For local businesses, a Google Business Profile should be a dynamic content hub, not just a directory listing. Consistently adding posts, images, and services, while using interactive features, signals positive activity to Google. This ongoing management is crucial for maintaining high visibility in local search results.
In 2025, your Google Business Profile (GBP) is no longer a static 'set it and forget it' listing. It must be treated as a dynamic content platform, similar to a blog or social media channel, requiring weekly updates to signal relevance, freshness, and trust to Google's algorithm and AI.
Stop chasing keyword rankings. The new goal is 'search visibility'—dominating AI answers, knowledge panels, and local packs. It's about owning your brand's share of answers wherever a prospect looks, not just securing a single blue link on a results page.
Collaborating with other businesses isn't just for audience growth. It signals credibility to search engines like Google and generative AI tools. These platforms recognize trusted associations, boosting your brand's authority and likelihood of being recommended in search results.
Don't wait for customers to ask questions on your Google Business Profile. Proactively post and answer the most important questions your prospects should be asking. This allows you to control the messaging, demonstrate expertise, and provide valuable, structured content for both users and AI crawlers.
Instead of dozens of disconnected blog posts, consolidate them into comprehensive 'hub pages' or ultimate guides for your core services. This structure is user-friendly and highly rewarded by AI search, as it presents you as an organized, authoritative source on a topic.
Unlike traditional search engines where "evergreen" content can perform well for years, LLMs place a higher value on the freshness of content. To stay relevant in AI-driven search, marketers must consistently update, iterate on, and expand upon their core content pieces.
Especially for local businesses, the Google Business Profile is a vital content channel, not a static listing. Actively use it as a publishing platform by posting weekly updates, photos, and service details to feed Google's local 'answer engine' and dominate local search visibility.
The goal of search engine optimization has evolved beyond simply ranking for keywords. It's now about achieving 'visibility' across various platforms where users find answers, including AI tools, map packs, and review sites. This requires a more holistic strategy than traditional SEO.
When responding to Google reviews, go beyond a simple 'thank you.' Incorporate substantive details about the project, services, or products used. This feeds valuable, keyword-rich content directly to Google and its AI, demonstrating authority and improving visibility for relevant searches.
Google's AI increasingly pulls structured data like reviews, Q&As, and posts directly from your Google Business Profile to generate its AI overview answers. Consistent, fresh activity on your profile can be more impactful for visibility in AI search than traditional on-site SEO for your main website.