Google My Business: The Complete Guide to Dominating Local Search Rankings in 2025
If you’re running a business in Bangladesh and want to be found by customers searching on Google, there’s one tool you absolutely cannot ignore: Google My Business. Yet, most business owners treat their GMB profile like an afterthought—a quick form to fill out and forget. That’s a massive mistake.
Here’s the truth: your Google My Business listing is one of the most powerful assets for getting discovered locally. In fact, Google Business Profile signals account for nearly 32% of all local search ranking factors. That means the way you optimize your GMB profile can literally make or break your online visibility.
Whether you run a restaurant in Dhaka, a service business in Chittagong, or an e-commerce store serving all of Bangladesh, this guide will show you exactly how to set up and optimize your Google My Business profile to attract more customers, increase phone calls, and rank higher in local search results.
What Is Google My Business and Why Does It Matter?
Let’s start with the basics. Google My Business (now called Google Business Profile) is a free tool provided by Google that lets you manage how your business appears across Google Search and Google Maps. Think of it as your official storefront on Google.
When someone in your area searches for what you offer—say, “plumber near me” or “best restaurant in Dhaka”—Google pulls information from millions of Business Profiles to decide which companies to show first. Your profile becomes the information hub where potential customers find your address, phone number, business hours, customer reviews, photos, and more.
But here’s what really matters: Google trusts information from Business Profiles more than random websites. That means a properly optimized GMB listing can help you rank higher not just on Google Maps, but also in regular Google Search results. That’s why Bangladeshi businesses are missing out on massive growth by neglecting this channel.
The numbers speak for themselves. During the pandemic alone, businesses saw a 61% increase in phone calls from their Google My Business profiles. And studies show that 92% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase—most of which they find on GMB.
The Three Pillars of Local Search: How Google Decides Who Ranks Where
Before we dive into optimization tactics, you need to understand how Google actually ranks local businesses. Google uses three core principles to decide which Business Profiles appear in your search results:
Proximity (Distance)
This is straightforward: if you’re searching for a coffee shop, Google prioritizes the ones closest to you. Your physical address and verified location are critical. This is why getting your address exactly right on your GMB profile is non-negotiable.
Relevance
Relevance measures how well your Business Profile matches what someone is searching for. If a customer searches for “graphic design services,” Google checks whether your profile clearly states you offer graphic design. The keywords in your profile title, description, categories, and services all influence relevance. Google looks at everything—your profile information, your website content, customer reviews, and the services you list.
Prominence
Prominence is basically your reputation. How well-known is your business? How much do people trust you? Google determines this by looking at your review ratings, the number of reviews you have, your presence on other directories, backlinks pointing to your website, and your overall online credibility. A business with 200 five-star reviews will rank higher than a business with 5 reviews, all else being equal.
These three factors work together. You can’t just focus on one. The businesses that dominate local search results excel at all three.
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up and Optimize Your Google My Business Profile
Now let’s get into the practical work. Here’s exactly what you need to do to build a GMB profile that ranks.
1. Create and Verify Your Profile
First, go to Google My Business (now at google.com/business). Sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, create one—it’s free.
Click “Create account” and enter your business name exactly as it appears on your official documents or signboard. This is critical. Adding keywords like “best,” “top,” or “expert” to your business name is a red flag to Google. Keep it real and clean. For example, if your business is called “Dhaka Web Design Studio,” enter that exact name—not “Best Dhaka Web Design Studio.” Google reads profiles like a local authority would, and it penalizes businesses that try to game the system.
Next, enter your business address. Google will send you a postcard with a verification code. This usually takes 5-10 business days. Some business types (like those without a physical storefront) may be able to verify immediately online. Once you receive the code, enter it in your profile to confirm you actually own that address.
Pro tip: If you’re setting up profiles for multiple locations, create one primary location first, get it verified and active, then add others. New locations take time to build authority, so starting with your strongest base makes sense.
2. Choose the Right Business Category (This Is Huge)
Your primary business category is one of the most important ranking factors for your GMB profile. Google uses this to understand what you do and match you to relevant searches. Choose the wrong category, and even a perfect profile won’t rank.
Google has over 4,000 business categories, so you should find one that matches what you actually offer. Be specific. If you’re a restaurant, don’t just say “restaurant”—say “Indian restaurant” or “Pizza restaurant.” If you’re a marketing agency like Jarin Tech, your category might be “Digital Marketing Agency” or “SEO Service.”
The key is matching the category to the searches your customers actually perform. Think about what someone would type into Google when looking for your business. Your category should match that intent.
You can also select secondary categories to cast a wider net. If you’re a salon that offers hair services, makeup, and threading, add multiple categories to cover all your services. The more accurate your categories, the more search queries you’ll show up for.
3. Fill Out Every Section of Your Profile Completely
Google rewards complete, detailed profiles. The more information you provide, the better Google can understand your business and match it to relevant searches.
Business description: You have 750 characters. Use this space wisely. Write a compelling description that includes the keywords your customers actually search for. Instead of “We offer digital marketing services,” try “We help Bangladeshi businesses grow with SEO, social media marketing, and Google Ads campaigns.” Notice how the second version is more specific, mentions your location, and includes keyword phrases? That’s the approach to take.
Services and products: Don’t just list them—describe them. Include pricing if applicable, and use natural keyword language. For example, instead of just “Web Design,” write “Custom WordPress Website Design for E-commerce Businesses.” Google indexes these differently than your main description, so you can include relevant keywords here without sounding repetitive.
Business hours: Keep these updated, including holiday hours. Outdated hours frustrate customers and hurt your credibility with Google. If you change your hours seasonally or for special events, update your profile immediately.
Phone number: Use a single, consistent phone number across all your online properties. If you list one number on your GMB profile, a different number on your website, and yet another on Facebook, Google gets confused. This inconsistency (called NAP inconsistency—Name, Address, Phone) can hurt your rankings.
Website and booking links: Add links to your website and any booking platforms you use. Google tracks clicks to these links as a signal of engagement. Active buttons that drive clicks and calls improve your visibility.
4. Keep Your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) Consistent Everywhere
This is so important that we’re giving it its own section. Your NAP information must be identical across your Google My Business profile, your website, your Facebook page, Google Maps, local directories, and anywhere else you’re listed online.
Here’s why: Google sees inconsistencies as a red flag. It thinks either you’re running multiple businesses, or your information is unreliable. When your NAP is consistent everywhere, Google trusts you more and ranks you higher.
Create a NAP audit checklist. List every place you’re listed online—Jarin Tech’s website, Facebook, LinkedIn, local directories, Yelp, industry directories, etc. Check that the name, address, and phone number are exactly the same. If you find inconsistencies, fix them immediately. Then audit monthly, because old listings or duplicate profiles can pop up unexpectedly.
5. Add High-Quality Photos and Videos
Photos are trust signals. When potential customers see real photos of your storefront, your team, or your products, they believe you’re a legitimate business. This matters to Google too. The more professional photos and videos you have on your profile, the higher you’re likely to rank.
Here’s what you should upload:
Storefront and interior photos: Show the front of your building, your reception area, or your workspace. These help local customers recognize your location and build confidence that you’re a real business.
Team photos: A quick shot of your team working gives your profile a personal touch. It shows you’re not a spam listing. Real businesses have real people.
Product or service photos: If you sell products or provide services, show them in action. Restaurant photos should feature your dishes. A salon should show before-and-after transformations. A digital marketing agency might show case study results or their office setup.
Short videos: Create a 30-second video of your team, your location tour, or your service in action. Videos get more engagement than static photos and signal that your business is active and legitimate.
When uploading images, optimize them. Use high-quality photos (but not AI-generated or obviously stock images). Add descriptive file names like “dhaka-office-team.jpg” instead of “IMG_1234.jpg.” Add alt text to every image. This helps Google understand what the image shows, which improves accessibility and SEO.
Pro tip: Geotag your photos. This location metadata tells Google where photos were taken, strengthening your local relevance signals.
6. Encourage and Respond to Google Reviews
Reviews are the lifeblood of local SEO. Studies show that reviews influence up to 16% of your local search ranking factors. Businesses with more reviews and higher star ratings rank higher than those with fewer reviews.
But it’s not just about quantity. Quality matters too. A business with 50 five-star reviews will outrank a business with 100 one-star reviews. Google also looks at review recency (how recent they are) and review velocity (how often you receive new reviews).
Actively encourage your customers to leave reviews. After a successful transaction, send them an email or text with a direct link to your GMB profile asking for feedback. Make it easy. The fewer clicks it takes, the more reviews you’ll get.
When people leave reviews (good or bad), respond to them. This shows Google that your business is active and engaged. Thank customers for five-star reviews. Address concerns in negative reviews professionally and helpfully. Responding to reviews can boost your rankings and shows potential customers that you care about feedback.
Important: Never fake reviews or ask people to leave reviews in exchange for discounts or freebies. Google can detect this, and it will destroy your credibility. Stick to genuine customer reviews.
7. Use the Q&A Section Strategically
Your GMB profile has a Q&A section where customers can ask questions. This feature often gets overlooked, but it’s a goldmine for local SEO.
Monitor this section regularly and answer questions promptly. If you notice patterns in customer questions, this tells you what information matters most to your audience. Also, proactively answer common questions yourself. This shows Google that your profile is active and fills gaps in your information.
Additionally, the keywords in Q&A content are indexed by Google, so you can naturally include local keywords and long-tail phrases that strengthen your relevance.
8. Post Regular Updates on Your GMB Profile
Google rewards active profiles. If your profile looks abandoned, Google will prioritize profiles that look fresh and maintained.
Post updates at least once a week, though 2-3 times weekly is even better. What should you post?
- Special offers or limited-time promotions
- New products or services
- Blog posts from your website
- Upcoming events
- Team highlights
- Seasonal content
- Holiday hours
Each post should be concise (Google limits them to 300 characters), include a call-to-action, and feature a high-quality image. Posts stay live for 7 days, so create a posting schedule to keep your profile consistently updated.
These posts appear directly in Google Search results and on Google Maps, so they’re visible to people searching for your business. Active posting also signals engagement to Google’s algorithm, which helps your overall ranking.
9. Optimize Your Special Attributes
Depending on your business category, you can add special attributes that highlight unique features. Think of these as check boxes that help you stand out.
For a hotel, you might check “Free breakfast” or “Pet-friendly.” For a salon, “LGBTQ+ owned” or “Wheelchair accessible.” For a restaurant, “Outdoor seating” or “Vegetarian options.”
The more applicable attributes you select, the more ways your profile can match customer searches and appear in results.
10. Set Up Messaging and Click-to-Call Features
In 2025, mobile customers want quick, convenient ways to contact you. Enable messaging so customers can text you directly from your GMB profile. Enable the click-to-call button so one tap dials your number.
Google rewards active engagement, and these features increase interaction. They also provide additional ways for customers to reach you without leaving Google, improving your conversion rates.
How Google My Business Boosts Your Website Rankings
Here’s something many business owners don’t realize: your GMB profile doesn’t just help you rank on Google Maps. It actually boosts your website’s rankings in regular Google Search results.
Google owns both your GMB profile and your website data. When you link your GMB profile to your website, Google better understands your business and can validate that your website is connected to a verified, legitimate business. A completed profile with reviews and active engagement signals credibility to Google’s algorithm.
Also, keywords in your GMB reviews, posts, and descriptions can help your website rank for those terms. For example, if customers mention “graphic design services for startups” in their reviews of your GMB profile, Google sees that your business is relevant for that phrase. This can help your website rank for it too.
The takeaway: a fully optimized GMB profile is not separate from your website SEO strategy. They work together. Invest in both.
Common GMB Mistakes That Kill Your Rankings
Before we wrap up, here are critical mistakes to avoid:
Using keyword-stuffed business names: Your business name is not a place to cram keywords. It’s confusing to customers and gets flagged by Google.
Neglecting verification: An unverified profile has limited visibility. Verify your business even if it takes extra steps.
Choosing the wrong category: A miscategorized business won’t show up in relevant searches.
Creating duplicate listings: If two profiles exist for your business, Google might remove both. Search for your business before creating a profile.
Leaving outdated information: Old hours, wrong phone numbers, or outdated addresses frustrate customers and hurt your credibility.
Ignoring reviews: Both negative and positive reviews deserve responses. Silent profiles look dead.
Not posting updates: An inactive profile signals abandonment. Post regularly.
Letting NAP information be inconsistent: The same business listed with different names, addresses, or phone numbers across the web signals distrust.
Moving Forward: Make Google My Business Your Local SEO Foundation
Google My Business is free. It’s powerful. And it’s non-negotiable if you want to rank locally and attract customers searching on Google.
The businesses that dominate local search don’t just create profiles and forget them. They actively manage, optimize, and maintain their listings. They respond to reviews. They post regularly. They add quality photos. They keep information updated.
If you’re in Bangladesh and competing for local customers, investing a few hours each week in your GMB profile is one of the highest-ROI marketing activities you can do.
The question isn’t whether you should optimize your Google My Business Service profile. The question is: how much longer will you wait to do it?
Start today. Create your profile, fill out every section completely, verify your business, add photos, encourage reviews, and post regular updates. Your future customers are searching on Google right now. Make sure they find you.
Need help on this? Contact Jarin Tech Please do follow us on Facebook @Jarintechbd
