The Importance of Google My Business to Local SEO
April 9, 2020
Google My Business is a Free and Valuable Tool for Your Business

There are countless businesses and entrepreneurs that are trying to figure out how to make sure that they are always bringing in new customers. Some business owners learn to attract new customers/clients through content writing, public speaking, or appearing on podcasts. However, there is one important tool that many businesses may overlook. Business owners, no matter what sector they are in, should focus on how “Google My Business” can improve local SEO.
There are billions of searches made on the Internet every day, and business owners want to make sure that they are ranked higher than the competition in the results. One of the obvious benefits of Google My Business is simple: it’s free! There are plenty of marketing tools that cost a significant amount of money every month, but Google My Business won’t affect your bottom line in the slightest.
Giving Customers More Information
If you’re a business owner, you don’t want any of your potential customers to be confused about your business. You should be sending a clear message about what problems you can solve, and why your business is the best choice to solve it. You can update your Google My Business listing to include a business address and opening and closing hours.
No entrepreneur wants potential customers to disappear because they have the address wrong, or stopped by when your business isn't open. In that manner, Google My Business can make things clear for existing and future customers. You can update your profile any time to make sure that your customers have the latest information.
Gain Customer Loyalty
Okay, so a customer knows where your business is, and when it’s open. How does Google My Business help beyond that? Well, it’s simple. If you are a business owner that is serious about satisfying your customers, your Google My Business reviews will stand out against the local competition.
Let’s say that someone is searching for local bakeries in a particular city - and your business is beloved by locals. You can urge these locals to write reviews that will improve your local SEO, and might even consider offering them a discount or promotion as a result.
We all know how important conversion rates can be to revenue, and we also know that many customers might avoid clicking on a business that has many negative reviews. In that way, you can leverage your customer loyalty to improve local SEO.
Increase Interest
There are many businesses that are able to bring in customers, but how many are able to keep them? What can you do to make sure that customers stay interested? Google My Business might be free, but you can actually use the tool to make sure that customers know about new updates, whatever they are.
Let’s say that you are a daycare and want to show off the latest renovations. You might be a restaurant that just hired a new chef, and want to showcase the new menu. This can all be accomplished through the Google My Business media section, and blog posts can be uploaded, as well. In this way, Google My Business can help make sure that customers stay engaged and interested.

For years, small businesses have treated social media as a necessary chore. You post a graphic, use a few hashtags, cross your fingers for likes, and hope it eventually turns into a lead. But if you are still using social media just to keep your feed "active," you are leaving serious revenue on the table. In 2026, social media is no longer an isolated echo chamber. It is the primary data source that Large Language Models (LLMs)—like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google’s AI Overviews—use to understand, verify, and recommend brands. When a prospect asks ChatGPT, "Who is the most reliable commercial HVAC contractor in Tampa?" or "What is the best local managed IT service?" , the AI doesn't just scan your website. It pulls from Reddit threads, YouTube tutorials, and LinkedIn discussions. Here is how smart brands are shifting their strategy from chasing cheap clicks to engineering AI visibility—and how you can do it, too. The Shift: From "Content Calendars" to "Signal Generation" Traditional SEO focused on stuffing keywords into website pages so Google would rank you higher. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) require a different approach. AI search engines look for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). They find this by scanning social platforms for authentic human context. Your goal is no longer just to get a user to double-tap your photo; it is to feed the algorithms the exact signals they need to cite your business as the definitive authority. The New Rule of Search: Social Media ➔ LLM Context ➔ Global Search Authority. The 2026 Playbook: Winning the Major Platforms Every platform requires a specific signal to prove your authority to search engines. 1. LinkedIn: Optimize for "Dwell Time" (Not Just Likes) LinkedIn’s algorithm—and the AI systems crawling it—heavily rewards passive reading, or "dwell time." Stop treating LinkedIn like a bulletin board for company announcements. Instead, treat every post as a high-value mini-article. Lead with a strong hook, break down a complex industry problem, and provide the exact framework you use to solve it. When executives spend two minutes reading your post without scrolling, it signals immense authority to the algorithm, establishing your leadership team as true industry experts. 2. YouTube & TikTok: Own the "How-To" Space Google’s search results now prominently feature video carousels, and AI tools constantly pull transcripts from videos to answer user questions. To capitalize on this, your spoken words must be treated as an SEO system. If your target customer is searching for "How to fix a leaking commercial roof," those exact words must be spoken in the first five seconds of your video. Pair this with highly accurate closed captions and keyword-rich descriptions. You aren't just making a video; you are building an evergreen asset that will rank in search results for years. 3. Reddit: The Ultimate Trust Signal Right now, Reddit is one of the most frequently cited domains by AI platforms. Why? Because it represents unfiltered, authentic human experience. However, brands cannot just drop promotional links in subreddits—the community will immediately reject them. The strategy here is substantive participation. By monitoring local or industry-specific subreddits and providing genuinely helpful, brand-agnostic advice, you build a digital footprint of trust that AI engines rely on when recommending solutions. Stop Guessing. Start Dominating. The landscape of search has permanently changed. Trying to manage traditional SEO, run a business, and engineer AI signals across five different social platforms is a recipe for burnout. You need a strategy that aligns your Web Design, SEO, and Social Media into one frictionless ecosystem—maximizing your visibility while removing the operational headache from your plate. At Mystic Media , we don't just post content; we architect your digital authority. Our integrated approach to AI Content Optimization, Social Media Management, and Better SEO ensures that when your customers ask the internet a question, your brand is the only answer. Ready to future-proof your digital presence? Request a Demo today or call our team at (866) 764-2877 . Let's build the digital success you deserve.

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