Products versus services
Services describe work you perform for someone. Products describe things a customer can buy or order, such as a menu item, a package, or a line of goods. Some businesses have both, and that is fine, though availability of each section can depend on your category.
If your offer is a bundle that works like a fixed item, for example a starter maintenance plan, listing it as a product can be clearer than burying it in a service description.
Adding an item step by step
Open your profile in Search or Maps while signed in as an owner or manager, find the products option, and choose to add a product. Each item takes a name, an optional category, a description, a price or price range, and a photo.
Group items into categories so a long list stays readable. For a shop, that could be departments. For a studio, it could be packages by size.
Photos and descriptions that sell
Use a real photo of the actual item, taken in decent light against a plain background. Stock images tell customers little. Keep the main subject centered, since the picture is cropped into a small thumbnail in many views.
The description should answer practical questions: size, materials, what is included, how long it takes. Leave out hype. Include a link only when it goes to a page that truly matches that item.
Prices and availability
Showing a price filters out people who will not buy and saves your time. If prices change often, use ranges or a from price instead of a figure that goes stale. Outdated numbers are a common source of bad reviews.
Remove items that are sold out for the season, or update them as soon as you can. A tidy catalog earns more trust than a long one with traps.
Keeping the catalog in sync
Pick a rhythm, such as a first of the month check. Compare the tab to your website and in-store signs. If you have an online store, make sure product names and prices agree.
Do not copy long manufacturer text. Write short, original lines. Duplicated copy adds nothing and may hurt your site if you reuse it there.
When to skip it
If you sell a service that is quoted case by case, forcing it into products can mislead. A custom website, a bathroom remodel and a legal matter are not items with a fixed price. In those cases the services section, posts and your website do the job better.
Skipping the section is a fine choice. A half-built catalog with three odd entries looks worse than none. Come back to it when you have a clear, repeatable set of offers, or when a seasonal item deserves a spot.
If you do use it, test the link on every item from a phone. Many owners discover that a product link goes to a missing page months after a website change. Include the products tab in the checks you do whenever the site is updated or reorganized.
Common questions
Is the products tab free to use?
Adding products to your own profile does not cost anything, though the options visible to you depend on your business category and may change.
How many products should I add?
Add the items customers ask about most, not everything. A focused list of ten good entries beats a hundred rushed ones.
This guide is general information. Search engines change how they work and their guidelines; check Google's current documentation for your situation. Nobody can guarantee a ranking.