How to Improve Your Google My Business Rankings as a Singapore SME

Take the story of Mei, who runs a cosy café in Tiong Bahru. For years, she relied on word of mouth and passing foot traffic to gain customers. One day, a customer showed Mei her Google My Business profile and pointed out missing photos of her menu and outdated hours.

Soon after, Mei claimed and optimised her profile; she added clear opening times, pictures of her cafe, and responded to reviews. It didn’t take long before she started noticing a steady stream of new walk-ins. Within three months, her phone rang more frequently, and now with her cafe appearing in the coveted “3-pack” on local searches like “cafe near me,” she reports that her profits have reached an all-time high.

While Mei’s story demonstrates the significant value GMB can bring, it also highlights another important aspect of today’s world. Even businesses with exceptional products or services may not realise their potential if their Google My Business listing isn’t fully optimised. Without a strong online presence, potential customers may simply choose competitors who rank higher and appear more trustworthy.

 

What is Google My Business, and Why is It Important?

Google My Business is a free tool that lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps when local customers search for it. It allows you to share essential information, such as your name, address, contact details, and opening hours with potential customers in your area, so they can easily find and contact you when they need a related product or service.

Research indicates that approximately 46% of all Google searches have local intent, and 88% of local mobile searches result in a store visit within a week. Thus, in addition to the enhanced web visibility, Google My Business offers your business high-quality conversion-ready traffic.

 

How to Improve Your Google My Business Ranking

Now that you know the importance of Google My Business, here are eight expert tips to ensure you get a higher ranking on Google My Business:

Claim, Verify, and Complete Every Field

Before you can use your GMB account, you’ll need to claim and verify your listing first, usually via a postcard. Next, complete every field: business name, categories, address (NAP), hours, website, and attributes like “outdoor seating”.

Remember, full, accurate listings are more reliable and informative, so both customers and Google favour them.

Choose the Right Primary Category

Your primary category tells Google WHAT your business IS. A local SEO study shows the primary GMB category has the most powerful influence on local rankings.

Be as precise as you can when choosing your primary category, and you’ll appear in the right searches. For example,  if you run a vegan bakery, choose “Vegan bakery” instead of just “Bakery”.

Add Strategic Keywords in the Business Title (Carefully)

Including a natural keyword in your listing—for example, “Tiong Bahru Vegan Bakery”—can help, but tread carefully. Keywords stuffed in titles have been overused and could be downgraded. Keep it natural, local, and aligned with expectations.

Upload High-Quality Photos Regularly

GMB listings with photos receive up to 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks. Thus, upload as many images as possible, including interiors, products, team members, events, and menus. Then update them monthly or whenever something changes.

This shows customers—and Google—that you’re active and trustworthy.

Encourage and Respond to Reviews

Reviews matter, both in terms of quantity and quality. A recent study found that even adding one more review (from 9 to 10) led to a slight increase in ranking on Google Maps.

It’s always a good idea to ask your satisfied customers to leave a review in person or via a follow-up link. Always respond to positives and address concerns in a professional manner. This will give a boost to Google’s perception of your business and also your brand positioning.

Post Regular Updates and Use All GMB Features

Google now allows weekly posts—share offers, news, or events. A profile with fresh posts at least twice a month tends to perform better.

Also, fill in Services, Q&As, and attributes. According to several experts, “predefined services” are also now a key ranking factor. If you offer vegan cake delivery, highlight the delivery services in addition to your cake.

List Your Business in Relevant Online Directories

Beyond Google My Business, ensure your business is listed accurately on other popular Singaporean and regional business directories, such as Singapore Brand, Yelp, Foursquare, and local chambers of commerce websites. These listings will work as ‘local backlinks’ for GMB, while they can also help you broaden your reach, as several customers use these directories as well.

Also, remember to put consistent information across all the websites, especially making the NAP the same word by word to avoid confusion for the search engine. In other words, if your company is listed as  ‘ABC Pte Ltd’ on one website, make sure that the other is ‘ABC Pte Ltd’ as well and not ‘ABC Company’ or even ‘ABC Pte. Ltd.’ (notice the full stops).

Monitor GMB Insights and Adjust

The Insights tab shows how customers found you—via search or maps—and their actions: calls, direction clicks, website visits.

If a few find you via “near me”, use that keyword in your posts (again, naturally). If calls are low, simplify your contact details or add a better CTA. This data helps you refine your approach.

 

Final Thoughts

Your Google My Business listing is a silent salesperson working 24/7. But it only succeeds if it’s fully optimised, regularly updated, and aligned with local search trends. Most Singapore SMEs still overlook these steps. Don’t let that be you.

Start today: optimise one element each week and watch your visibility—and foot traffic—grow. And if you need further assistance, Singapore Brand is here to help.