How to Use Listings Categories in GoHighLevel
If you use ClickUp to manage tasks and GoHighLevel to manage marketing, understanding listings categories will help you keep local SEO work structured, accurate, and easy to update. This guide walks you step by step through how listings categories work in the GoHighLevel Listings tool and how to apply them correctly.
What Are Listings Categories in GoHighLevel?
Listings categories in GoHighLevel define the type of business you are managing inside the Listings tool. These categories are sent to supported directory sites, helping those sites understand what the business does and where it should appear in local searches.
Categories are especially important because they:
- Tell directories which industry the business belongs to.
- Improve how accurately the business appears in local search results.
- Help customers find the right business when they search by service or niche.
The categories you set in GoHighLevel are mapped to categories supported by each directory partner. That means not every directory will use every category, but GoHighLevel will automatically send the closest matching option.
Primary vs. Additional Categories in GoHighLevel
Inside the Listings settings, GoHighLevel lets you configure two types of categories for each business profile:
- Primary Category – the main category that best describes the core business.
- Additional Categories – extra categories that cover secondary services or specialties.
Primary Category in GoHighLevel
The primary category is the most important label for the business. Many directories and local search systems give more weight to this primary type when ranking and matching search queries.
Choose a primary category that:
- Accurately reflects the main service or product.
- Is specific rather than generic when possible.
- Matches how customers actually search (for example, “Dentist” rather than “Health Services”).
Only one primary category can be selected per business profile in the Listings section.
Additional Categories in GoHighLevel
Additional categories allow you to describe other services the business offers. For example, a clinic might choose “Medical Clinic” as the primary category and then add “Physical Therapy Clinic” and “Urgent Care Center” as additional categories.
Use additional categories when:
- The business legitimately offers multiple services.
- You want to capture more relevant search variations.
- You need to reflect different specialties under the same brand.
Avoid adding categories that are only loosely related, because this can dilute relevance on some directories.
How GoHighLevel Sends Categories to Directories
When you configure listings categories in GoHighLevel, the platform sends them to its network of directory partners. Each partner has its own category system, so categories from your profile are mapped to the closest equivalents those sites support.
Key points about how this works:
- Not all directories support the exact same label names.
- Some sites may only display the primary category.
- Others may support multiple categories, including additional ones.
The goal of GoHighLevel is to keep your business information synchronized and consistent, even if the underlying category vocabulary differs from one directory to another.
Step-by-Step: Set Listings Categories in GoHighLevel
Follow these steps to configure categories correctly inside the Listings feature.
1. Open the Location in GoHighLevel
- Log in to your GoHighLevel account.
- Select the Location that holds the business you want to manage.
- Make sure you have access to the Listings or Reputation / Listings tools in that location.
2. Navigate to the Listings Settings
- From the left-hand navigation, open the area where your Listings or Business Profile details are managed.
- Look for a section labeled something like Business Info, Profile, or Listings Settings (exact labels can vary by account configuration and updates).
3. Choose the Primary Category
- Find the field named Primary Category or simply Category.
- Begin typing a keyword related to the business type (for example, “Restaurant,” “Real Estate Agent,” “Dentist”).
- Select the most accurate and specific option from the dropdown list provided by GoHighLevel.
Tips for selecting the primary category:
- Focus on the main revenue-generating service.
- Avoid choosing a category only because it has more keywords in the name.
- Confirm that the category accurately reflects how the business markets itself.
4. Add Additional Categories
- Locate the area labeled Additional Categories (or similar).
- Click to add a new category field.
- Type an extra category that fits a secondary service.
- Repeat this process for each legitimate additional service the business provides.
Best practices for additional categories:
- Limit entries to services that are clearly offered.
- Do not add unrelated industries just to gain more visibility.
- Use categories that match on-site content and real-world operations.
5. Save and Sync Your Listings
- After setting the primary and additional categories, click Save or Update.
- Trigger a listings sync if there is a manual option available in your GoHighLevel interface.
- Allow some time for partner directories to process and reflect the category changes.
Best Practices for Listings Categories in GoHighLevel
Using categories correctly inside GoHighLevel can improve how consistently your business appears across local directories. Keep these best practices in mind:
- Stay consistent: Use categories that match the actual business type across all locations.
- Review periodically: Revisit categories if the business changes focus or services.
- Avoid spam: Do not overuse categories or choose off-topic types; this may harm trust on some directories.
- Match real branding: Make sure categories align with the website content, signage, and marketing materials.
Troubleshooting Category Issues in GoHighLevel
Sometimes you may see differences between the categories you chose in GoHighLevel and what appears on external sites.
Mapped Category Differences
Because each directory has its own list of supported options, GoHighLevel may map your chosen category to the closest available match on that site. This can lead to slight wording differences, such as:
- Your category: “Cosmetic Dentist”
- Directory category: “Dentist”
This behavior is normal and is controlled by the partner directory, not by GoHighLevel directly.
Category Not Showing on a Directory
If a certain category does not appear on a specific site:
- The site might only display the primary category.
- The partner may not support additional categories at all.
- The directory may have stricter category rules for that vertical.
In these cases, verify that your primary category in GoHighLevel is as accurate and important as possible, since it is the most likely to be displayed everywhere.
When to Update Listings Categories in GoHighLevel
Update your categories whenever there is a meaningful change in the business, such as:
- Adding a major new service line (for example, a salon adding medical spa services).
- Changing the core focus of the business.
- Rebranding that changes how you want to be found in search.
After updates, monitor key directories over the next several days to confirm that the new categories have been applied.
Learn More About GoHighLevel and Local SEO
To deepen your understanding of how listings categories work inside the platform, review the official documentation on the source page: Understanding Listings Categories in GoHighLevel.
If you want expert implementation help for GoHighLevel, CRM setups, or automated workflows, you can also visit Consultevo for done-for-you services and strategic consulting.
By configuring primary and additional listings categories properly inside GoHighLevel and keeping them updated as the business evolves, you ensure that directory partners receive accurate information, which supports stronger local visibility and more consistent search results.
Need Help With ClickUp?
If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your GHL , work with ConsultEvo — trusted GoHighLevel Partners.
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