Why the Google business Account might be more important than ever in the age of AI searches
Where do we look for the best sushi in town today?
Hand on heart: Who hasn't found themselves simply checking ChatGPT instead of asking Google Maps for the best sushi restaurant - simply because the tab was open?
This is exactly where the silent user change begins: More and more people are using AI searches such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity for things that they previously searched for on Google or directly in Maps.
What does this massive change mean for companies?
Is the Google company entry losing importance - or is it possibly becoming even more relevant?
Away from Google and towards ChatGPT
Search behavior is changing
- 2022: Google or YouTube = starting point for 90% of all search queries
- Today: LLMs are becoming the new "first port of call" - whether privately "best sushi in my area" or professionally "best manufacturer of precision components in the Karlsruhe area"
- Users are increasingly skipping Google in the search bar or neglecting the Google Maps app
But: In order for LLMs to provide answers, they need reliable, structured data sources!
Why a Google business listing remains so relevant for LLMs
Structured data as a secure source
- Verified name, address, telephone number
- Limited description texts
- Opening hours, categories, services
- Photos, Videos, Q&A
LLMs love it - easy to read, well structured and validated
High credibility through reviews
- Reviews and customer photos are authentic and subject to very strict Google guidelines
- In contrast to websites or social media, a more realistic image is created, as less can be embellished
Correction mechanisms
- Incorrect information is reported and corrected by users
- Google checks and applies corrections
- Trust increases automatically
Local Pack = das neue Google Ranking
- Within the Google Search Rankings, Google Maps entries appear as "Local Packs"
- Local Packs refer to company entries
- Google business listings are not only relevant for local searches
- Well-managed company listings are decisive purchasing factors
- Local Packs also appear in national and international searches
- The decision is often already made by the ratings or user photos before a user even clicks on the website
For ChatGPT, this means that a Google company entry is not only important for local searches, but is also relevant for SEO as a whole and is used as a very relevant source for specific questions.
Why ChatGPT uses Google data rather than social media
Data accessibility
- Google company profiles are freely available
- Social media are limited in terms of data evaluation
LLMs prefer structured, open Google data.
Structure & Standardization
- Google profiles are structured according to fixed patterns
- Social media information is more unstructured
Structured data is increasingly attractive for LLMs because it can be integrated more easily and reliably into responses.
Trust factor
- Google Business Profiles contain authentic third-party reviews
- Social media is often perceived as "too much self-PR"
LLMs aim to provide answers that are reliable for the user.
Indexing & reach
- Google ensures that company profiles appear very prominently in the web index
- This means that there is a high probability that the training and reference data of LLMs will be taken into account.
- Some social media content is API-protected or more difficult to use legally
Typical user question to LLMs
Many people ask ChatGPT exactly this:
- "When is company "XY" open?"
- "Which restaurant would you recommend?"
- "Which car dealership in Karlsruhe has the best ratings?"
For this type of question, the Google company entry is the most obvious and reliable source - social media and company websites are almost useless for this purpose
Conclusion
Your Google business listing is perfect for getting noticed by ChatGPT
With the rise of AI searches, it's clear that the Google business listing is worth more, not less, than ever before.
It is structured, authentic, reliable - and therefore the ideal basis for answers from ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity.
Whether it's sushi around the corner or the search for the best manufacturer of high-end components:
A Google company entry is often the decisive point at which purchasing decisions are made.
This means that those who actively maintain their profile are not only visible in Google Maps, but also adapt ideally to the new circumstances of changing search behavior and ensure that they will continue to have an online presence and dominate rankings in the future.
- Note: the text was created with the help of Perplexity. However, all formulations and content approaches have been thoroughly revised by the author. The images were created by Nano Banana and ChatGPT
