April 3, 2025 • 18 mins
Frustrated with your Google Maps ranking progress? You're not alone. While countless agencies promise rapid results in 30-90 days, our comprehensive data analysis reveals a much different reality for businesses targeting valuable local keywords.
Through our AI system's analysis of millions of data points across thousands of Google Business Profiles spanning industries from HVAC and plumbing to legal services and healthcare, we've uncovered the authentic timeline for meaningful ranking improvements. The truth? Those competitive keywords that actually drive quality leads typically take 4-6 months of consistent optimization to show significant movement.
The early stages of Google Maps optimization aren't about instant victories. During the first 1-2 months, Google is simply becoming acquainted with your profile basics, while month three might show some movement for longer-tail terms or in very small geographic areas. Many business owners mistakenly abandon their efforts right before the real growth begins around months 4-6, when rankings for core keywords start expanding across your service area.
This patience gap explains why some turn to risky "black hat" tactics that might deliver fleeting results before triggering devastating penalties. Google has become increasingly sophisticated at identifying manipulative practices like fake reviews, keyword stuffing, or location manipulation. The businesses that achieve sustained visibility focus instead on building genuine trust through accurate information, authentic reviews, regular posting, and quality visual content.
Ready to build a Google Maps presence that stands the test of time? Stop chasing overnight miracles and commit to the proven long-game approach that aligns with how Google's algorithm actually works. The sustainable path to local search visibility isn't about tricks – it's about consistently demonstrating relevance, credibility, and value to both Google and your potential customers.
Discover how Local Biz Domination can revolutionize your business operations. Our AI-driven CRM is designed to crush inefficiencies, automate tasks, and empower entrepreneurs to focus on growth and innovation. Visit https://LocalBizDominance.com to learn more and unlock the full potential of your business today.
Stay Connected with The Local Biz Show:
• Email: info@localbizdominance.com
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/LocalBizDomination
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@localbizdominance
Powered by Local Biz Domination (https://LocalBizDominance.com) : The leading platform for automating your lead generation, nurturing, and conversion, empowering businesses to work smarter and close deals faster.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, you're probably here because you've typed
something like how long to rankon Google Maps into a search bar
and just got a whole mess ofconfusing answers 30 days, 90
days, some folks even whisperabout like a single week.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, it's all over the place.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
And if that sounds familiar and maybe you've been,
you know diligently updatingyour Google business profile
photos, posts, chasing, reviewsand you feel like you're just
standing still.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Or worse, being told you need to pay more for faster
results.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, we get it.
It's super frustrating forlocal businesses.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It really is.
We see it constantly.
You're putting in the work,trying to get seen by customers
searching right now and it justfeels like nothing's happening.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, like shouting into the void.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Exactly, and that's why we wanted to cut through the
noise today.
Because the honest truth,especially if you're targeting
those really competitive localkeywords, you know emergency
plumber, personal injuryattorney near me, roofing
company in my area the stuffyour best customers actually
search for.
Well, getting meaningful rankstakes way longer than just a
month or two.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
And that's where our team at Local Biz Domination
comes in.
We've had this unique chance toreally dig into the data.
Our AI system Page has analyzedmillions, literally millions of
data points across thousands ofGoogle business profiles.
We've optimized.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, it's a massive data set.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
It gives us this really clear data-backed picture
of the real timelines forGoogle Maps ranking.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And what that analysis shows consistently
across all sorts of localbusinesses, is this For most
businesses going after thosevaluable keywords, it typically
takes about four to six monthsto see, you know, meaningful
improvements in their GoogleMaps rankings.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Four to six months.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yep.
Now look, that might not be theinstant win people hope for,
but it's the reality and,honestly, anyone promising
significantly faster results,you should probably be a little
skeptical.
They might be using tacticsthat could actually hurt you
down the line.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Exactly so.
In this discussion we want tounpack a few key things.
First, why that common 90-daypromise is?
Well, pretty misleading.
It's not that nothing happens,but those early little bumps
aren't real ranking for thekeywords that actually drive
business.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Right, then we'll share some real insights from
our data tracking.
Gbp heat maps across HVAC,plumbing, legal beauty,
landscaping, health services,all sorts.
These maps visually showranking changes and the trends
are pretty clear on timelines.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Okay, and then we need to talk about the serious
risks of those like QuickFix orBlack Hat SEO tricks in the GBP
world.
They sound tempting, but thelong-term damage can be huge.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Oh yeah, definitely.
And finally, we'll lay out theactionable strategies that do
work, the stuff Google actuallylikes for getting sustainable
rankings and attracting morelocal customers, and maybe touch
on what doesn't work too.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Crucially, this isn't about secret hacks, right.
It's about understanding thelong game, building trust and
relevance with Google.
That's how you get higherrankings and connect with
customers who are activelylooking for you.
Okay, so let's dive into that90-day thing first.
We hear it all the timeOptimize my GBP rank in three
months, right.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
And, like we said, the short answer is not really
Not in the way most businessowners hope.
Sure, you might see some smallactivity in those first 90 days,
maybe a slight uptick inimpressions or movement for
really specific low competitionterms, okay.
But you need to understandwhat's actually happening.
When you consistently updateyour profile adding photos,
refining services, gettingreviews, posting updates Google
(03:30):
doesn't just instantly rewardyou.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
They start watching, analyzing, Right, they're
looking at how often you update,how users engage with your
listing, clicks, directions,calls and how you stack up
against competitors.
It's less instant reward, moreongoing evaluation.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Exactly so.
In those first 90 days youmight see subtle shifts, maybe a
bit more visibility in areaswith less competition, Some
slight ranking bumps for likesuper specific long tail
keywords Affordable furnacerepair for a Bryant unit in zip
code 64118.
That kind of thing.
Very specific Right or maybe asmall increase in impressions,
as Google kind of tests you outin different geographic areas.
(04:08):
But these are what we callmicro signals.
They are not the breakthroughsthat bring in a flood of calls.
It's more like Googletentatively checking you out,
gauging your legitimacy, beforemaking bigger moves.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So early movement is just Google testing the waters,
basically.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Not a win yet.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Precisely, and this is where the difference between
those niche terms and the reallyvaluable high competition
keywords is critical.
If you want to rank for ACreplacement near me or
experienced divorce lawyer or247 emergency vet, you're up
against established players.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Businesses have been doing this for a while.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
For months, maybe years.
They have a history of reviews,often with keywords naturally
included.
They post content regularly,maybe daily.
They've got local backlinks.
They manage their listingsmeticulously.
They didn't get there overnight.
They built trust with Googleover time.
That's what the algorithmrewards.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Okay.
So the idea that a new profileor one just starting
optimization can just jump pastthose guys in 90 days without
doing something sketchy, it'sjust not realistic.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Not at all, and this is where good intentions can go
wrong.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
How so.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Well, impatience kicks in, changing things,
fiddling with their businesscategory, constantly stuffing
keywords into their businessname, deleting old posts,
chasing some weird trend theyread online.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
And all that tinkering actually hurts,
doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
That totally undermines the effort.
Every major change signalsinstability to Google and they
basically restart theirevaluation.
If you keep making disruptivechanges, google never gets
enough time to see consistency,reliability, to build that
crucial trust needed for strongrankings.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
OK.
So the takeaway is it's amarathon, not a sprint.
Be consistent, stable, buildtrust gradually.
That first 90 days isfoundation building, not
summiting the peak.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Early movement is just testing, not victory.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Now we talked general timelines, but what about the
actual data we see at local bizdomination?
You mentioned Page analyzingthousands of profiles.
What specific insights can youshare from that?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Absolutely so.
Unlike just general knowledgePage, lets us analyze millions
of ranking points from GBP, heatmaps, keyword audits, live
tracking across tons of localbusinesses HVAC, plumbing, legal
beauty, landscaping, healthservices you name it real world
data.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
And this isn't theoretical right.
This is based on actual rankingchanges you've observed.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Direct direct observation over time.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
So what does this real world data tell us about
those timelines?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
What it consistently shows is, on average, it takes
somewhere around four to sixmonths for a well-optimized GBP
to start showing significant,noticeable ranking improvements,
especially for thosecompetitive keywords that really
drive leads.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
OK, four to six months, definitely longer than
90 days.
Can you break down what thattypical timeline looks like?
What might a business owneractually see?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Sure.
So months one to two Google'sreally just taken stock of your
basics.
Months one to two Google'sreally just taken stock of your
basics NLP, name, address, phone, service area, photos,
categories, initial reviews,maybe some early posts.
You might see tiny shifts forsuper specific low competition
keywords, maybe within a mile ortwo of your address, but
nothing major for competitiveterms yet.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
It's groundwork.
Ok, months one and two areGoogle getting acquainted.
What about month three?
Yet?
Speaker 2 (07:24):
It's groundwork.
Okay, months one and two areGoogle getting acquainted.
What about month three?
Around month three, we oftensee a bit more movement on the
map coverage.
Keywords that weren't showingyou before might start appearing
in the local three-pack, butstill usually in a small area
near your location.
Maybe some longer tail termsbreak into the top 10 on maps.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Ah, so this is where people might get excited and
think they've cracked it.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Exactly, but, like we said, it's still more
exploratory.
You need to keep up theconsistent optimization to
solidify those gains and expand.
Don't stop now.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Makes sense.
So it's really that four to sixmonth window where the big
shifts happen.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Precisely If you've been consistent, regular posts,
encouraging real reviews,keeping info updated.
This is typically when you seemeaningful ranking improvements
for your core high valuekeywords Local handyman, family
dentist near me, affordablelandscaping Okay, your heat maps
start showing more green,meaning top rankings across a
(08:17):
wider part of your service area.
Or green, meaning top rankingsacross a wider part of your
service area, and around thistime you might start seeing a
sustained increase in calls,website clicks from your GBP
actual leads.
But the ranking improvementusually comes before the
noticeable jump in customeractivity.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And this timeline really highlights why patience
and persistence are so key.
It sounds like people mightgive up right before things
really start taking off.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
That's sadly one of the most common things.
We see Unrealistic expectations, no huge surge in month one or
two and they either quitoptimizing or, worse, get
tempted by those quick winpromises that involve risky
stuff.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Which we need to talk about next.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, they basically stop right before the growth
curve really kicks in.
It's also why some get suckedin by agencies promising
impossible overnight results.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Right, which brings us to the dangers of those quick
win promises.
If someone says they can getyou ranking on page one of Maps
in 30 days, huge red flag right.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Massive red flag.
The appeal of fast results isunderstandable, but you have to
understand how they claimthey'll achieve it.
If it's not built on consistenteffort, valuable content and
real credibility over time,chances are very high.
It involves black hat SEOtactics and those can cause
major long-lasting problems.
Short-term gains often meanlong-term pain here.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
So, for anyone unfamiliar, what exactly is
black hat SEO in the context ofGoogle business profile?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Basically, it's manipulative tricks to game
Google's algorithm.
They might give a short termboost, but they violate Google's
guidelines and almost alwayslead to penalties, even
suspension.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Like, what kind of tricks?
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Well, common ones are generating fake reviews using
bots review swaps paying peoplewho aren't customers.
Another is keyword stuffingjust jamming tons of keywords
unnaturally into your businessname description services,
trying to rank for everything.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Okay, that sounds risky already.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Any others.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Oh yeah, creating fake business locations using PO
boxes, virtual offices whereyou don't operate or just
made-up addresses, manipulatingyour map pin, moving it to a
busier area where you aren'tactually located.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Deceptive.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Totally and constantly switching your main
business category to chasepopular search terms, even if
they don't really fit what youdo.
That's all black hat.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It sounds like they're all designed to just
mislead Google.
Has Google gotten better atcatching this stuff?
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Way better In the early days.
Maybe some slipped through, butGoogle's algorithms are much
more sophisticated now.
They have teams activelyworking to keep results accurate
and fair for legitimatebusinesses.
They're constantly updating.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
So what happens if a business gets caught doing this?
What are the consequences?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
They can be severe and really hurt your ability to
get local customers online longterm.
A common one is temporarysuspension your listing just
vanishes from maps and searcheven for your own business name
Huge drop in leads, obviously orranking suppression.
Your profile might technicallyexist, but it's buried so deep
no one ever sees it for relevantsearches.
(11:12):
In the worst cases, google canpermanently remove your GBP
entirely, often with littlewarning and few options to
appeal.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
And even if you do get reinstated after a penalty,
you might never regain the trustand visibility you had before.
You could lose months, evenyears of legitimate effort
overnight because of black hattactics.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Short-term gain for long-term pain.
Like you said, that's a massiverisk for maybe a tiny temporary
boost.
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
The potential damage far outweighs any brief benefit.
A tiny temporary boost Exactlythe potential damage far
outweighs any brief benefit.
And what's worrying is manybusy business owners, hiring
agencies promising super fastresults, might not even know
these shady tactics are beingused until it's too late and
they get suspended.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
So the advice is clear If an agency promises
unbelievably fast results, beextremely cautious.
Ask detailed questions abouttheir exact methods.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Absolutely If they're vague, use confusing jargon or
it just sounds too good to betrue.
Major red flag, seriouslyconsider walking away.
There are just no legitimateshortcuts or secret hacks for
sustainable ethical ranking onGoogle Maps.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
OK, so we know what not to do.
Let's shift to what does workthe safe, sustainable Google
approved ways to improverankings long term.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Right.
These are the strategies basedon building real trust with
Google and showing value tosearchers over time.
Google wants to give users themost relevant, accurate, helpful
, local results, so youroptimization should align with
that goal.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
So for a business owner serious about doing it
right, where's the startingpoint?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
First and foremost, nail the foundational elements
of your GBP.
You'd be surprised how manybusinesses get these basics
wrong.
Make sure you've picked thesingle, most accurate primary
category for your main service.
Don't keep switching it.
Fill out your service listingscompletely and accurately with
detailed, keyword-rich butnatural descriptions.
Define your service areaprecisely based on where you
(13:03):
actually work, and criticallydouble check that your hours,
phone number, website URL are100% accurate and consistent
everywhere online.
These core signals tell Googleexactly what you do and where
Accuracy is key.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
What about reviews?
We know they're huge.
What's the best ethicalapproach?
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Reviews are definitely a big ranking factor,
but it's not just the number.
Quality, authenticity,consistency matter too.
Aim for steady, organic growthover time.
A sudden flood looks suspicious.
Encourage satisfied customersto mention specific services and
describe their experience indetail.
Local relevance matters too.
Reviews from people in yourservice area are ideal, and
photos and reviews boost trust.
(13:44):
The best white hat strategySimply ask every happy customer
for a review.
Make it easy with a direct linkvia email text or a QR code.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
And crucially, crucially.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Never script reviews, offer incentives or compromise
authenticity.
Genuine reviews build trustwith customers and Google.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Makes sense and consistent posting.
What kind of content works best?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Yeah, regular posting signals to Google that you're
active and engaged.
Weekly updates work well.
Special offers, events servicehighlights industry tips,
behind-the-scenes stuff,customer success stories, team
spotlights, communityinvolvement all good for
engagement and trust.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Treat each post like a chance to provide value,
exactly Answer questions like achance to provide value.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Exactly Answer questions.
Interact with potentialcustomers searching locally.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
And photos and videos you mentioned.
They're important too.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Definitely.
High quality visuals aren'tjust decoration.
They provide context.
Regularly upload clear photosof finished projects.
Your team working, markedvehicles, storefront, maybe
before and afters.
It shows you're a real activebusiness, proud of its work.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
And videos.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Videos can be even more impactful.
Google keeps indicating videowill be even more important
going forward.
Even short, well-shot videosshowing services, how-to tips or
customer testimonials can giveyou a big edge, because many
local businesses still aren'tleveraging video effectively.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
It really seems like the common thread here is
consistently providing genuinevalue and building trust over
time.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
That's exactly it.
Ethical, effective white hatSEO for Maps is about
consistency, accuracy,engagement and demonstrating
real business activity over thelong haul.
If you consistently update yourGBP seek, real reviews provide
valuable content, google willeventually recognize and reward
that effort with bettervisibility.
It takes dedication, discipline, patience, but the results are
(15:32):
sustainable because they'rebuilt on trust.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
So, to wrap this all up, what's the single most
important takeaway for localbusiness owners trying to
improve their Google Mapsranking and get more customers?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
The absolute crucial thing to remember is you cannot
rush Google Maps rankings period.
Anyone promising top ranks in30 days is likely setting false
expectations or using riskytactics that could wreck your
online presence.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
The winners play the long game.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Exactly.
They focus on building thatfoundation of trust and
relevance over time.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
And that long game involves those key fundamentals
right.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Right, consistent posting, getting real, detailed
reviews from local customers,uploading fresh photos and
videos of your work and keepingall your core info totally
accurate and complete.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
And while you might see some small early signs
within 90 days, the realtraction for the keywords that
drive business comes later.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Absolutely.
Those subtle improvements mighthappen early, but the
significant sustained rankinggains for your core money-making
keywords usually start showingup between months four and six
of consistent ethical work, andthat progress keeps building if
you stay consistent and patient.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
So it boils down to Google rewarding consistency,
relevance, credibility and realvalue built over time, not
tricks or spam.
It's definitely something forevery local business owner to
think about.
Are my current efforts alignedwith that long-term, trustworthy
approach for sustainable growthand customer acquisition?
Hey, you're probably here because you've typed
something like how long to rankon Google Maps into a search bar
and just got a whole mess ofconfusing answers 30 days, 90
days, some folks even whisperabout like a single week.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, it's all over the place.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
And if that sounds familiar and maybe you've been,
you know diligently updatingyour Google business profile
photos, posts, chasing, reviewsand you feel like you're just
standing still.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Or worse, being told you need to pay more for faster
results.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, we get it.
It's super frustrating forlocal businesses.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It really is.
We see it constantly.
You're putting in the work,trying to get seen by customers
searching right now and it justfeels like nothing's happening.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, like shouting into the void.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Exactly, and that's why we wanted to cut through the
noise today.
Because the honest truth,especially if you're targeting
those really competitive localkeywords, you know emergency
plumber, personal injuryattorney near me, roofing
company in my area the stuffyour best customers actually
search for.
Well, getting meaningful rankstakes way longer than just a
month or two.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
And that's where our team at Local Biz Domination
comes in.
We've had this unique chance toreally dig into the data.
Our AI system Page has analyzedmillions, literally millions of
data points across thousands ofGoogle business profiles.
We've optimized.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, it's a massive data set.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
It gives us this really clear data-backed picture
of the real timelines forGoogle Maps ranking.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And what that analysis shows consistently
across all sorts of localbusinesses, is this For most
businesses going after thosevaluable keywords, it typically
takes about four to six monthsto see, you know, meaningful
improvements in their GoogleMaps rankings.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Four to six months.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yep.
Now look, that might not be theinstant win people hope for,
but it's the reality and,honestly, anyone promising
significantly faster results,you should probably be a little
skeptical.
They might be using tacticsthat could actually hurt you
down the line.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Exactly so.
In this discussion we want tounpack a few key things.
First, why that common 90-daypromise is?
Well, pretty misleading.
It's not that nothing happens,but those early little bumps
aren't real ranking for thekeywords that actually drive
business.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Right, then we'll share some real insights from
our data tracking.
Gbp heat maps across HVAC,plumbing, legal beauty,
landscaping, health services,all sorts.
These maps visually showranking changes and the trends
are pretty clear on timelines.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Okay, and then we need to talk about the serious
risks of those like QuickFix orBlack Hat SEO tricks in the GBP
world.
They sound tempting, but thelong-term damage can be huge.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Oh yeah, definitely.
And finally, we'll lay out theactionable strategies that do
work, the stuff Google actuallylikes for getting sustainable
rankings and attracting morelocal customers, and maybe touch
on what doesn't work too.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Crucially, this isn't about secret hacks, right.
It's about understanding thelong game, building trust and
relevance with Google.
That's how you get higherrankings and connect with
customers who are activelylooking for you.
Okay, so let's dive into that90-day thing first.
We hear it all the timeOptimize my GBP rank in three
months, right.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
And, like we said, the short answer is not really
Not in the way most businessowners hope.
Sure, you might see some smallactivity in those first 90 days,
maybe a slight uptick inimpressions or movement for
really specific low competitionterms, okay.
But you need to understandwhat's actually happening.
When you consistently updateyour profile adding photos,
refining services, gettingreviews, posting updates Google
(03:30):
doesn't just instantly rewardyou.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
They start watching, analyzing, Right, they're
looking at how often you update,how users engage with your
listing, clicks, directions,calls and how you stack up
against competitors.
It's less instant reward, moreongoing evaluation.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Exactly so.
In those first 90 days youmight see subtle shifts, maybe a
bit more visibility in areaswith less competition, Some
slight ranking bumps for likesuper specific long tail
keywords Affordable furnacerepair for a Bryant unit in zip
code 64118.
That kind of thing.
Very specific Right or maybe asmall increase in impressions,
as Google kind of tests you outin different geographic areas.
(04:08):
But these are what we callmicro signals.
They are not the breakthroughsthat bring in a flood of calls.
It's more like Googletentatively checking you out,
gauging your legitimacy, beforemaking bigger moves.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So early movement is just Google testing the waters,
basically.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Not a win yet.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Precisely, and this is where the difference between
those niche terms and the reallyvaluable high competition
keywords is critical.
If you want to rank for ACreplacement near me or
experienced divorce lawyer or247 emergency vet, you're up
against established players.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Businesses have been doing this for a while.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
For months, maybe years.
They have a history of reviews,often with keywords naturally
included.
They post content regularly,maybe daily.
They've got local backlinks.
They manage their listingsmeticulously.
They didn't get there overnight.
They built trust with Googleover time.
That's what the algorithmrewards.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Okay.
So the idea that a new profileor one just starting
optimization can just jump pastthose guys in 90 days without
doing something sketchy, it'sjust not realistic.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Not at all, and this is where good intentions can go
wrong.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
How so.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Well, impatience kicks in, changing things,
fiddling with their businesscategory, constantly stuffing
keywords into their businessname, deleting old posts,
chasing some weird trend theyread online.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
And all that tinkering actually hurts,
doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
That totally undermines the effort.
Every major change signalsinstability to Google and they
basically restart theirevaluation.
If you keep making disruptivechanges, google never gets
enough time to see consistency,reliability, to build that
crucial trust needed for strongrankings.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
OK.
So the takeaway is it's amarathon, not a sprint.
Be consistent, stable, buildtrust gradually.
That first 90 days isfoundation building, not
summiting the peak.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Early movement is just testing, not victory.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Now we talked general timelines, but what about the
actual data we see at local bizdomination?
You mentioned Page analyzingthousands of profiles.
What specific insights can youshare from that?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Absolutely so.
Unlike just general knowledgePage, lets us analyze millions
of ranking points from GBP, heatmaps, keyword audits, live
tracking across tons of localbusinesses HVAC, plumbing, legal
beauty, landscaping, healthservices you name it real world
data.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
And this isn't theoretical right.
This is based on actual rankingchanges you've observed.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Direct direct observation over time.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
So what does this real world data tell us about
those timelines?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
What it consistently shows is, on average, it takes
somewhere around four to sixmonths for a well-optimized GBP
to start showing significant,noticeable ranking improvements,
especially for thosecompetitive keywords that really
drive leads.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
OK, four to six months, definitely longer than
90 days.
Can you break down what thattypical timeline looks like?
What might a business owneractually see?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Sure.
So months one to two Google'sreally just taken stock of your
basics.
Months one to two Google'sreally just taken stock of your
basics NLP, name, address, phone, service area, photos,
categories, initial reviews,maybe some early posts.
You might see tiny shifts forsuper specific low competition
keywords, maybe within a mile ortwo of your address, but
nothing major for competitiveterms yet.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
It's groundwork.
Ok, months one and two areGoogle getting acquainted.
What about month three?
Yet?
Speaker 2 (07:24):
It's groundwork.
Okay, months one and two areGoogle getting acquainted.
What about month three?
Around month three, we oftensee a bit more movement on the
map coverage.
Keywords that weren't showingyou before might start appearing
in the local three-pack, butstill usually in a small area
near your location.
Maybe some longer tail termsbreak into the top 10 on maps.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Ah, so this is where people might get excited and
think they've cracked it.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Exactly, but, like we said, it's still more
exploratory.
You need to keep up theconsistent optimization to
solidify those gains and expand.
Don't stop now.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Makes sense.
So it's really that four to sixmonth window where the big
shifts happen.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Precisely If you've been consistent, regular posts,
encouraging real reviews,keeping info updated.
This is typically when you seemeaningful ranking improvements
for your core high valuekeywords Local handyman, family
dentist near me, affordablelandscaping Okay, your heat maps
start showing more green,meaning top rankings across a
(08:17):
wider part of your service area.
Or green, meaning top rankingsacross a wider part of your
service area, and around thistime you might start seeing a
sustained increase in calls,website clicks from your GBP
actual leads.
But the ranking improvementusually comes before the
noticeable jump in customeractivity.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And this timeline really highlights why patience
and persistence are so key.
It sounds like people mightgive up right before things
really start taking off.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
That's sadly one of the most common things.
We see Unrealistic expectations, no huge surge in month one or
two and they either quitoptimizing or, worse, get
tempted by those quick winpromises that involve risky
stuff.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Which we need to talk about next.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, they basically stop right before the growth
curve really kicks in.
It's also why some get suckedin by agencies promising
impossible overnight results.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Right, which brings us to the dangers of those quick
win promises.
If someone says they can getyou ranking on page one of Maps
in 30 days, huge red flag right.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Massive red flag.
The appeal of fast results isunderstandable, but you have to
understand how they claimthey'll achieve it.
If it's not built on consistenteffort, valuable content and
real credibility over time,chances are very high.
It involves black hat SEOtactics and those can cause
major long-lasting problems.
Short-term gains often meanlong-term pain here.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
So, for anyone unfamiliar, what exactly is
black hat SEO in the context ofGoogle business profile?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Basically, it's manipulative tricks to game
Google's algorithm.
They might give a short termboost, but they violate Google's
guidelines and almost alwayslead to penalties, even
suspension.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Like, what kind of tricks?
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Well, common ones are generating fake reviews using
bots review swaps paying peoplewho aren't customers.
Another is keyword stuffingjust jamming tons of keywords
unnaturally into your businessname description services,
trying to rank for everything.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Okay, that sounds risky already.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Any others.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Oh yeah, creating fake business locations using PO
boxes, virtual offices whereyou don't operate or just
made-up addresses, manipulatingyour map pin, moving it to a
busier area where you aren'tactually located.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Deceptive.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Totally and constantly switching your main
business category to chasepopular search terms, even if
they don't really fit what youdo.
That's all black hat.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It sounds like they're all designed to just
mislead Google.
Has Google gotten better atcatching this stuff?
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Way better In the early days.
Maybe some slipped through, butGoogle's algorithms are much
more sophisticated now.
They have teams activelyworking to keep results accurate
and fair for legitimatebusinesses.
They're constantly updating.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
So what happens if a business gets caught doing this?
What are the consequences?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
They can be severe and really hurt your ability to
get local customers online longterm.
A common one is temporarysuspension your listing just
vanishes from maps and searcheven for your own business name
Huge drop in leads, obviously orranking suppression.
Your profile might technicallyexist, but it's buried so deep
no one ever sees it for relevantsearches.
(11:12):
In the worst cases, google canpermanently remove your GBP
entirely, often with littlewarning and few options to
appeal.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
And even if you do get reinstated after a penalty,
you might never regain the trustand visibility you had before.
You could lose months, evenyears of legitimate effort
overnight because of black hattactics.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Short-term gain for long-term pain.
Like you said, that's a massiverisk for maybe a tiny temporary
boost.
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
The potential damage far outweighs any brief benefit.
A tiny temporary boost Exactlythe potential damage far
outweighs any brief benefit.
And what's worrying is manybusy business owners, hiring
agencies promising super fastresults, might not even know
these shady tactics are beingused until it's too late and
they get suspended.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
So the advice is clear If an agency promises
unbelievably fast results, beextremely cautious.
Ask detailed questions abouttheir exact methods.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Absolutely If they're vague, use confusing jargon or
it just sounds too good to betrue.
Major red flag, seriouslyconsider walking away.
There are just no legitimateshortcuts or secret hacks for
sustainable ethical ranking onGoogle Maps.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
OK, so we know what not to do.
Let's shift to what does workthe safe, sustainable Google
approved ways to improverankings long term.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Right.
These are the strategies basedon building real trust with
Google and showing value tosearchers over time.
Google wants to give users themost relevant, accurate, helpful
, local results, so youroptimization should align with
that goal.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
So for a business owner serious about doing it
right, where's the startingpoint?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
First and foremost, nail the foundational elements
of your GBP.
You'd be surprised how manybusinesses get these basics
wrong.
Make sure you've picked thesingle, most accurate primary
category for your main service.
Don't keep switching it.
Fill out your service listingscompletely and accurately with
detailed, keyword-rich butnatural descriptions.
Define your service areaprecisely based on where you
(13:03):
actually work, and criticallydouble check that your hours,
phone number, website URL are100% accurate and consistent
everywhere online.
These core signals tell Googleexactly what you do and where
Accuracy is key.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
What about reviews?
We know they're huge.
What's the best ethicalapproach?
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Reviews are definitely a big ranking factor,
but it's not just the number.
Quality, authenticity,consistency matter too.
Aim for steady, organic growthover time.
A sudden flood looks suspicious.
Encourage satisfied customersto mention specific services and
describe their experience indetail.
Local relevance matters too.
Reviews from people in yourservice area are ideal, and
photos and reviews boost trust.
(13:44):
The best white hat strategySimply ask every happy customer
for a review.
Make it easy with a direct linkvia email text or a QR code.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
And crucially, crucially.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Never script reviews, offer incentives or compromise
authenticity.
Genuine reviews build trustwith customers and Google.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Makes sense and consistent posting.
What kind of content works best?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Yeah, regular posting signals to Google that you're
active and engaged.
Weekly updates work well.
Special offers, events servicehighlights industry tips,
behind-the-scenes stuff,customer success stories, team
spotlights, communityinvolvement all good for
engagement and trust.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Treat each post like a chance to provide value,
exactly Answer questions like achance to provide value.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Exactly Answer questions.
Interact with potentialcustomers searching locally.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
And photos and videos you mentioned.
They're important too.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Definitely.
High quality visuals aren'tjust decoration.
They provide context.
Regularly upload clear photosof finished projects.
Your team working, markedvehicles, storefront, maybe
before and afters.
It shows you're a real activebusiness, proud of its work.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
And videos.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Videos can be even more impactful.
Google keeps indicating videowill be even more important
going forward.
Even short, well-shot videosshowing services, how-to tips or
customer testimonials can giveyou a big edge, because many
local businesses still aren'tleveraging video effectively.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
It really seems like the common thread here is
consistently providing genuinevalue and building trust over
time.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
That's exactly it.
Ethical, effective white hatSEO for Maps is about
consistency, accuracy,engagement and demonstrating
real business activity over thelong haul.
If you consistently update yourGBP seek, real reviews provide
valuable content, google willeventually recognize and reward
that effort with bettervisibility.
It takes dedication, discipline, patience, but the results are
(15:32):
sustainable because they'rebuilt on trust.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
So, to wrap this all up, what's the single most
important takeaway for localbusiness owners trying to
improve their Google Mapsranking and get more customers?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
The absolute crucial thing to remember is you cannot
rush Google Maps rankings period.
Anyone promising top ranks in30 days is likely setting false
expectations or using riskytactics that could wreck your
online presence.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
The winners play the long game.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Exactly.
They focus on building thatfoundation of trust and
relevance over time.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
And that long game involves those key fundamentals
right.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Right, consistent posting, getting real, detailed
reviews from local customers,uploading fresh photos and
videos of your work and keepingall your core info totally
accurate and complete.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
And while you might see some small early signs
within 90 days, the realtraction for the keywords that
drive business comes later.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Absolutely.
Those subtle improvements mighthappen early, but the
significant sustained rankinggains for your core money-making
keywords usually start showingup between months four and six
of consistent ethical work, andthat progress keeps building if
you stay consistent and patient.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
So it boils down to Google rewarding consistency,
relevance, credibility and realvalue built over time, not
tricks or spam.
It's definitely something forevery local business owner to
think about.
Are my current efforts alignedwith that long-term, trustworthy
approach for sustainable growthand customer acquisition?
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.