Google My Business [Definitive Guide 2025].

​What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a free and essential platform offered by Google that empowers businesses of all sizes to manage how they present themselves on Google and Google Maps. This tool is invaluable for improving local online visibility and attracting local customers, acting as a direct bridge between your business and your target customers.

By setting up a Google My Business profile, your business gains a prominent presence in Google searches and on Google Maps, making it easier for potential customers to discover and connect with you. From showing your exact location on the map to sharing your hours, photos and responding to reviews, Google My Business puts control of your digital image in your hands.

This tool becomes a crucial asset for local businesses. Imagine for a moment that someone searches for "coffee shops near me" on their smartphone. By having an optimised Google My Business profile, your café will not only show up in the search results, but also in the search results. Google MapsThe new website provides potential customers with everything they need to know in order to make their decision.

Integration with Google Maps is particularly beneficial, as it allows users to easily find your business and plan their visit without hassle. In addition, the ability to manage reviews directly through your Google My Business profile gives you a unique opportunity to build and maintain a strong online reputation, encourage feedback and proactively address any concerns.

In short, Google My Business is a comprehensive platform that boosts local SEO and helps businesses connect with their community. If you want your business to stand out and attract more customers in your local area, don't underestimate the power of having a well-managed Google My Business profile. It's your digital shop window to the world, ensuring that when customers search for what you offer, they find you first.

Step Before using Google My Business:

Keyword and competitor research:

A keyword research is fundamental SEO research that identifies terms and phrases that users enter into search engines when searching for information, products or services related to a specific business. This analysis helps to better understand market demand, user intent and competition around these keywords. 

Implementing the right keywords in the content of a website improves its visibility in search results, attracting qualified traffic. This process is essential to optimise a website, align the content with the needs of the target audience and boost the overall SEO strategy.

Competitor analysis

An SEO competitor analysis involves examining the websites of direct competitors to understand how they rank effectively in search engines. This process identifies the key strategies they employ, such as site structure, keyword optimisation, content quality, and inbound link profile. By analysing these elements, companies can discover opportunities and weaknesses in their own SEO strategy. This knowledge allows them to adjust tactics to improve online visibility, outperform competitors in search rankings, and drive more qualified traffic to their own website.

Step 1: Create and optimise your Google My Business page

In order to optimise your Google My Business you must make sure:

• Verify your listing or business in Google My Business
• Provides accurate and up-to-date information
• Include your logo, opening hours, working hours, payment methods you accept, products or services you offer and all the detailed images of your business, products and operations (if you can geolocate them better).
• Respond sincerely to all customer feedback, even negative feedback.
• Create content in your Google My Business account using Google Post (new)
• Get reviews from customers in the geographical area if possible. If the reviews include important keywords it can help Local SEO.

Appearing on Google My Business can increase your chances of ranking in Google Local Pack, Local Finder, Google Maps, and organic results in general. However, the vast majority of clicks are concentrated on the first 3 results that are visible.

Main Google My Business Ranking Factors

1. Google My Business main categories

The Google My Business listing is a fundamental tool for local SEO. When creating a listing, it is important to select the right categories, as this can have a significant impact on the visibility of your business in local searches. It is important to look at how your competitors appear on Google My Business in terms of categories. Typically the 3 competitors that dominate the map listing results for most searches match in terms of the main categories used. You can install the extension GMB Everywhere to audit your immediate competitors.

Categories are one way Google classifies and organises information. By choosing accurate and relevant categories for your business, you will be helping Google understand the nature of your business and show it in relevant search results. In addition, the right categories will also help you stand out from the competition or at least compete on a level playing field.

It is important to choose specific and detailed categories. For example, instead of simply selecting "Restaurant", it is better to choose a more specific category, such as "Sushi restaurant" or "Italian restaurant". This will help Google better understand your business and show it to the right people looking for that type of food.

It is also important to remember that Google My Business allows you to select multiple categories. Therefore, you can choose main categories that best describe your business and then add secondary categories to cover specific services or products you offer. We do not recommend selecting more than 3 categories including the main category so as not to skew the business classification.

Keywords in the title of the map sheet

From an SEO point of view, the title of the business map tab of the Google My Business is one of the most important parts to optimise. The title of the business map sheet should include your company's main keyword and should be as specific as possible. It should be clear and concise, as this will be the first element that users will see in local search results.

It is important to choose the right keywords for the title of the business map tab of the business map. Google My Business. Keywords should be related to your business and its location, as this will help Google better understand what your business offers and where it is located. In addition, the title of the business map listing should be consistent with your business name and the domain name of your website. This last part is important in order to comply with Google's policies and avoid possible profile suspensions.

It is important to bear in mind that the excessive use of keywords can have a negative impact on your search ranking. Therefore, it is advisable to use only one or two keywords in the title of the business map sheet. In addition, you should avoid using generic keywords and catch phrases, as this will not provide useful information to users.

3. Proximity of the location to the point of sale

The proximity of the location of a business point-of-sale has become an increasingly important factor in the Local SEO and in the positioning of the Google map tab. This is largely due to the growing importance placed on user experience, which focuses on relevance and convenience rather than traditional search engine rankings.

The proximity of the business to the user's location is an important factor in determining the relevance of local search results. When users search for services or products online, they are often inclined to choose businesses that are close to their current location. This means that if a business has a location close to the user's location, it is more likely to appear in relevant search results.

Proximity is also important for the positioning of the Google map tab. The Google map listing is a valuable tool for users searching for information about local businesses. A location close to the user increases the likelihood that the business' Google map listing will appear in search results.

However, it is not only proximity that counts. The quality and relevance of the content are also key factors for a Local SEO effective. To ensure that your business appears in relevant local search results, it is important to optimise your website and your Google map listing with accurate and relevant information about your business. Also developing a strategy that clearly links your website to your Google My Business is essential.

4. Physical address in the city of search

The physical address of a company is a key factor in the Local SEO and in the positioning of the Google map listing. This is because Google uses the physical address of a business to determine its location and relevance in a given geographic area.

It is important to ensure that the company's address is accurate and up-to-date on all online platforms, including the company's website, Google My Business and other online directories. If there are inconsistencies in the address, this can confuse search engines and negatively affect the company's ranking in local search results.

In addition, it is important that the business address is located in the same city that the business is trying to target in its local SEO strategy. However it is possible to position a business in cities close to the latitude and longitude of the business.

Therefore, it is important for businesses to ensure that their physical address is up to date and that it is in the same city they are trying to target their local SEO strategy. This will help increase visibility in local search results and improve Google map listing rankings.

5. Adding additional categories to your Google business profile

Adding additional categories to your Google My Business profile can provide you with several benefits in terms of Local SEO and visibility in search results. By adding additional relevant categories, your GMB profile is more likely to appear in search results for terms related to those categories. For example, if an electronics shop adds the category "mobile device repair" in addition to "electronics sales", it is more likely to appear in search results for terms related to mobile device repair.

In addition, adding additional categories can also help your GMB profile attract a wider and more diverse audience, which can increase sales opportunities and conversions. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the additional categories you add are relevant to your business and fit your services or products. It is also important to note that adding too many irrelevant categories can have a negative effect on the ranking of your GMB profile in search results.

6. Quality and authority of backlinks

From an SEO point of view, backlinks are one of the most important factors in search engine rankings. The backlinks are inbound links pointing from other websites to your website or Google My Business profile, and are considered a sign of trust and authority.

Backlinks can significantly improve your visibility in local search results by improving your domain authority and relevance to search engines. The more backlinks you have from high quality websites, the higher your domain authority, which means your website or Google My Business profile is more likely to rank in local search results.

It is important to note that not all links are equal. Backlinks from high quality and relevant websites are more valuable than backlinks from low quality and non-relevant websites. In addition, the context of the link and the anchor text used are also important.

Therefore, it is important for SEO professionals to focus on getting high quality and relevant backlinks directed to both your website and your Google My Business profile and map. This can be achieved by creating high quality content that attracts other websites to link to you, collaborations with other local businesses and by engaging with the online community.

7. Importance of keywords in Google customer reviews

From an SEO point of view, keywords in customer reviews are important to improve ranking in local search results. Reviews with keywords relevant to the business and location help search engines understand the subject matter and location of the business. In addition, keywords in reviews can also influence the decision of potential customers to search for a particular product or service. Reviews that contain keywords that are specific and relevant to the business can attract customers who are looking for exactly that.

It is important to remember that reviews with keywords should be authentic and not forced. Customers should be encouraged to leave honest reviews that include the relevant keywords in a natural way. Attempting to manipulate reviews to include keywords can have negative consequences for a company's online reputation.

According to a study carried out by BrightLocal 2017 Consumer Review Survey:

• 97% of consumers read online reviews of local businesses. 12% search for local businesses every day. The latter percentage has surpassed 20% in recent years to 2019.
• 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
• Positive ratings make 75% of consumers more trusting of a local business.
• 49% of customers need at least an average 4-star rating to select a particular business.
• Responding to user feedback is key to users' value judgement.
• 68% of consumers leave a rating when asked.
• 79% of consumers have read a false rating in the past year.

8. High number of 4 and 5 star reviews

The number and quality of the reviews on the map sheet of the Google My Business is one of the key factors for local positioning in Google searches. In particular, 4 and 5 star reviews have a positive impact on the ranking of the map listing. Customer reviews help Google assess the quality of a business and its relevance to users. The more positive reviews a business has, the higher its reputation and its ability to attract potential customers. In addition, Google's algorithm considers businesses with a high number of reviews to be more trustworthy and relevant to users.

It is therefore critical to the success of a local business that its customers are satisfied and leave positive reviews on its map sheet. Businesses should actively encourage the posting of reviews by their satisfied customers, either by including requests in their follow-up emails or on their website, or even by encouraging customers to leave reviews.

9. Absence of Spam on the map sheet

The presence of Google map listing spam can have a negative impact on the ranking of your business. Map listing spam refers to inaccurate, misleading or false information that is included in the listing with the aim of misleading users and manipulating the search algorithm. Spam may include information such as false addresses, incorrect phone numbers, misleading business names, or misleading information about the products or services being offered. When Google detects spam on a map listing, it is likely to suspend it, which will reduce the visibility of your business in local search results.

It is important to keep the map tab free of spam to ensure that the information provided to users is accurate and reliable. This also helps to improve the reputation of your business and the trust of potential customers. In addition, by maintaining an accurate and spam-free map page, you increase the likelihood of receiving positive reviews, which can further improve your business' ranking in local search results.

10. Complete Google My Business profile information

It is important to mention that, by having a complete profile, the visibility of the company in search results improves significantly. In addition, this increases the possibility of appearing in the Google maps section, which increases the company's exposure to users. In addition, a complete profile allows users to learn more details about the company, such as its opening hours, physical address and telephone number. This improves the user experience and increases trust in the company. Another important benefit is that a complete profile allows the company to post updates, promotions and events, which strengthens user engagement and improves the customer relationship. It also allows the company to respond to customer reviews, which helps to improve online reputation and gain user trust.

In short, completing the listing profile of Google My Business is a key strategy for improving a company's online visibility and reputation, which can lead to an increase in website traffic and ultimately to increased sales and growth for the company.

11. Verified Google My Business listing

Verifying a Google My Business listing is an essential task for any business looking to improve its local online presence. This process consists of confirming that the business is real and located at the given address, giving users greater confidence when searching locally. In addition, Google My Business verification allows businesses to take control of their listing on the Google map, allowing them to update and add important information such as opening hours, photos, reviews and contact details. This in turn can improve the visibility and positioning of the business in local search results and on the map, increasing the likelihood of attracting new customers.

It is important to note that Google My Business verification is a free process, which means that any business can do it. However, it is necessary to follow Google's guidelines and provide accurate and relevant information to ensure that the business listing is useful and complete for users. More than 30% of businesses do not have their listings verified, meaning that entrepreneurs have no control over their local business online. Reviews left by customers will not be responded to. This is especially negative in cases where the reviews are one, two or three stars, which would need to be answered and argued by the business. The abandonment of the map sheet can have dire consequences for a local business.

15. Importance of optimising the content of the landing page of the map sheet for keywords.

The keyword optimisation in the description of the Google My Business landing page is essential to improve the Local SEO of your business. The description is the place where you can include information about the products and services you offer, along with details about your location, opening hours and any other relevant information for customers.

By including relevant and specific keywords in the landing page description, search engines can better understand what your business is about and show it to the right customers. In addition, an optimised description can improve the click-through rate on your Google My Business listing, as customers can get a better idea of what you offer.

It is important to note that the Google My Business landing page description is not the place for meaningless keyword stuffing. It should be readable and provide valuable and relevant information for customers. By including keywords in a natural and relevant way, you will be able to improve local SEO and attract more customers to your business.

Remember that keyword optimisation is only one part of an effective local SEO strategy. It is also important to consider other factors, such as the quality and quantity of reviews, accuracy and consistency of contact information, and presence on local directories and review sites. Together, these factors can significantly improve your business' local SEO and help you reach more customers.

Other important actions to improve your Local SEO through the Map Tab

Publish weekly updates on the map tab of the Google My Business can have numerous advantages for your local business SEO. Firstly, regularly updating your listing shows Google that your business is active and constantly evolving, which can be interpreted as a sign that your business is relevant to users. In addition, every time you post something new on your map listing, you have the opportunity to point from that post with a link to your site or any digital entity you own. These "nofollow" backlinks establish relationships with different urls on your website.

Another important benefit is that news posts can help you stand out from your competition. If you post content that is interesting and relevant to your potential customers, your map listing is more likely to stand out in search results and attract more users to your business. In addition, news posts also allow you to include additional keywords in your map tab, which can improve your business's ranking in local search results. For example, if you post a news post about a new product or service you offer, you can include relevant keywords that help users find your business when they search for those specific terms.