Introduction

Google My Business has evolved significantly since its 2014 launch, and in 2018, it’s become the cornerstone of local search success. If you’re not actively managing your GMB listing, you’re invisible when potential customers search for businesses like yours.

Recent Google updates have made GMB even more powerful. The introduction of Google Posts, messaging features, and enhanced insights means your GMB listing is no longer just a static directory entry—it’s a dynamic marketing channel that can drive real business results.

Whether you run a café in Parramatta, a plumbing business across Western Sydney, or a retail shop in Castle Hill, mastering Google My Business in 2018 is essential for attracting local customers.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover:

Why GMB is more critical than ever in 2018
How to optimize every element of your listing
New features you should be using (Posts, Messaging, Q&A)
Advanced strategies to outrank competitors
Real results from Western Sydney businesses

Let’s transform your GMB listing from basic to brilliant.

What’s New with Google My Business in 2018

Google has rolled out significant GMB updates over the past year. Here’s what’s changed:

Recent Updates You Need to Know

Google Posts (Expanded 2017): Create mini-social media updates directly in your GMB listing. Posts appear in search results and expire after 7 days.

Messaging (2017-2018 rollout): Customers can message you directly from your GMB listing. Response time is publicly displayed.

Q&A Section (2017): Anyone can ask questions on your listing. You can (and should) proactively answer common questions.

Services Section (2018): List specific services with descriptions and pricing. Critical for service businesses.

Booking Button Integration (rolling out): Connect appointment scheduling tools directly to your GMB listing.

Improved Insights: More detailed analytics showing how customers find and interact with your listing.

These features have transformed GMB from a simple listing into a powerful customer engagement platform.

Why GMB Dominates Local Search in 2018

The numbers tell the story:

“Near me” searches have increased 900% since 2015. Mobile local search is exploding.
76% of people who search on smartphones for something nearby visit a business within 24 hours.
28% of local searches result in a purchase the same day.
Google’s local 3-pack (map results) appears in 93% of searches with local intent, pushing traditional organic results below the fold.

Your GMB listing determines whether you’re in that local 3-pack or invisible on page 2.

Foundation: Setting Up Your GMB Listing Properly

If you haven’t claimed your listing or it’s incomplete, start here.

Step 1: Claim and Verify Your Listing

Visit google.com/business and search for your business:

If your business exists:

Click “Own this business?” or “Claim this business”
Follow the verification process

If creating a new listing:

Enter your business name (exact legal/DBA name - no keyword stuffing)
Choose your primary category carefully (more on this below)
Add your address or service area
Provide phone number and website

Verification Methods (varies by business type):

Postcard (most common): 5-7 business days
Phone (some businesses): Instant verification
Email (rare): For pre-verified businesses
Bulk verification: For businesses with 10+ locations

Don’t skip verification—unverified listings don’t appear in search results.

Step 2: Complete Every Section

Google rewards complete profiles. Businesses with complete information are 2.7x more likely to be considered reputable.

Critical Sections:

Business Name: Your actual business name only. Don’t include keywords, locations, or taglines.

✅ “Castle Hill Plumbing”
❌ “Castle Hill Plumbing | 24/7 Emergency Plumber Western Sydney”

Categories:

Primary Category: Single most important ranking factor. Choose the most specific option.
Additional Categories: Add up to 9 more (new limit as of 2017)

Address/Service Area:

Physical location: Include full address
Service-area business: Hide address, set specific service areas (list suburbs, not “Western Sydney”)

Phone Number: Use a local Sydney number as primary. Track call metrics separately.

Website: Link to your actual website. If you don’t have one, use GMB’s free website builder (though a proper site is better for credibility).

Hours: Keep current. Update for public holidays.

Business Description (750 characters, introduced 2017):

First 250 characters are most important (appear in search)
Include what you do, who you serve, and differentiators
Natural keyword inclusion, not stuffing
Example: “Family-owned plumbing business serving Western Sydney for 20+ years. We specialize in emergency repairs, bathroom renovations, and hot water system installations. Licensed, insured, and available 24/7 for emergencies in Parramatta, Castle Hill, and surrounding suburbs.”

Attributes (new in 2017-2018):

Wheelchair accessible
Free Wi-Fi
Outdoor seating
Women-led business
LGBTQ+ friendly
And 100+ more

Select all that apply—these appear in search results and filters.

Optimization Strategies That Drive Results

Setup is table stakes. Here’s how to optimize for maximum visibility and conversions.

1. Category Selection Mastery

Your primary category is the #1 ranking factor. Get this wrong and you’re invisible.

Best Practices:

Be specific: “Thai Restaurant” beats “Restaurant”
Match search intent: “Electrician” beats “Electrical Contractor”
Research competitors: See what top-ranking competitors use
Test and monitor: You can change categories and track ranking impact

Additional Categories: Add related categories for secondary services:

Plumber might add: “Emergency Plumbing Service”, “Water Heater Installation Service”, “Bathroom Remodeler”
Restaurant might add: “Takeout Restaurant”, “Delivery Service”, “Breakfast Restaurant”

2018 Update: Google added hundreds of new categories last year. Search thoroughly before settling on generic options.

2. Photos: Your Visual Storefront

GMB listings with photos get 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks.

Photo Strategy for 2018:

Required Photos:

Logo (720x720px minimum): Square, clear, professional
Cover Photo (1024x576px minimum): Showcase your business/best work
Profile Photo: Often your logo, appears in map pins

Recommended Photos:

Exterior: Help customers find and recognize your location
Interior: 5-10 images of your space, team at work
Products/Services: Show what you actually do
Team: Put faces to your business
Before/After: Powerful for trades, landscapers, renovators
At Work: Show your team providing service

Photo Upload Strategy:

Initial upload: 15-20 quality photos
Ongoing: Add 3-5 new photos monthly
Best days: Upload Monday-Wednesday (when search activity is highest)
Optimization: Name files descriptively before upload (e.g., “parramatta-plumbing-bathroom-renovation.jpg”)

2018 Insight: Google now uses image recognition. Quality, relevant photos improve your rankings.

3. Reviews: The Trust and Ranking Currency

Reviews impact both rankings and conversion rates. 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

How Reviews Affect Rankings:

Quantity: More reviews = higher rankings
Velocity: Recent review activity matters
Quality: Higher star ratings help
Keywords: Reviews containing relevant keywords boost rankings
Response rate: Responding to reviews signals active management

How to Get More Reviews in 2018:

1. Ask at the Right Time:

In-person after successful service delivery
Via email/SMS 2-3 days post-purchase
When customers compliment your service

2. Make it Easy:

Create a short review link (google.com/search?q=[your-business-name]&action=review)
Use URL shortener (bit.ly) for easy sharing
Print QR codes on receipts/invoices
Add review button to email signatures

3. Don’t Violate Google’s Policies:

❌ Don’t offer incentives (discounts, freebies) for reviews
❌ Don’t use review stations at your business
❌ Don’t create fake reviews
❌ Don’t selectively ask only happy customers
✅ Do ask all customers naturally
✅ Do make it convenient
✅ Do respond to all reviews

Responding to Reviews:

Positive Reviews:

“Thanks for the great review, Sarah! We’re so glad we could fix your hot water emergency quickly. We’re available 24/7 if you need us again. - Mike, Owner”

Negative Reviews (respond within 24 hours):

“Hi John, thank you for bringing this to our attention. This doesn’t reflect our usual standard, and I’d like to make it right. Please call me directly at [number] so we can resolve this. - Mike, Owner”

Benefits of Responding:

Shows you value customer feedback
Provides context for future readers
Opportunity to include keywords naturally
Can turn negatives into positives

2018 Reality Check: You will get negative reviews. How you handle them matters more than avoiding them entirely.

4. Google Posts: Your Free Weekly Advertisement

Google Posts appear directly in your GMB listing and Knowledge Panel. They expire after 7 days, so consistency is key.

Types of Posts:

What’s New (updates):

“We’re now open Sundays!”
“New menu items available”
“Recently won Best of Parramatta award”

Event:

“Free home maintenance workshop - Saturday March 24”
“Grand opening celebration”
Requires date/time, creates calendar entry

Offer:

“20% off bathroom renovations booked in March”
“Free coffee with breakfast weekdays”
Can include coupon code and expiration

Product (new in 2018):

Showcase specific services/products
Include photo, price, description
Link to product page

Posting Strategy:

Frequency: Weekly minimum (businesses posting weekly see 2-3x more engagement)
Best days: Tuesday-Thursday (highest engagement)
Length: 150-300 words
Images: Always include (400x300px minimum)
CTA: Every post needs a clear call-to-action button

Example Post: Title: “Emergency Plumbing Special” Body: “Burst pipe? Hot water emergency? Call us now for same-day service across Western Sydney. Licensed, insured, and available 24/7. This week only: $50 off emergency callouts booked through GMB.” CTA Button: “Call Now”

Pro Tip: Google Posts with offers see 2.5x higher click-through rates than standard posts.

5. Messaging: Meet Customers Where They Are

If messaging isn’t enabled on your GMB listing, you’re losing customers. 67% of mobile users are more likely to contact a business that offers messaging.

How to Enable Messaging:

Open Google My Business app on your phone
Go to “Customers” → “Messages”
Turn on messaging
Set up auto-response

Messaging Best Practices:

Response Time: Google publicly displays your average response time

Under 1 hour = “Typically responds in minutes”
Under 24 hours = “Typically responds within a day”
Over 24 hours = No badge (looks unresponsive)

Auto-Response Template:

“Hi! Thanks for contacting Castle Hill Plumbing. We’ll respond to your message as soon as possible. For emergencies, call us at (02) XXXX XXXX. - Team”

When to Use Messaging vs. Calling:

Messaging: Great for scheduling, quotes, general questions, after-hours inquiries
Calling: Better for emergencies, complex issues, urgent matters

Message Management:

Check messages multiple times daily
Use templates for common questions
Transition to phone when appropriate
Track message sources in CRM

6. Q&A: Control the Narrative

Anyone can ask questions on your GMB listing. If you don’t proactively manage this section, competitors or trolls might.

Proactive Q&A Strategy:

Ask and answer your own questions (yes, this is allowed):
- Create a second Google account
- Ask common questions from customer perspective
- Answer thoroughly from your business account

Questions to Pre-Answer:

“Do you service [specific suburb]?”
“What are your emergency callout fees?”
“Do you offer free quotes?”
“Are you licensed and insured?”
“Do you have parking available?”
“What payment methods do you accept?”

Example Q&A:

Q: “Do you offer emergency plumbing in Castle Hill?” A: “Yes! We provide 24/7 emergency plumbing services throughout Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, and surrounding Western Sydney suburbs. Average response time is under 60 minutes for emergencies. Call (02) XXXX XXXX anytime.”

Benefits:

Answers common objections before customers call
Includes relevant keywords naturally
Controls information on your listing
Reduces repetitive customer service questions

Monitor and Respond:

Check Q&A weekly for new questions
Respond within 24-48 hours
Mark helpful answers (yours or others) as “recommended”
Flag inappropriate questions

Common Mistakes Destroying Your Rankings

Even businesses with GMB listings make critical errors. Avoid these.

Mistake 1: Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone)

Your business information must match EXACTLY across all online mentions:

Must Match:

Google My Business
Website footer and contact page
Facebook Business Page
Online directories (True Local, Yellow Pages, Yelp, etc.)
Industry-specific directories
Every citation

Example of Bad Inconsistency:

GMB: “Joe’s Plumbing, 123 Windsor Rd, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153, (02) 9876 5432”
Website: “Joe’s Plumbing Services, 123 Windsor Road, Baulkham Hills 2153, 02-9876-5432”
Facebook: “Joes Plumbing, 123 Windsor Rd, Baulkham Hills”

Google sees three different businesses. Fix this immediately.

How to Audit NAP Consistency:

Google your business name + phone number
Check every result for inconsistencies
Update or request updates to match your GMB exactly
Use a tool like Moz Local or BrightLocal to find citations

Mistake 2: Choosing Wrong Primary Category

Your primary category is the #1 ranking factor. Wrong category = invisible in relevant searches.

Common Category Mistakes:

Too broad: “Contractor” instead of “Plumber”
Wrong industry: “Home Improvement” instead of specific trade
Not matching search intent: “Emergency Service” instead of “Emergency Plumbing Service”

How to Find the Right Category:

Start typing in category field - Google suggests categories
Research top 3 competitors in your area
Check what categories they use (visible in their GMB listing)
Test and monitor rankings after category changes

Mistake 3: Neglecting GMB After Initial Setup

Your competitors post weekly, respond to reviews, and add fresh photos. If you set up your listing in 2016 and haven’t touched it, you’ve fallen behind.

Monthly GMB Maintenance Checklist:

Respond to all new reviews (100% response rate goal)
Check and answer Q&A questions
Upload 3-5 new photos
Create 2-4 Google Posts
Verify hours are current (especially for holidays)
Check for unauthorized edits
Review insights and track performance
Update services/products if offerings changed

Mistake 4: Ignoring Negative Reviews

84% of people trust businesses with negative reviews MORE than businesses with only 5-star reviews (looks fake).

How you handle negative reviews matters:

What NOT to Do:

❌ Ignore them
❌ Get defensive or argue
❌ Make excuses
❌ Ask to have removed (unless fake/violates policy)

What TO Do:

✅ Respond within 24 hours
✅ Apologize sincerely
✅ Offer to make it right
✅ Take conversation offline
✅ Actually fix the issue
✅ Follow up after resolution

Template:

“Hi [Name], thank you for the feedback. We’re sorry we didn’t meet your expectations. This isn’t the standard we hold ourselves to. I’d like to understand what happened and make it right. Please call me directly at [number]. - [Owner Name], Owner”

Mistake 5: Duplicate or Spam Listings

Creating multiple listings for one location to rank in more suburbs is against Google’s policies and will get ALL your listings suspended.

What’s Allowed:

✅ One listing per physical location
✅ Service area businesses can list service areas
✅ Multiple departments at same address (if distinct entrances/phone numbers)

What’s Forbidden:

❌ Multiple listings at same address for same business
❌ Fake addresses in suburbs you want to rank for
❌ Virtual offices or UPS mailbox addresses (service area businesses exempt)

How to Find and Fix Duplicates:

Search your business name in Google Maps
Look for multiple pins at your address
Mark duplicates as “This place is permanently closed” if you can access them
Request removal through GMB support if you can’t access

Advanced GMB Strategies for Competitive Markets

Once you’ve mastered the basics, these advanced tactics help you dominate even competitive niches.

1. Build Location-Specific Landing Pages

If you serve multiple suburbs, create dedicated landing pages for each:

URL Structure:

yoursite.com.au/plumber-parramatta
yoursite.com.au/plumber-castle-hill
yoursite.com.au/plumber-blacktown

Page Content:

Suburb-specific content (mention local landmarks, neighborhoods)
Embedded Google Map showing your business to that area
Local testimonials if possible
Schema markup with local address
Your NAP in footer

Link to these pages from your GMB posts and description (where appropriate).

2. Implement Advanced Schema Markup

Help Google understand your business better with structured data on your website:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "http://schema.org",
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "name": "Castle Hill Plumbing",
  "image": "https://yoursite.com.au/logo.jpg",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Windsor Road",
    "addressLocality": "Baulkham Hills",
    "addressRegion": "NSW",
    "postalCode": "2153",
    "addressCountry": "AU"
  },
  "geo": {
    "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
    "latitude": "-33.7616",
    "longitude": "150.9970"
  },
  "telephone": "(02) 9876 5432",
  "openingHours": "Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00, Sa 08:00-14:00",
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.8",
    "reviewCount": "47"
  }
}
</script>

This reinforces your GMB data and can trigger rich results in search.

3. Leverage GMB Insights Data

Your GMB Insights show valuable data. Use it strategically:

Key Metrics:

How customers search for you: Direct searches (brand) vs. discovery searches (category/product)
Where customers view you: Google Search vs. Google Maps
Customer actions: Website clicks, direction requests, phone calls
Photo insights: Your photos vs. customer photos, views comparison
Search queries: What people typed to find you

Actionable Insights:

Low direct searches? → Invest in brand awareness/advertising
High direction requests but low calls? → Emphasize phone number
Discovery searches for keywords you don’t rank for? → Add those services or optimize for them
Customer photos outperforming yours? → Upload better photos

4. Use GMB UTM Tracking

Track exactly how many website visits come from GMB:

Create a tracked URL:

https://yoursite.com.au?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb

Use this as your GMB website URL, then track in Google Analytics:

Traffic volume from GMB
Conversion rate
Pages visited
Time on site
Goal completions

Compare GMB traffic to other sources to understand ROI.

5. Competitive Gap Analysis

Study competitors ranking above you:

What to Analyze:

Their primary and additional categories
Number of reviews and review velocity
Photo count and types
Google Posts frequency
Services listed
Q&A coverage
Business description keywords

Find Your Opportunity Gaps:

They have 80 reviews, you have 15? → Reviews are your priority
They post daily, you post monthly? → Increase posting frequency
They have 100 photos, you have 10? → Upload more photos
They list 20 services, you list 5? → Expand your services section

Don’t copy blindly, but understand what’s working for top-ranked competitors.

Real Western Sydney Success Stories

Let me share results from businesses that have mastered GMB in 2018.

Case Study 1: Emergency Electrician, Parramatta

Challenge: Established electrical business losing visibility to newer competitors with better GMB optimization.

Actions Taken (Jan-Apr 2018):

Optimized primary category from “Contractor” to “Electrician”
Added “Emergency Electrical Service”, “Lighting Contractor”, “Electric Vehicle Charging Station Contractor”
Uploaded 25 before/after photos of jobs
Started weekly Google Posts featuring electrical safety tips and special offers
Implemented systematic review request via SMS after each job
Enabled messaging with 30-minute response time goal
Created and answered 10 common Q&A items

Results After 4 Months:

Ranking #1 in local 3-pack for “electrician Parramatta”
Appearing in top 3 for “emergency electrician Western Sydney”
Phone calls increased 89%
Reviews grew from 12 to 58 (4.9-star average)
30% of new inquiries now come via GMB messaging
Website traffic from GMB up 156%

Key Insight: Consistent weekly Google Posts highlighting expertise (safety tips) built authority beyond just asking for business.

Case Study 2: Thai Restaurant, Castle Hill

Challenge: New restaurant (opened Sept 2017) competing against established venues.

Actions Taken:

Professional food photography (40 photos of dishes, interior, team)
Category: “Thai Restaurant” (primary), “Asian Restaurant”, “Takeout Restaurant”, “Delivery Service”
Daily Google Posts featuring “dish of the day” with photos
Enabled messaging for reservations
Added detailed services section with popular dishes and prices
Responded to every review within 2 hours with personalized messages
Created Q&A covering parking, dietary options, BYO policy, booking process

Results After 6 Months:

Ranking #1 for “Thai restaurant Castle Hill”
67 reviews (4.7-star average)
45% of reservations come through GMB messaging
Google Posts average 2,000 views each
Appearing in “best restaurants near me” searches across 5 suburbs
Saturday nights fully booked 3 weeks in advance

Key Insight: Daily food photos in Google Posts created a visual menu that drove engagement and bookings. High-quality photos were critical.

Case Study 3: Mobile Dog Grooming, Western Sydney

Challenge: Service-area business with no physical location, competing against established salons.

Actions Taken:

Set up as service-area business (address hidden)
Service areas: 15 specific Western Sydney suburbs
Category: “Pet Groomer” (primary), “Dog Day Care Center”, “Pet Boarding Service”
Uploaded customer testimonial videos (converted to images for GMB)
Weekly Google Posts featuring before/after grooming transformations
Created service packages in services section with transparent pricing
Enabled messaging (primary contact method - 15 min average response time)
Created suburb-specific landing pages on website, linked from GMB

Results After 5 Months:

Ranking in top 3 for “dog grooming [suburb]” across 11 of 15 service areas
Bookings increased 167%
68% of inquiries now via messaging (vs phone)
Average job value up 23% (from services section upsells)
42 reviews (4.8-star average)
Expanding service area due to demand

Key Insight: Service-area businesses can dominate without physical locations by optimizing service areas, being message-responsive, and showcasing work visually.

Tools for Managing GMB Efficiently

Managing GMB doesn’t need to consume hours daily. These tools help:

Free Tools

Google My Business App (iOS/Android):

Respond to reviews on-the-go
Reply to messages instantly
Create posts from your phone
Upload photos
View insights
Get notifications for customer actions

Google My Business Desktop Dashboard:

More detailed analytics
Bulk actions (multi-location businesses)
Easier post creation with formatting
Photo management
Advanced insights

Recommended Paid Tools (2018)

GatherUp ($99-299/month):

Automated review request campaigns
SMS/email review invitations
Review monitoring and alerts
Sentiment analysis
Multi-location management

BrightLocal ($39-299/month):

Local citation building and monitoring
GMB rank tracking
Review monitoring across platforms
Competitor analysis
White-label reporting

Hootsuite (from $49/month):

Schedule Google Posts alongside social media
Unified social media management
Team collaboration features

Reputation.com (Enterprise pricing):

Advanced review management
Sentiment analysis
Competitive benchmarking
Multi-location management

For Most Small Businesses: The free Google My Business app + a simple review request system (spreadsheet tracker or CRM) is sufficient.

Your 30-Day GMB Domination Plan

Here’s your actionable roadmap to GMB success:

Week 1: Foundation

Claim/verify listing (if not done)
Complete every section 100%
Optimize primary and additional categories
Upload 15-20 high-quality photos
Write compelling 750-character description
Add all relevant attributes
Audit NAP consistency across all platforms

Week 2: Content & Engagement

Create and answer 5-10 Q&A items
Enable messaging and set auto-response
Create first Google Post (offer or update)
Set up review request process
Ask 10 recent happy customers for reviews
Respond to all existing reviews

Week 3: Optimization

Add services section with pricing
Upload 5 more photos (different types)
Create second Google Post
Fix any remaining NAP inconsistencies
Implement schema markup on website
Set special hours for upcoming holidays

Week 4: Momentum & Analysis

Upload additional photos
Create 2 Google Posts
Send review requests to this week’s customers
Respond to any new reviews/messages
Review GMB Insights data
Identify top competitors and analyze their GMB strategies
Plan ongoing monthly maintenance schedule

Ongoing (Monthly):

Request 10-20 new reviews
Upload 5-10 new photos
Create 8-12 Google Posts (2-3 weekly)
Respond to all reviews within 24 hours
Answer new Q&A questions
Check for unauthorized edits
Review and analyze Insights data
Update hours for holidays/special events

Conclusion

Google My Business has evolved from a simple directory listing into the most powerful free marketing tool available to local businesses in 2018. With features like Google Posts, messaging, Q&A, and enhanced insights, your GMB listing is a dynamic customer acquisition channel.

The businesses dominating local search aren’t necessarily the biggest or most established—they’re the ones actively managing their GMB listings, engaging with customers, and leveraging new features as Google releases them.

Your competitors are already doing this. The question isn’t whether to invest time in GMB, but whether you can afford not to.

Key Takeaways

Complete is better than perfect: Get your listing 100% complete before obsessing over optimization
Consistency wins: Weekly posts and regular photo uploads outperform occasional perfection
Reviews are currency: Make review requests part of every customer interaction
Engagement matters: Respond to everything—reviews, messages, Q&A
New features are opportunities: Be an early adopter of new GMB features
Track and optimize: Use Insights data to understand what’s working

Your Next Action

Don’t wait. Open your GMB dashboard right now and complete one item from Week 1 of the action plan. Set a recurring calendar reminder to spend 30 minutes weekly on GMB maintenance.

Need help optimizing your Google My Business listing? Cosmos Web Tech specializes in local SEO for Western Sydney businesses. Contact us for a comprehensive GMB audit and optimization consultation.

Last updated: 2018-03-06

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to see ranking improvements after optimizing GMB? Most businesses see movement within 2-4 weeks of major optimization. Full results (top 3 ranking) typically take 2-3 months with consistent effort.

Can I have multiple GMB listings for one business? Only if you have genuinely separate physical locations with different addresses. Service-area businesses get ONE listing.

Should I delete negative reviews? You can’t delete negative reviews unless they violate Google’s policies (spam, fake, off-topic, illegal content). Flag policy violations; Google will review and potentially remove.

How many reviews do I need to outrank competitors? There’s no magic number. It’s about review velocity (how often you get new ones), recency, ratings, and keywords in reviews. Aim for 2-4 new reviews monthly as a baseline.

Do Google Posts affect rankings? Google hasn’t officially confirmed this, but businesses that post regularly tend to rank higher. At minimum, posts increase engagement and click-through rates.

What’s the ideal response time for GMB messaging? Under 1 hour gets you “typically responds in minutes” badge. Under 24 hours gets “typically responds within a day.” Faster is always better.

This guide reflects Google My Business best practices as of March 2018. GMB features and algorithms update regularly.

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