Google Myth Busters: How Long Does It Take To Rank?

We interrupt your regularly scheduled newsletter full of tips on how to get more customers from Google Maps with a Public Service Announcement. PSA: It takes 4-6 months for most businesses to start ranking higher on Google Maps after starting a new SEO strategy. This isn’t news to us, but it is obvious there are misconceptions in the marketplace about the time it takes to rank a Google Business Profile on Google Maps - shared by shady sales people.

Jun 30, 2025

We interrupt your regularly scheduled newsletter full of tips on how to get more customers from Google Maps with a Public Service Announcement.

‍PSA: It takes 4-6 months for most businesses to start ranking higher on Google Maps after starting a new SEO strategy.

‍This isn’t news to us, but it is obvious there are misconceptions in the marketplace about the time it takes to rank a Google Business Profile on Google Maps - shared by shady sales people.

We analyzed millions of data points across the thousands of Google Business Profiles Paige optimizes, and found that while small initial improvements may happen in the first 90 days, the average Google Business Profile takes 4 months to get initial ranking improvements for hard-to-rank keywords.

If someone tells you otherwise, they’re likely using black hat SEO tactics which will get your profile flagged by Google. That’s why Paige is trained to only do white hat (safe, Google approves) SEO strategies.

Want to see how Paige automates GMB management? Join our upcoming webinar here.

About Author

Justin Silverman

Justin Silverman is the Founder and CEO of Merchynt, a local SEO technology company on a mission to make local SEO services not suck—one agency and small business at a time. Since launching Merchynt in 2019, Justin has helped over 20,000 businesses grow through data-driven Google Business Profile optimization and AI-powered local marketing tools like Paige. With more than a decade of experience in digital marketing and business growth, Justin previously held executive roles at Vista Group, where he served as VP of Global Partnerships and President of MovieXchange. He also led strategy and operations at Veezi, helping to scale tech products across international markets. Justin's career has spanned roles in marketing, partnerships, and operations, working with companies from early-stage startups to global enterprises. His deep knowledge of local search, combined with real-world leadership, positions him as a trusted voice in the local SEO and SaaS space. Under his leadership, Merchynt has become a go-to provider for agencies and small businesses seeking to dominate local search rankings through white-label solutions, AI automation, and performance-focused strategy. Justin continues to speak, write, and build tools with one mission in mind: to help 298 million businesses get found online by their perfect customer.