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Research Shows Optimizing Your Google My Business Profile Is Still The Best Way To Be Found Online Locally

Okay, so the research I referenced above was informal research conducted by me and one of my interns. But, hey, research is research, right?

We wanted to see if there were any changes to what the traditional Google search engine is serving up in search results these days (and with the advent of AI search) when individuals use Google’s standard Google search engine to search on “near me” terms.

Examples Of “Near Me” Searches/Local Searches

The sample of keywords (representing industries in which some of our clients operate) which we entered into Google’s standard search engine included:

  • Real estate agent near me
  • Real estate broker near me
  • Realtor near me
  • Dog boarding near me
  • Durable medical equipment near me
  • Durable medical equipment supplier near me
  • Stair lift chairs near me
  • Ramps near me
  • Patient lifts near me
  • Estate planning lawyer near me
  • Elder law lawyer near me

As shown in the two print screen examples immediately below and at the end of our post, for all of these searches, other than Google serving up a sponsored Google search text ad or a sponsored Google local services ad, the first “organic”/unpaid listings were always the usual collection of Google My Business Profiles (listed under a Places or Businesses header by Google) that we’ve been accustomed to seeing for years.

This image is of a print screen of a search conducted in the traditional Google Search engine for the terms "Dog Boarding Near Me." It shows that the first listing that comes up for that term is a sponsored Google Search Ad promoting Dog Boarding Services
This image is of a print screen of a search conducted in the traditional Google Search engine for the terms "Realtor Near Me." It shows that the first listings that come up for that term are sponsored Google Local Service Ads promoting distinct realtors

How To Keep Ranking Locally Despite Introduction Of AI Search

We think searchers will continue to use the standard Google and Bing search engines to conduct “near me” searches, since anyone who has used such tools in the past, knows that the best way to get a listing of appropriate businesses and organizations and links to their websites. AI search is often referred to as a zero-link game, and that’s because AI search results often don’t contain links back to organizations’ websites even if they mention that organization or serve up that organization content in the answers they generate.

So, keep optimizing your Google My Business Profile to ensure you continue to be found for local searches by employing the best practices outlined in the blog post to which we linked above, and by following best practices outlined in these blog posts as well:

How To Get Your Google My Business Profile To Rank Better
Are You Making These 3 Mistakes Related To Your Google My Business Profile?
XYZ Near Me

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This image is of a print screen of a search conducted in the traditional Google Search engine for the terms "Durable Medical Equipment Supplier Near Me." It shows that organic Google My Business Profiles/Google Search and maps listings are being served up first for the search term in question under Google's "Places" heading