In 2025, ranking high in local search is no longer optional—it’s essential. Whether you’re a small café, a law firm, or a retail chain, Google Business Profile (GBP) is your primary digital storefront. It helps people find your business on Google Search and Google Maps, and plays a critical role in local SEO success.
- 1. Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile
- 2. Complete Every Section of Your Profile
- 3. Keep Business Information Updated
- 4. Upload High-Quality Photos and Product Listings
- 5. Encourage and Manage Reviews
- 6. Use Google Posts to Stay Active
- 7. Answer Customer Questions Using the Q&A Feature
- 8. Analyze GBP Insights for Local Performance
- 9. Focus on Mobile and “Near Me” Searches
- 10. Combine GBP With Other Local SEO Strategies
- References
According to recent data, 46% of all Google searches have local intent, and 76% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a business within 24 hours (Backlinko Team, 2025a). Yet, many businesses still overlook or underutilize their GBP listings.
This article will walk you through how to optimize your GBP effectively, why each step matters, and how it helps your business stand out in 2025’s competitive digital environment.
1. Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile
Claiming your GBP is the first and most important step. A claimed and verified listing tells Google and potential customers that you are the rightful owner of the business. It also ensures that your business appears in local search results and on Google Maps.
Steps to claim and verify:
- Visit Google Business Profile.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Search for your business or create a new listing.
- Verify your ownership via postcard, phone, or email.
Despite its importance, 56% of businesses haven’t claimed their GBP listing (BrightLocal, 2025a). This means those who do can get a strong advantage in local rankings.
2. Complete Every Section of Your Profile
Google prioritizes businesses with complete and accurate information. In fact, businesses with a complete GBP listing are 2.7 times more likely to be considered reputable by consumers and receive 70% more location visits (Backlinko Team, 2025a).
Key areas to fill out:
- Business name (exactly as it appears in real life)
- Physical address and phone number
- Website URL
- Business hours (including holidays)
- Primary and secondary categories
- Business description
- Attributes like “women-led,” “free Wi-Fi,” etc.
Tip: Make your description clear and keyword-friendly without keyword stuffing.
3. Keep Business Information Updated
Accuracy builds trust. 62% of consumers will stop considering a business if they find incorrect information online (BrightLocal, 2025). If your business hours, phone number, or address are outdated, you could lose customers and ranking.
Set a monthly reminder to:
- Update seasonal or holiday hours
- Review contact information
- Ensure your website and menu links are active
Consistency across platforms also boosts your local SEO. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are the same on your website, GBP, and other directories.
4. Upload High-Quality Photos and Product Listings
Photos influence customer behavior. GBP listings with images receive:
- 35% more click-throughs to websites, and
- 42% more requests for directions (Backlinko Team, 2025a).
Include:
- A profile photo
- Your logo
- Interior and exterior photos of your business
- Photos of your team and services/products
If you sell products, use the “Products” section to list them with names, prices, and descriptions. You can also use Google Merchant Center to sync inventory for multi-location businesses.
5. Encourage and Manage Reviews
Online reviews are powerful trust signals. In 2025, 88% of consumers trust Google reviews as much as personal recommendations, and 94% say a company’s response to a review influences whether they’ll choose the business (BrightLocal, 2025).
How to manage reviews:
- Ask happy customers to leave a review using your GBP review link.
- Respond professionally to every review, positive or negative.
- Avoid fake or incentivized reviews—Google may penalize your listing.
Tip: Include keywords in your responses naturally to help with SEO.
6. Use Google Posts to Stay Active
Google Posts are mini-updates you can share on your GBP to engage with customers. These show up directly in your business listing in search results.
Types of posts:
- Announcements or promotions
- Events or webinars
- New product or service launches
- Special offers or sales
Posting weekly helps you stay active in Google’s eyes, which can support your local visibility (Backlinko Team, 2025b). Use attention-grabbing images and a clear call-to-action (CTA) like “Learn more” or “Call now.”
7. Answer Customer Questions Using the Q&A Feature
GBP’s Q&A section allows customers to ask and receive answers about your business.
Best practices:
- Pre-load common questions (e.g., “Do you offer free parking?”) with your answers.
- Monitor this section to avoid misinformation from third-party users.
- Provide prompt, helpful, and branded responses.
When you control this section, you improve user experience and reduce confusion—another ranking signal for Google.
8. Analyze GBP Insights for Local Performance
Google provides in-depth analytics through the “Insights” tab in your dashboard. Reviewing this data helps you refine your SEO and marketing efforts.
Key metrics to watch:
- How customers found you (Search vs Maps)
- What actions they took (calls, direction requests, website visits)
- When they visited
- Photo and post views
Use this data to identify trends and improve performance. For example, if you see fewer calls on weekends, consider adding weekend-only promotions or updated posts.
9. Focus on Mobile and “Near Me” Searches
In 2025, most local searches happen on mobile. People use phrases like “best dentist near me” or “hardware store open now.” If your GBP isn’t optimized for mobile and voice, you’ll miss out.
Tips for mobile optimization:
- Ensure your website is mobile-friendly.
- Use call-to-action buttons like “Call Now” and “Get Directions”.
- Use local keywords in your description and services (e.g., “Khmer restaurant in Phnom Penh”).
76% of local mobile searches lead to a visit within 24 hours, and 28% result in a purchase (Backlinko Team, 2025a).
10. Combine GBP With Other Local SEO Strategies
GBP works best as part of a larger local SEO strategy.
Other local SEO practices include:
- Building local citations (e.g., Yelp, Yellow Pages)
- Earning local backlinks from news, blogs, and business groups
- Creating location-specific pages on your website
- Adding LocalBusiness schema markup for structured data
- Embedding a Google Map on your contact page
Using all these tactics creates more signals that your business is legit, trusted, and relevant in your location.
Note
An optimized Google Business Profile is not just a directory listing—it’s your business’s digital storefront in Google Search and Maps. When done right, GBP becomes your most powerful tool for attracting nearby customers, improving your local rankings, and increasing real-world visits.
Summary Table: Key GBP Benefits
| Feature | Local SEO Benefit |
| Verified listing | Shows up in Maps and local pack |
| Complete profile | Boosts ranking and consumer trust |
| Accurate NAP | Avoids confusion and improves consistency |
| Customer reviews | Builds trust and affects purchase decisions |
| Photos and posts | Increases engagement and click-throughs |
| Insights & analytics | Informs strategy and optimization |
With nearly half of all searches having local intent, your business cannot afford to ignore GBP. Start today, stay active, and continuously update your listing. That’s how you lay the foundation for long-term local SEO success in 2025 and beyond.
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References
Backlinko Team. (2025a, May 6). 24 must-know local SEO statistics for 2025. Backlinko. https://backlinko.com/local-seo-stats
Backlinko Team. (2025b, April 23). Local SEO: The Definitive Guide (2025). Backlinko. https://backlinko.com/local-seo
BrightLocal. (2025). Local Consumer Review Survey 2025. https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/
BrightLocal. (2025a, January 29). 31 Local SEO Statistics You Need for 2025. https://www.brightlocal.com/learn/local-seo/statistics/
