Google Maps website ranking is a crucial element for businesses that want to ensure their local customers can find them. With the increase in use of voice search, optimizing for Google Maps is one of the most effective ways to attract customers. The best way to do this is to focus on local SEO, which includes maximizing the visibility of your business in the Google Maps pack and improving the search results for all relevant keywords.
One of the first steps is to claim and optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP – formerly known as Google My Business) listing. It is important to include keywords in your name and description, as well as in your categories and locations. You should also use keywords in the links you share on social media and your website to improve your SEO. Another key factor is building local citations. These are mentions of your business in online directories such as Yelp and YellowPages, and can help boost your GBP ranking.
Once your GBP listing is claimed and optimized, you can then start working on other aspects of your local SEO strategy. This includes running paid ads for your business and ensuring that all the information on your profile is up to date. Additionally, you should monitor your SERP rankings (by manually performing a search or using an analytic tool) to see how you are progressing and make adjustments as necessary.
Lastly, you should encourage your clients to leave reviews on your profile. This can help you build trust and credibility for your business, as well as improve your Maps ranking. According to Brightlocal, 87% of online users read reviews before visiting a local business, so it’s important that you take review building seriously.
Although some people debate whether clicks on a listing influence its rank, there is no doubt that the more clicks a business gets on its Maps profile, the better. This is because the more visible a business is, the more likely people are to visit it. By following these 10 tips for improving Google Maps website ranking, you can increase your chances of getting more views and clicks, and ultimately, more paying clients.