See what makes Elevate a standout marketing agency in Massachusetts—our process, our passion, and our performance.
Introduction
When someone searches for a business “near me,” your Google My Business (GMB) profile is often the very first thing they see.
Not your website.
Not your Instagram.
Not your reviews on Yelp.
Just a box with your name, address, phone number, reviews, hours — and whether or not you look trustworthy.
Yet, so many local businesses are neglecting this tool.
If you’re not optimizing your GMB profile, you’re leaving money — and clients — on the table.
Why GMB Matters for Local Businesses
Google My Business is more than a digital business card. It’s your local storefront on Google Search and Google Maps. And when properly optimized, it can:
- Help you appear in local search results
- Drive more calls, directions, and website visits
- Build trust through reviews and photos
- Outrank competitors — even those with better websites
Here’s the best part: it’s free.
What Makes a GMB Profile Effective?
Most business owners claim their listing, set it up once, and never touch it again. That’s a mistake.
Here’s what actually moves the needle:
- Accurate, Consistent Information
- Business name, category, phone, and hours must match your website.
- Add special hours (holidays, events, etc.).
- Business name, category, phone, and hours must match your website.
- High-Quality Photos
- Upload photos of your business, products, team, and location.
- Businesses with photos get 42% more direction requests.
- Upload photos of your business, products, team, and location.
- Customer Reviews (and Responses)
- Ask satisfied customers to leave honest reviews.
- Always respond — it shows you care.
- Ask satisfied customers to leave honest reviews.
- Regular Posts
- Use GMB Posts like social media to announce offers, updates, or events.
- These posts improve visibility and show your business is active.
- Use GMB Posts like social media to announce offers, updates, or events.
- Services and Products
- List your services with descriptions and prices.
- Add real product images with calls to action.
- List your services with descriptions and prices.
- Q&A Section
- Proactively answer frequently asked questions.
- Monitor it to avoid inaccurate info from random users.
- Proactively answer frequently asked questions.
Example: A Local Contractor
Let’s say you’re a general contractor in Peabody, MA. Two people search “deck repair near me”:
- One business has an empty GMB page with no reviews and blurry photos.
- The other has a complete profile with 50+ reviews, crisp images, recent posts, and clear services.
Which one would you call first?
You know the answer — and your customers do too.
How Elevate Helps You Win With GMB
At Elevate, we specialize in local SEO — and Google My Business is a cornerstone of that strategy.
We help you:
- Claim and verify your profile
- Optimize every section for search performance
- Set up ongoing posts and content
- Build a sustainable review strategy
- Monitor analytics and suggest improvements
Whether you’re a restaurant, contractor, beauty salon, or boutique — your GMB listing can work harder for you. We make sure it does.
Final Thoughts
Your competitors are already showing up on Google. The question is: are you?
Google My Business isn’t optional — it’s essential.
It’s how locals find you, trust you, and decide to work with you.
👉 Ready to get found by the people already searching for what you offer?
Let Elevate Digital Marketing optimize your Google My Business profile — and turn searches into sales.