Why Ranking Google My Business (Now Business Profile) Matters
Google My Business is a free tool offered by Google that allows businesses to manage their local online presence and increase their visibility in search results.
As a business owner, you can create a profile for your company, add important information such as contact details, operating hours, photos of your products or services, and even respond to reviews left by customers who have visited your store or used your services.
In 2025 with the rise of A.I. and it’s integration into the way people search, it’s more important than ever for local businesses to have a Google business profile in order to be found on Google at all.
With so many people using search engines like Google to find local businesses and services, having a well-optimized Business listing can mean the difference between being found by new customers and being invisible online.
Simply put, ranking well with your Google Business Profile means more exposure and increased traffic for your business.
And the best part?
Optimizing your profile doesn’t require any technical expertise or an expensive marketing budget – it’s something anyone can do with a little effort and know-how.
So let’s take a look at the basics of what goes into ranking well on Google for a local business.
To start, ensure that all your business information is accurate and complete, including your address, phone number, and hours of operation, as this helps improve your visibility.
Additionally, be prepared to engage with customer reviews can enhance your credibility and attract more potential customers.
By optimizing your profile, you can not only improve your search ranking but also gain valuable insights to help you calculate advertising costs effectively, allowing you to allocate your resources more efficiently.
The Key Components To A Successful GMB Listing
Proximity: How Location Can Make or Break Your Google My Business Ranking
Location is key to any brick-and-mortar business, and it’s no different when it comes to ranking with a Google Business Profile. Being close to the user’s location can significantly improve your ranking, as Google aims to provide users with relevant, nearby results. But what if your business is located further away from the user?
Don’t fret – there are ways to improve your proximity score. One tactic is adding multiple locations.
If you have several branches or franchises, ensure each has its own listing with accurate location data. This allows users in different areas to find you more quickly and keeps your business in their minds no matter where they are.
Another option is targeting specific areas through advertising or using local keywords in your listing description and posts.
By showing Google that you serve a particular area well, you can increase your chances of appearing higher in search results.
Relevance: How Using the Right Keywords Can Boost Your GMB Ranking
When it comes to relevance on Google Business Profiles, keywords are king. Ensuring your business description and posts contain relevant keywords can significantly improve its visibility for users searching for specific products or services.
But be careful not to stuff keywords into your listing – this can actually harm your ranking by appearing spammy or irrelevant.
Instead, focus on using long-tail keywords that better describe what you offer and match the user’s intent more closely.
You can also use keyword research tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to find highly relevant and less competitive phrases that will help boost your visibility even further.
Prominence: The Power of Social Proof for Boosting Your GMB Ranking
Prominence on Google My Business refers to how popular and well-known your business is online – essentially, how much social proof you have. The more reviews, backlinks, and social media engagements you have, the higher your prominence score will be.
This is because Google wants to serve its users with results that are well-vetted by others and widely recognized. To improve your prominence score, encourage customers to leave reviews on your Google Business profile and respond to all reviews promptly and professionally.
You can also build backlinks by guest posting on relevant websites or contacting influencers in your industry. And don’t forget about social media – regularly engaging with your followers can help boost visibility across all platforms and improve your Google My Business ranking.
Adding Photos & Videos
If you’re not using photos and videos on your Google My Business listing, then you’re doing it wrong.
Yes, it’s true that adding photos and videos can improve engagement with potential customers and increase visibility in search results. But that’s not the only reason why you should use them.
Incorporating high-quality images of your products or services gives people an idea about what they can expect when they visit your business. And we all know how much we love visuals!
It could be a great way to promote your brand while showcasing everything that makes your business unique. Don’t forget to add captions for each image, telling customers exactly what they’re looking at.
This is a great way to provide even more context for those who may be unfamiliar with what your business offers. So stop being a boring business owner and start using photos and videos on Google My Business!
Google My Business Citations
Local SEO citations are online references to your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites, directories, and social media platforms.
These citations help search engines like Google and Bing verify your business’s existence and location, making it easier for them to display your business in local search results.
Citations are important for local SEO because they act as a signal to search engines that your business is legitimate and relevant to a specific location. The more citations your business has, the more likely it is to rank higher in local search results.
To get local SEO citations, you can start by creating a profile on major business directories like Google (obviously), Yelp, and Bing Places.
You should also submit your business to local directories in your area, such as Chamber of Commerce websites or industry-specific directories.
Additionally, you can reach out to local bloggers and journalists to see if they would be interested in writing about your business and include a link to your website.
When building citations, it’s important to ensure that your NAP information is consistent across all directories and platforms. Any discrepancies in your business’s name, address, or phone number can negatively impact your local SEO efforts.
Finally, regularly monitoring and updating your citations can help maintain their accuracy and ensure that your business continues to rank well in local search results.
Responding to Reviews
Customer reviews are essential for building trust between potential clients and businesses. Positive reviews can be one of the most significant deciding factors for someone choosing to visit or purchase from you.
For this reason, it’s essential to frequently monitor reviews on Google Business Profile (GBP) and respond appropriately. Not only does responding show that you care about your customers’ experiences, but it also helps improve the visibility of your listing by increasing engagement with consumers on GBP, (Or GMB if you’re old school).
Take time to respond thoughtfully to each positive and negative review, addressing concerns or thanking them for sharing their experiences. As a bonus – frequent interaction with reviews also helps establish trust within the online community!
Tips for Optimizing Your Google My Business Listing
Now that you understand the basics of ranking on Google My Business, it’s time to optimize your listing for better results!
First, ensure all of your business information is accurate and up-to-date. You should include your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and working hours.
Next, add high-quality photos and videos to showcase what your business offers – this can significantly increase engagement with potential customers.
Don’t forget to respond promptly and politely to reviews left on your listing – this shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to delivering the best possible experience!
Use an automated system to gather google reviews, and preferably respond to them as well.
If you’re wondering how fast you can get Google reviews, or what kind of difference it can actually make, checkout our Google Rating Calculator to see what will happen when you get more reviews.
Get Help For Your Google My Business Listing.
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Conclusion
Ranking well on Google My Business is crucial in today’s digital age, where most consumers first turn to online research before making purchasing decisions.
The basics of proximity, relevance, and prominence cannot be ignored, but there are also some lesser-known tricks for improving ranking. Adding photos and videos to your listing can boost visibility and provide more context for your products or services.
And don’t forget the importance of responding to reviews to build trust between businesses and consumers. So take control of your online presence by implementing these strategies today because there’s no such thing as too much exposure when building a successful business!
