offer posts (58 character title):

Offer titles follow the same 58-character limit as events. Focus on the discount or value proposition.

Offer title examples:

• “Buy One Get One Free on All Entrees” (36 chars)
• “$50 Off First Visit - New Patients Only” (40 chars)
• “Free Installation with Equipment Purchase” (42 chars)

Offer descriptions should include terms, conditions, expiration dates, and redemption instructions within the 1,500-character limit.

Q&A Section Limits

The Questions & Answers section on your Google Business Profile has remarkably generous character limits compared to other fields. Questions and answers both allow approximately 10,000 characters, though Google hasn’t officially published an exact limit.

Practical Q&A strategy:

Despite the high character limit, users expect quick answers. Keep responses between 150-500 characters for most questions. Longer answers (500-2,000 characters) work well for complex questions about services, processes, or policies.

Q&A section benefits:

• Appears prominently in your Business Profile
• Searchable by keywords (helps with long-tail SEO)
• User-generated questions show real customer concerns
• Your answers demonstrate expertise and customer service

Proactive Q&A management:

You can post questions yourself and answer them. This is valuable for addressing common questions before customers have to ask. Create 5-10 frequently asked questions about hours, payment methods, service areas, parking, accessibility, or booking procedures.

Example proactive Q&A:

Question: “Do you offer emergency plumbing services after hours and on weekends?”

Answer (287 characters): “Yes, we provide 24/7 emergency plumbing service every day of the year, including holidays. Emergency calls are answered by a live dispatcher who will send a licensed plumber to your location, typically within 60-90 minutes. Emergency service rates apply after 6 PM and on weekends.”

Handling negative or inappropriate questions:

You can flag and report questions that violate Google’s policies, such as those containing profanity, personal information, or spam. However, you cannot delete legitimate questions, even if they’re negative. Respond professionally to critical questions and use them as opportunities to demonstrate excellent customer service.

Character count strategy for answers:

• Simple factual questions: 50-150 characters
• Service process questions: 200-400 characters
• Policy or complex questions: 400-1,000 characters
• Detailed how-to questions: 1,000-2,000 characters

The Q&A section is one of the most underutilized features of Google Business Profile despite its flexibility and SEO value. Regular monitoring and responses improve your profile’s engagement metrics.

Optimization Tips for Each Field

Maximizing the impact of your Google Business Profile requires strategic use of every character limit. These field-specific tips help you optimize for both users and local search algorithms.

Business name optimization:

While Google allows approximately 100 characters for business names, your official name should match your real-world business name exactly. Google penalizes keyword-stuffed business names like “Joe’s Pizza - Best Pizza Delivery Chicago Downtown.”

If your business name is legitimately long, keep it under 50 characters for better mobile display. The business name appears in map results, and longer names get truncated on small screens.

Business description optimization:

Write two distinct sections: a 250-character “preview” and a 500-character “extended” section. The preview must work as a standalone paragraph. Use the extended section for additional services, service areas, or credentials.

Include your primary keyword in the first 100 characters naturally. Mention your city or service area within the first 250 characters. Use specific service names rather than generic terms (e.g., “drain cleaning and water heater installation” instead of “plumbing services”).

Post optimization:

Create posts on a consistent schedule (2-4 times per week). Use high-quality images with your posts, as visual posts receive 42% more requests for driving directions than text-only posts.

Front-load posts with the key message in the first line. Mobile users see only the first 70-100 characters before “Read more” appears, so treat every post like a tweet where the opening matters most.

Service optimization:

List 5-15 services for optimal results. Too few services make you appear limited; too many services dilute your focus and make navigation difficult. Each service should be distinct and valuable to customers.

Use the service name field strategically. While you have room for longer names, keep service names to 3-6 words. Names like “Residential Drain Cleaning” are clearer than “Expert Emergency Drain Cleaning Services for Homes and Businesses.”

Product optimization:

Add at least 10 products if you’re a retail or e-commerce business. Products with multiple photos receive more clicks than single-image listings. Include lifestyle photos showing products in use, not just isolated product shots.

Price all products accurately. Incorrect pricing damages trust and wastes time for both you and potential customers. Use price ranges ($100-$500) for customizable products where exact pricing varies.

Photo optimization:

While not text-based, photos have character-limit implications. Photo captions are limited to 1,000 characters. Use captions to provide context, especially for service photos where the work being performed might not be obvious.

Upload photos at least 720px wide by 720px tall for best quality. Google recommends 1,920px by 1,080px for cover photos. Low-quality or improperly sized photos create a poor impression regardless of your text content.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced marketers make character limit mistakes on Google Business Profile. These errors reduce visibility, cause rejection, or create poor user experiences.

Mistake 1: Burying important information past the 250-character mark

The majority of users never click “Read more” on business descriptions. Putting your most important services, credentials, or unique value proposition in characters 251-750 means most people never see it. Always write your description so the first 250 characters function as a complete message.

Mistake 2: Including contact information in descriptions or posts

Phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs don’t belong in your business description or post content. Google provides dedicated fields for this information and may reject or remove content that includes contact details in the wrong places.

The reasoning is two-fold: it encourages proper data structure (making it easier for Google to display information correctly), and it allows Google to track user interactions like calls and website clicks.

Mistake 3: Keyword stuffing in business names

Adding keywords to your business name (“Joe’s Pizza Downtown Chicago Best Pizza Delivery”) violates Google’s guidelines and can result in suspension. Use only your actual business name, even if competitors are ranking higher with keyword-stuffed names. Google is increasingly suspending profiles that violate this rule.

Mistake 4: Writing identical descriptions for all services

Copy-pasting the same generic description across multiple services provides no value to users and misses opportunities to rank for specific service keywords. Each service should have a unique description that explains what’s included and who it’s for.

Mistake 5: Forgetting to update expired posts

Old event and offer posts make your business appear inactive. Set calendar reminders to remove or update time-sensitive posts before they expire. Keeping 2-4 active posts shows engagement and keeps your profile fresh.

Mistake 6: Ignoring the Q&A section

Unanswered questions sit on your profile permanently, suggesting poor customer service. Check your Q&A section weekly and respond to new questions within 24-48 hours. Proactively add 5-10 common questions with answers to address customer concerns before they ask.

Mistake 7: Using all caps or excessive punctuation

Writing descriptions or posts in ALL CAPS or using multiple exclamation marks (!!!) violates Google’s quality guidelines and makes your business appear unprofessional. Use standard sentence case with appropriate punctuation.

Mistake 8: Treating the business description like a brochure

Your business description should be conversational and informative, not a list of services or a sales pitch. Avoid phrases like “Contact us today!” or “Visit our website for more information!” The description should describe what you do and why customers choose you, not direct users to other channels.

Mistake 9: Exceeding the 300-character service limit

Since Google reduced service descriptions from 1,000 to 300 characters, many businesses haven’t updated their existing services. Long descriptions get cut off mid-sentence, creating a poor user experience. Review and rewrite all service descriptions to fit the current limit.

Mistake 10: Not tracking what works

Google Business Profile provides insights showing how users interact with your posts, photos, and profile sections. Check your insights monthly to see which posts drive calls, direction requests, or website clicks. Double down on content types that perform well and eliminate underperforming approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I exceed the Google Business Profile character limit?

Google’s system will either prevent you from saving your changes or automatically truncate your text at the character limit. For business descriptions, you’ll see an error message if you try to save beyond 750 characters. For posts, the system stops accepting input at 1,500 characters. Text is never published beyond the stated limits.

Can I use HTML or special formatting in my business description?

No, Google Business Profile doesn’t support HTML tags, bold text, italics, or other formatting in descriptions. Line breaks and paragraph spacing are automatically removed from business descriptions. However, posts do allow line breaks if you press Enter twice between paragraphs. Special characters and emojis are allowed in posts but not recommended in business descriptions.

Do character limits include spaces?

Yes, all character limits in Google Business Profile include spaces, punctuation, and special characters. A 750-character business description means 750 total characters including every space, comma, and period. Use a character counter tool to check your exact length before pasting into Google.

How often do Google Business Profile character limits change?

Google updates these limits occasionally without advance notice. The most recent significant change was reducing service descriptions from 1,000 to 300 characters in 2024. Business description limits (750 characters) and post limits (1,500 characters) have remained stable for several years. Check Google’s official help documentation quarterly for updates.

What’s the ideal length for a Google Business post?

While posts can contain up to 1,500 characters, posts with 80-100 characters receive the highest engagement rates. Users scroll quickly through posts on mobile devices, so shorter posts perform better. Save longer content for your website and use posts for brief announcements with strong calls-to-action.

Can I edit my business description after publishing without losing my reviews?

Yes, you can edit your business description, services, posts, and other profile information at any time without affecting your reviews, ratings, or profile history. Reviews are permanently attached to your Business Profile and remain visible through all updates. Regular profile updates are encouraged and don’t reset your ranking or review count.

Key Takeaways

• Google Business Profile descriptions allow 750 characters, but only the first 250 display before “Read more,” so front-load your most important information.
• Posts have a 1,500-character limit, but optimal engagement comes from 80-100 character posts with clear calls-to-action and high-quality images.
• Service descriptions were recently reduced to 300 characters, requiring concise, benefit-focused content for each service you list.
• The Q&A section has the highest character limit (~10,000 characters), making it ideal for detailed answers about policies, processes, or complex services.
• Never include phone numbers, email addresses, or URLs in descriptions or posts; use dedicated fields to maintain compliance and tracking.
• Regular posting (2-4 times per week) with character-optimized content signals business activity to Google and improves local search visibility.

Conclusion

Understanding and optimizing for Google Business Profile character limits directly impacts your local search visibility and customer engagement. The 750-character business description with its 250-character preview window, 1,500-character posts, and recently reduced 300-character service descriptions each require strategic approaches to maximize impact within their constraints. Successful profiles front-load important information, maintain consistent posting schedules, and use every field purposefully rather than treating character limits as targets to reach.

Try our free letter counter → to check your Google Business Profile content before publishing and ensure you’re staying within limits while maximizing impact.