The journey of Google My Business started in 2004 when Google started listing local businesses.
- Google My Business is not a social media platform but it has social media platform-like features designed for business-customer interaction. It’s more of a business directory with engagement tools.
- Google Search Engine Dominance
| Insight | Data |
| Total Google searches per day | 3.5 billion |
| Google’s search engine market share (US) | 92% |
| Bing’s search engine market share (US) | 3% |
Let us understand the importance of Google My Business by Interesting stats ( data-backed)
- History
Major Milestones in Google My Business (GMB) History
| Year | Major Development |
| 2004 | Google introduced “Google Local” as a feature within Google Maps |
| 2005 | Google Local rebranded as “Google Maps for Mobile.” |
| 2009 | Google Places launched, separating business listings from Maps. |
| 2012 | Google+ Local was introduced, integrating Places with Google+. |
| 2014 | Google My Business (GMB) launched, merging Places & Google+ Local. |
| 2017 | Google Posts launched, allowing direct business updates. |
| 2018 | Enhanced analytics capabilities introduced in GMB. |
Table 2: Feature Rollouts in GMB (2017 – 2021)
| Date | Feature Introduced |
| Jul 2017 | Messaging feature launched for GMB. |
| Oct 2017 | Booking button added to business listings. |
| Jan 2018 | GMB Posts started appearing on Google websites. |
| Mar 2018 | Business Description field updated; Women-Led attribute added. |
| Apr 2018 | Businesses could now specify a custom list of services. (like services provided, products available, etc.) |
| Oct 2018 | Follow button added to Google My Business listings. |
| Nov 2018 | Future opening date listings introduced (90 days before opening). |
| Jan 2019 | Social media icons added to GMB Knowledge Panels. |
| Apr 2019 | GMB dashboard redesigned for better user experience. (A dashboard was created and buttons like Home, Insights, Posts, etc. were added) |
| Jun 2019 | Branding & promotional tools added for businesses. .(like logo, cover photo, welcome offers) |
| Jul 2019 | The “Get A Quote” button was added to GMB Knowledge Panels. |
| Nov 2019 | Businesses could add a custom list of services to GMB listings. (like provides 1 day delivery, provides nursing facilities, etc.) |
- Number Of Countries Using GMB
- GMB is available in 245 countries
- But it is not available in 7 countries.
| Crimea |
| Cuba |
| Iran |
| North Korea |
| Sudan |
| Syria |
| China |
(source-GoogleSupport)
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Features Of Google My Business
Here is the table showing Basic Information Features in GMB
| Feature | Details |
| Business Name | Accurate and consistent with branding. |
| Address | Physical location including street address, city, state, and zip code. |
| Phone Number | Primary contact number for customers. |
| Website | Link to your official website. |
| Category | Primary category that best describes your business. |
| Additional Categories | Up to 10 more categories to further define your offerings. |
| Description | Brief overview of business and offerings. |
| Hours of Operation | Regular business hours, including special and holiday hours. |
Enhancement Features in GMB
| Feature | Details |
| Photos | Upload images of the business interior, exterior, products, and team. |
| Videos | Share videos showcasing businesses, products, or services. |
| Attributes | Highlight specific features (e.g., “outdoor seating,” “wheelchair accessible”). |
| Menu (for restaurants) | Display menu items with descriptions and prices. |
| Products | Showcase products with images, descriptions, and prices. |
| Services | List services offered with descriptions and pricing (if applicable). |
| Appointment Link | Provide a direct link for customers to book appointments. |
Engagement Features in GMB
| Feature | Details |
| Reviews | Encourage and respond to customer reviews (positive and negative). |
| Questions & Answers | Answer frequently asked customer questions. |
| Messaging | Enable direct customer messaging through GMB. |
| Google Posts | Create and share updates, offers, events, and announcements. |
Special Features and Business Management in GMB
| Feature | Details |
| Insights | Track customer interactions (how they find business, actions taken, etc.). |
| Location Management | Manage multiple business locations from one account. |
| User Management | Add and manage users with different access levels. |
| Online Ordering (for restaurants) | Enable customers to order food online. |
| Reservations (for restaurants) | Allow customers to make reservations. |
| Special Hours | Set different hours for specific days or events. |
- Businesses Categories Present On Google My Business
- Google offers 4000 categories and one can choose 10 categories for Business listing
- Verified Businesses Present On Google My Business
- Out of all businesses posted on Google My Business, 64% of them are verified.
- Verified Businesses have more chances of visibility.
Here is the table showing the Percentage of Verified Businesses on Google My Business (GMB) by Industry
| Industry | Verified GMB Profile (%) |
| Property Management | 83% |
| Hospitality | 81% |
| Healthcare | 75% |
| Retail | 73% |
| Technology | 70% |
| Consumer Goods | 69% |
| Beauty & Wellness | 65% |
| Finance | 65% |
| Recreation | 58% |
| Legal | 57% |
| Automotive | 45% |
| Home Services | 45% |
Here is the table showing Verified Businesses – Monthly Engagement Metrics
| Metric | Value |
| Average direction requests per month | 66 |
| Industries leading in direction requests | Hospitality, Recreation |
| Average calls generated per year | 595 |
| Average calls generated per month | 50 |
- Businesses Posting Content On GMB
Businesses improve their online visibility and credibility by posting content
This table shows Business Posting Content on Google Business Profile (GMB)
| Posting Activity | Percentage of Businesses |
| Businesses that have posted content | 60% |
| Businesses that have not posted anything | 40% |
- Businesses Posting Photos On GMB
Businesses improve their online visibility and credibility by posting photos.
- It has been reported that there is an Increased revenue per visitor by 17% if images are posted on GMB
This table shows the Number of Photos per Business Profile by Industry
| Industry | Average Number of Photos |
| Home Services | 70 |
| Automotive | 57 |
| Beauty & Wellness | 44 |
| Technology | 19 |
| Healthcare | 12 |
| Finance | 6 |
- Consumer Behavior For Businesses Listed On GMB
The table shows how people have Google Business Profile Interactions
| Interaction Type | Percentage (%) |
| Website Visits | 48% |
| Direction Requests | 29% |
| Phone Calls | 21% |
| Other Interactions | 2% |
- Consumer Looking For Directions Via GMB
This table shows GMB and Google Maps Visibility
| Insight | Data |
| Consumers using Google Maps to locate a nearby business | 86% |
| Consumers using Google Maps to find a business | 93% |
- Businesses Getting Traffic To Their Websites Via GMB
- The Businesses that list images on GMB receive 35 times more website visits than others (who do not post images)
This table shows the Website Visits from Google Business Profile by Industry
| Industry | Website Visits |
| Automotive | 3,840 |
| Beauty & Wellness | 1,866 |
| Consumer Goods | 1,319 |
| Finance | 203 |
| Healthcare | 515 |
| Home Services | 402 |
| Hospitality | 4,702 |
| Legal | 406 |
| Property Management | 1,689 |
| Recreation | 6,830 |
| Retail | 1,582 |
- Businesses Getting Google Search Views Via GMB
This table shows Google Search Views from Google Business Profile by Industry
| Industry | Google Search Views |
| Hospitality | 92,626 |
| Recreation | 81,169 |
| Automotive | 41,013 |
| Retail | 40,489 |
| Consumer Goods | 21,643 |
| Property Management | 18,349 |
| Beauty & Wellness | 17,234 |
| Healthcare | 11,276 |
| Home Services | 8,754 |
| Legal | 7,166 |
| Technology | 6,431 |
| Finance | 5,358 |
- Businesses Getting Engagement And Conversions Via GMB
This Table Shows Engagement & Customer Actions on GMB
| Insight | Data |
| Percentage of businesses receiving appointment requests through GMB | 45% |
| Percentage of GMB listings with an appointment scheduler leading to approvals | 45% |
| Percentage of customer actions resulting in website visits | 56% |
| Conversion rate from Google Business Profile views into actual customer actions | More than 5% |
- Local Businesses Getting Visibility Via GMB
- When people search for local businesses on Google, 42% of them click on one of the results displayed in the Google Local Pack.
This Table Shows how GMB Helps Local Businesses
| Insight | Data |
| Percentage of local business calls received on weekdays | 94% |
| Surge in “Near Me” search queries | Over 200% |
| Local searchers visiting businesses within 5 miles | 72% |
| Percentage of consumers learning about local businesses online | 97% |
| Consumers using GMB to find contact details | 64% |
| Average monthly views for a local business on GMB | 1,260 |
- Businesses Getting Business Visibility & SEO
Importance of GMB for Business Visibility & SEO
| Insight | Data |
| Percentage of internet searches done on Google | 90% |
| Average actions per month per business (calls, clicks, conversations) | 59 |
| Percentage of interactions leading to website visits | More than 50% |
| Importance of online presence | 97% of users learn about businesses online |
| Percentage of businesses receiving over 1,000 views per month | 40% |
| Impact of accurate & complete GMB information | 7x more clicks |
- Businesses Getting User Reviews On Their GMB Profile
- A Business gets an average of 39 reviews on a GMB Profile.
This Table Shows Google Reviews by Industry
| Industry | Number of Reviews |
| Automotive | 150 |
| Beauty & Wellness | 48 |
| Consumer Goods | 63 |
| Finance | 23 |
| Healthcare | 60 |
| Home Services | 47 |
| Hospitality | 281 |
| Legal | 36 |
| Property Mgmt. | 34 |
| Recreation | 140 |
| Retail | 97 |
- Consumer Behavior Trends for Google Business Reviews
This Table Shows Consumer Review Insights
| Insight | Percentage / Value |
| Average new Google reviews per location in 2023 | 66 |
| Consumers likely to give a review after a positive experience | 65% |
| Consumers who will give a review when asked | 68% |
| Consumers expect a response within 60 minutes | 42% |
| Consumers expect a response on weekends or nights | 67% |
| Customers are likely to provide a review if a business resolves an issue positively | 79% |
- However, businesses are also affected by negative reviews. Negative reviews can deter potential customers by 45 times
- Consumer Behaviour Getting Influenced By GMB Profile
This Table Shows Consumer Behavior & GMB Influence
| Insight | Data |
| Consumers who read online reviews before choosing a local business | 82% |
| Consumers who used Google to decide on a business in 2022 | 87% |
| Consumers who read reviews before making a purchase | 90% |
| Customers are likely to shop if business owners respond to reviews | 88% |
- Effectiveness of GMB Ads for Businesses
GMB Ads Statistics
| Insight | Percentage / Value |
| Pay-per-click ads viewed on mobile devices | 50% |
| Average actions per month from a business listing (calls, clicks, conversations) | 59 actions |
| Consumers are likely to visit a store after seeing an ad on Google | 70% |
The Ifs, Buts & Pitfalls Of GMB
- Due to Google’s algorithm changes, sometimes business rankings are impacted by GMB.
- A negative review on GMB can affect a business’s conversion rates. Companies need to respond wisely to Google reviews.
- There are a large number of Businesses that list themselves on GMB, and there is massive competition among businesses to rank well.
- Limited customization options are available on GMB, and giving complete information to customers is sometimes difficult for some businesses.
- Businesses must constantly optimize their GMB profiles and check for inaccurate information or reviews users post.
If We Sum Up.
GMB profiles can generate a lot of engagement and business interactions. Several positive reviews can also shape customers’ mindsets and bolster conversions.
A good GMB profile is one of the best ways to target local customers; hence, no business should miss this opportunity.
Do you want to know other social media stats? Check out our other blogs.
- (Source-adbirt , themediacaptain, slickkestdigital, e2msolution, coolest-gadget), publer)
