Optimizing Your Google My Business Listing To Rank Higher On Search Results

Welcome to day one in our Marketing Bootcamp where over the next few days, you will uncover all the secrets and hidden tactics elite marketers are using in 2025 to grow their businesses. If you are not part of the Bootcamp, and you would like to be, sign up here! 

Who Is This Bootcamp Series For?

Whether you’re a seasoned marketing expert polishing the basics or just starting out, this series is designed to provide valuable insights for everyone. 

Our goal is to equip you with practical tips and expert strategies that will help you 10X your business. So on behalf of the entire MRKT360 team, we’re thrilled to have you on this journey with us. 

Let’s dive in!

How To Get Your Business On The Map (Literally!)

Nearly 50% of all mobile searches on Google have local intent, meaning millions of potential customers are actively looking for businesses like yours right now.

☕“Coffee near me.” 

🍕“Pizza to go.” 

🍴“Best diners in Toronto.”

Google has 8.5 billion of these searches every day. With half of them looking for things close by, that means half of the world’s population is ready to buy.

Your business needs to appear on their map, literally. If not, you might as well not exist.

So how do you make sure they find YOU instead of your competitors?

Start by these 5 steps

Step 0: Claim Your Listing… Or Stay Invisible

Before we even begin, do you even have a Google My Business (GMB) listing? Most of our clients assume they are already on the map, yet after we give them a quick search… Crickets.

No listing. No visibility. You become a ghost to your customers while your competition takes them all.

Before we move on, you need to get your business in front of your customers’ eyes. Your Google My Business (GMB) profile is the foundation of your online presence. When optimized correctly, it puts your business in front of ready-to-buy customers searching for services like yours.

So, how do you claim your listing?

• Check your name in Google and see if you pop up.

• Go to this site and type in your business name.

• Fill out the form. Make sure every detail is correct.
  
• Verify your business, and you’re ready to go.

Remember: Customers can’t buy from you if they can’t find you.

Step 1: Optimize Your Google My Business Listing & Win Back Customers

Now that your business is on the map, it’s time to make sure you stand out. Having a Google My Business (GMB) profile isn’t enough, you need to optimize it so your business appears at the top of local search results.

Why? Because when potential customers search for a business like yours, Google prioritizes the most relevant, visible, and trusted options. If your profile isn’t optimized, you’re handing business over to your competitors for free.

How to Rank Higher in Local Searches

Google ranks local businesses based on three factors:

• Relevance: The more detailed and accurate your business information is, the better Google can match you with the right searches. List your services, products, and business category clearly.
• Distance: Google considers how close your business is to the person searching. While you can’t change your location, you can optimize your service areas to increase visibility in nearby regions.
• Prominence: How well-known and trusted is your business? Reviews, backlinks, social media mentions, and consistent online activity all help build your credibility in Google’s eyes.

With only a few top-ranking spots available, competition is fierce. The good news? Optimizing your GMB profile gives you a serious edge.

If you’re craving pizza, you pull out your phone and type “best pizza near me.” Within seconds, Google shows you a list of top-rated spots nearby. Do you scroll endlessly, or do you pick from the top three?

Your customers do the same.

If your business isn’t showing up in those prime spots, you’re losing customers to competitors. But with an optimized Google My Business (GMB) listing, you stay at the top and get chosen first: 

• Customers can call you instantly
• Visit your website in one tap
• Get directions straight to your door

Visibility = Sales.

Step 2: Use Reviews To Build a Reputation That Drives Sales 

Ever checked reviews before trying a new restaurant? So do your customers. 92% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

If your business has more positive reviews, you rank higher and attract more customers. It’s that simple.

How to Get More Reviews:

• Ask satisfied customers for feedback.
• Share reviews on social media.
• Respond to every review, no matter if it’s good or bad.

Your reputation isn’t what you say about your business. It’s what others say about it. Build trust, boost rankings, and turn browsers into buyers.

Step 3: Create Local Content That Ranks You Higher

If you want to dominate local searches, your website needs to speak Google’s language.

Think about it. When people search for a business, they’re often looking for something nearby:

• “Best Italian restaurant in Miami”

• “Top-rated hair salon in Chicago”

• “Emergency plumber near me”

Google prioritizes websites that include specific locations and services. That means your content should highlight where you are and what you offer.

• Use location-based keywords in your website’s pages, meta descriptions, and blog posts.
• Write about local events, community news, and industry trends to show relevance.
• If you serve multiple areas, create dedicated service pages to rank for each location.

When Google sees you as a local authority, you climb higher in search results, and get more customers.

Step 4: Strengthen Your Business with Local Partnerships & Backlinks

Want to skyrocket your rankings? Get other trusted websites to vouch for you.

Google sees local backlinks (links from other reputable sites in your area) as a vote of confidence. The more quality sites linking to you, the more trustworthy you appear, which pushes you higher in search results.

Here’s how to build local authority:

• Partner with local businesses for cross-promotions and mutual backlinks.
• Get featured in local newspapers, blogs, and media outlets.
• Join local directories, business associations, and chambers of commerce.
• Sponsor community events or charities to boost exposure and earn valuable backlinks.

The more Google sees your business connected to trusted sources, the more favorably it ranks you. That means more visibility, more clicks, and more customers.

Step 5: Use Schema Markup to Improve Search Visibility

This is a mode advanced tactic only elite marketers know about. Schema markup is behind-the-scenes Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that helps Google better understand your business. It enhances your search results with rich snippets, such as business hours, reviews, and events.

In the case of Google My Business, adding Local Business Schema ensures Google displays essential details about your business in search results, making it more attractive to potential customers. If you host events, Event Schema makes. your listings stand out, drawing in more attendees and engagement.

You can get a step-by-step list in our follow-up blog.

Get Found. Get Customers. Get Results.

An optimized Google My Business listing, strong local SEO, and a smart content strategy will put you ahead of the competition. If your business isn’t ranking at the top, your competitors are. 

Your customers are searching for businesses like yours right now. But if your Google My Business listing isn’t optimized, they’re choosing your competitors ten times out of ten.

Here at MRKT360, with over 10 years of experience, We help businesses like yours rank higher, get more clients, and drive real sales. No more guesswork. No more lost customers. Just results.

Ready to appear on the map and own the top spot on Google? Contact us today to make it happen.