Google My Business Impressions Took a Big Hit – Will They Recover?

Despite most of the country spending the bulk of their time at home the past several weeks, Google My Business impressions took a big hit in March and early April.

Beginning in March, Google My Business (GMB) i mpressions were down an average of 59% across all business verticals. Click through to websites dropped by 31% and click to call dropped 21%. These stats paint a clear picture – the COVID-19 crisis hit GMB, and thereby local businesses, in a bad way .

Both internet providers and streaming services have reported record high usage over the past couple of months. This makes sense,taking into account the number of people sheltering in place, whether voluntarily or due to government mandates. So why did interaction with Google My Business take such a steep downturn?

It’s likely due to a number of factors. T h e health crisis brought with it a lot of unknowns. Many consumers were facing financialinsecurity with the threat of lost income. For these consumers, seeking out local companies via Google My Business wasn’t a top priority.

Additionally, with the ever-changing recommendations on social distancing and safety guidelines, it was hard for consumers to know if their local businesses were open or closed. Unfortunately, many would-be customers assumed businesses were closed.

These factors, and others, resulted in consumers simply not searching for businesses in their area. At least in the short term.

The good news is, Google My Business numbers are already starting to rebound. Mid- to late April statistics show GMB impressions and clicks on a steady increase.

As consumers become more comfortable with the “new normal” way of living during this health crisis, they’re beginning to make plans, consider new purchases, and search online for local businesses.

As the economy adjusts and recovers, it’s likely we’ll see further fluctuations in GMB’s numbers, but with an overall upward trend.

Whether GMB numbers are up or down, it’s vitally important you maintain your company’s listing. Ensure your contact details and operating hours are correct. If you’re handling business differently because of the health crisis, be sure to update your listing accordingly.

As interaction with local businesses increases in the coming weeks and months, a consistent Google My Business listing will put you ahead of your competition.

And If you work with a marketing partner, don’t forget to check in with them to be sure your GMB listing is up-to-date and correct.