From finding plumbers to the best food joint, Google serves endless local queries throughout the day. And the best tool that makes searches a breeze is Google My Business (GMB).

While most businesses try to enhance their websites and social media pages to be more visible to customers, GMB plays a significant role in local search intent. It creates every business’s first impression to customers, making it more than just a listing platform.

If you’re wondering how GMB continues to be an important element of local SEO success, here’s everything to know!

1. GMB Listings Appear at the Top

When a person searches for a service, GMB listings appear at the top. You will notice a “Local 3-Pack” or “Map Pack,” which is even above the traditional organic search results.

If your website ranks the best in local searches, users are bound to find your GMB profile before anything else. They are more likely to interact with your business through the listing.

This is more likely for fully optimized GMB listings with the correct business name, category, location, directions, opening hours, photos, contact number, and website link.

For those who are in a hurry, the GMB listing serves as a small snippet of your business with all the relevant information to make a decision. Without a well-optimized GMB listing, your site won’t get enough traffic.

2. GMB Prioritizes Local Relevance

While Google’s search algorithm keeps changing frequently, it has steadily prioritized local relevance. GMB profiles offer the algorithm the very details it requires, including location-relevant data, categories, user engagement, and reviews. They help Google rank your business in local results.

Especially when you keep your GMB profile accurate, complete, and updated, it’s more visible in maps and local packs. Google and users trust your business more, attracting more clicks, directions requests, and calls.

If you’re not sure how to optimize or update your profile or just don’t have enough time, seek GMB management services from a reliable partner. Their team of professionals will take care of everything so you can focus on serving customers the best.

3. Voice Search is Connected to GMB Data

When voice assistants (Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri) are used for local searches, they also check GMB profile results. They only favor businesses that have complete and accurate information, are located close to the searchers, have strong reviews, and have clear categories and descriptions.

With a proper GMB listing, your business is more likely to enter voice search results.

4. It Offers Actionable Data

GMB isn’t just a passive directory with all the information. It also has an interactive element that lets customers engage through a single tap.

For instance, people can directly call your business, visit the website, get directions to your storefront, ask questions, book appointments, check services, and read reviews.

On the other hand, if they checked your website, they’d have to look for separate pages for each information. If they want to call you or find you on the map, they’d have to manually copy your contact details to do so. The interactive factor of GMB makes it far more preferable.

5. Ratings and Reviews Build Trust Instantly

Before selecting or visiting any local business, most consumers check online reviews, with 63.6% of them checking Google reviews.

Since Google reviews are directly connected to GMB listings, they have a key role in your local SEO ranking.

For instance, while searching, customers can see the number of reviews and star ratings as part of the most recent reviews.

If you’re especially proactive about asking for reviews from customers and responding to them all, this also enhances your local search rank and builds credibility among potential customers.

6. GMB Offers Value for Free

The greatest reason GMB will always stand as a cornerstone of local SEO success is that it’s completely free.

No need to invest in paid ads or enterprise tools. From setting up to maintenance, it’s completely free, but you get a host of benefits. These include improved local visibility, enhanced website traffic, more foot traffic, higher conversion rates,

7. Insights help Optimize Strategy

The Insights feature of the GMB dashboard provides relevant analytics. It shows how customers found out about your business and reached the GMB profile, the actions (click, call, direction request) they took, which locality most searchers belong to, and when searchers mostly interact.

This data lets you refine your keyword strategy, tailor business hours, and even understand customer behavior. Again, a strategy optimization fortifies your current SEO game.

Final Words

GMB serves as your first digital storefront. With proper management, it is the most powerful marketing tool you can leverage. So, if you haven’t already, embrace the magic of GMB and set your business up for success!