Top 3 Ranking Factors for Google My Business (GMB)

09 Aug Top 3 Ranking Factors for Google My Business (GMB)

Local business listings are a key driver of local SEO via search and maps. Understanding the top 3 ranking factors for Google My Business Listings will go a long way in setting your business up for local success. Creating a profile is easy and will get you one step closer to being there at the right place, at the right time when people are looking for goods or services near them.

“Hey Google / Siri, find my nearest mechanic!“

Nowadays when we need to find a local mechanic, florist, or café it is as easy as asking the question (voice search) or a quick online search using Google. Over 80% of all customers who do a local search on their phones visit that business on the same day. In 2021 “near me” searches jumped by a whopping 900%.

So, what does this mean?

It has never been more important to have an optimised, active, Google My Business listing. In a competitive world knowing how to get your listing to appear above a related business can be tricky. Understanding Local SEO will get you a step above the rest.

Here are our top 3 ranking factors for Google My Business:

1. Relevance

Relevance determines the best match between local businesses and a user’s search. When we want to find a local barber, we don’t want a nail salon popping up. It is important to ensure that a business profile is as accurate as possible. Here are the essentials for setting this up correctly:

• Include target words and phrases in your description.
• Choose the right business category.
• Place a marker on Google Maps.
• Add photos.
• Fill in all information such as opening hours, address, contact details and email for example.

2. Distance

Distance is a local ranking factor that determines how far away the location is from the user. If the person searching does not specify a location, then a range of results will display that are around the user’s location.

Distance is a key ranking factor where Google values four core things:

• Business Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Website URL

How successful you are in ranking for distance will depend on how much, and how consistent your digital footprint is – i.e., keep your information up to date on all platforms, social media, website and of course Google My Business.

3. Prominence

Are you popular? I know this may seem an odd question, but Google measures the prominence of a business based on several factors such as:

• Search Engine ranking
• Link building
• Domain authority
• Testimonials and Google Reviews
• Visibility on social platforms

Google My Busines visibility

With any business, the goal is to be found online. Google My Business is an essential part of this. With over 3.5 billion Google searches carried out daily we think that prioritising your listing is an absolute prerequisite for success. It is as simple as getting the basics right and using this great asset to generate more leads and more customers for your business. 

Feel free to contact us with any questions about how to get found via GMB or discuss the ranking factors for Google My Business. We look forward to hearing from you and discussing how we can help you find more local customers.