Google My Business SEO: How to Rank in the Top 3 on Google Maps

In 2025, being listed on Google Maps is not nice-to-have, it’s a necessity, if you want to be successful in business. When your customers searches using keywords like “restaurants near me” or “best digital marketing agency in India” Google will display a “Local 3-Pack”, which are the top 3 Google My Business (GMB) listings.

If you rank in the top 3 on Google then you’ll get the phone call, more website visitors and more customers in your door than any paid ad might accomplish.  Better yet, it can come from an effective Google My Business SEO strategy.

Let’s get into how you can improve your profile for a higher rank on Google Maps.

What Is Google My Business SEO?

Google My Business SEO is the method of optimizing your GMB profile to show up in relevant local searches on Google Maps and Google Search.

This can be done through a variety of methods, including updating your business information, adding location-based keywords, accumulating reviews, posting, and utilizing photos to engage customers.

The goal is to show Google that your business is trustworthy, relevant, and authoritative for local search terms.

Why Google My Business Matters in 2025

• Local exposure: A majority of customers search for businesses based on location.
• Higher conversion rates: Local searches exhibit great intent since the person searching is looking to take action right away.
• No cost exposure: It’s increased exposure for your business that you don’t have to pay for.
• It builds confidence: When a customer sees verified information about your business (contact info, address, hours, etc.) and sees great reviews, it solidifies their decision to do business with you. 

Google estimates that 76% of people who search for something locally visit a business within 24 hours. So, that is the value of a strong local presence.

Step-by-Step Guide to Rank in the Top 3 on Google Maps

1. Claim and Verify Your Google My Business Listing

If you have not already done so, visit Google Business Profile Manager and claim your business. Once you have claimed your business, you will verify your listing through:

• Phone
• Email
• Postcard (Google mails you a verification code)

After you have completed your verification, you will have access to updating and optimizing your profile.

2. Optimize Your Business Information

Accurate business information is important. Complete each field that Google offers you, including:

• Business name (it must be identical across all platforms)
• Address
• Phone Number (Try to use a local number if possible)
• Website URL
• Hours of operation
• Business Category and any subcategories

   

Note: Do not keyword stuff your business name or Google will flag it and possibly remove your listing. Make sure you include those key words in your business description. 

3. Add a Keyword-Rich Business Description

Your business description must explicitly state:

• Who you are
• What you do
• Where you operate
• What makes you unique 

Example:
“Device Doctor India is a professional digital marketing and business setup company that helps startups grow their online presence. We help small and medium businesses with SEO, Google My Business optimization, and other solutions for brand visibility.”

Be sure to use relevant keywords like, “Google My Business SEO”, “local SEO service”, or “Google ranking in India”, just put those words naturally into the text.

4. Choose the Right Categories

Your primary category carries the most weight as far as rankings, so pick carefully.

For example:

• An internet marketing agency could use “Internet marketing service.”
• A restaurant could use “Indian restaurant” or “Pizza restaurant.”

You are allowed to include multiple secondary categories to account for other services offered.

5. Add Photos and Videos Regularly

Businesses that include photos receive 42% more requests for direction and 35% more clicks to their website.

Add:

• Logo and cover photo
• Images of inside the restaurant, or covering aspect of work you would do
• Images of team/staff at work
• Images of the product/service

Pro Tip: Upload a minimum of 5–10 images every month, to demonstrate activity and engagement.

6. Collect and Respond to Reviews

Reviews are one of the strongest ranking signals for local SEO.

Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and always respond to them no matter if they are positive or negative. 

Example responses:

• “Thank you for your kind words, we’re happy that you had a great experience!” 
• “We are sorry for your inconvenience. Please contact us at [email/phone] to fix the issue.” 

Google likes to see businesses that are active and respond to reviews, so consistency is critical here. 

7. Post Updates, Offers, and Events

Just like on social media, you can post on Google My Business. These posts will display on your listing and keep customers in the loop about your business! Your posts can be about:

You can post about:

• New services
• Discounts or promotions
• Blog updates
• Company announcements

By posting weekly, your profile will remain fresh and it will signal to Google that your business is active. 

8. Add Products and Services

If you often sell products or offer services in multiple categories, list them in the specific sections (products/services).

Each product or service should have:

• Title
• Description (with keywords)
• Price (if applicable)
• High-quality image 

This will possibly not only give you a better chance of being displayed for relevant searches but improve the experience for your customers as well. 

9. Use Local Keywords

Optimize your profiles and website for locals keywords such as the following: 

• “Google My Business SEO in India”
• “Best GMB services near me”
• “Top digital marketing company in Delhi”

This allows Google to determine your business’s location and which users to show your profile to.

10. Maintain NAP Consistency

NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number).

Your NAP must be consistent everywhere, both on your website, social profiles, and online directories.

Even a small hiccup such as “Rd.” vs “Road” can confuse Google and hurt your rankings.

11. Build Local Citations and Backlinks

Get your business listed on trusted directories such as Justdial, Sulekha, IndiaMART and Yelp.

Also earn backlinks from local blogs, business associations, and/or news outlets. These are all signals to Google that your business is reliable and credible.

12. Monitor Insights and Analytics

Google My Business gives you insights about how people find your business, how they interact with your business, and almost all of it is free.

• Profile views
• Clicks
• Calls
• Direction requests

And determine which keywords or actions are producing the most engagement and optimize accordingly.

Common Mistakes That Hurt GMB Rankings

• Using a fake business address
• Keyword stuffing in titles or in the body
• Not responding to customer reviews
• Inconsistent NAP information
• Not making updates for hours or contact information

   

Try to avoid these mistakes so your business can have trust and ranking stability.

Final Thoughts

Getting into the Top 3 in Google Maps did not happen overnight; it takes work, consistency, optimization, and engagement.

Plan on powering through by making a 100% complete, verified, and active Google My Business profile. Then, follow that up with authentic customer engagement, accurate information, and solid content in no time, and you will see your business ranked in Google Maps.

Do you have questions about managing or ranking your Google Business Profile?

Device Doctor India is your GMB SEO expert. We offer Google My Business SEO services that will help you build visibility, gain customers, and grow faster online.

Frequently Asked Questions