Google Maps is one of the most powerful platforms for local search, and getting your business ranking high on it can make a huge difference in how many leads you get. To optimize your business listing, you need to focus on four primary local SEO areas: business data, local landing pages, off-page visibility, and online reputation.
A well-optimized Google Maps business listing can be the best way to promote your company in a specific location, boosting your brand’s visibility and credibility. It can also be a great tool for driving traffic to your website and increasing your organic reach. However, the competition for a top spot on Google Maps is fierce and requires constant vigilance. The following tips will help you improve your rankings and drive more customers to your business.
1. Create a Verified Listing
When it comes to local SEO, the most important step is making sure that your Google My Business listing is verified. This is because Google will prioritize the information on your listing over a competitor’s if you can prove to be the owner of it. Once you’ve done this, you can start adding more details to your listing, including photos. You can check whether your business is listed correctly by performing a search on Google (preferably in Incognito Mode). Then, look at the results and see where you rank.
2. Choose the Right Categories
Choosing the right category for your business is another important factor in your Google Maps rankings. You can select your primary and additional categories through the Google My Business dashboard. Generally, you should select the one that best describes your main offering and can be easily found by potential customers.
3. Encourage Reviews
While it is debatable whether clicks on your Google Maps listing impact your rankings, generating positive ratings for your business can help you improve your ranking. People rely on ratings and reviews to decide which companies they’ll contact, so encouraging your customers to leave feedback will go a long way toward improving your ranking on Google Maps.
4. Promote Your Listing on Your Website
As part of your local SEO strategy, you should include a link to your Google Maps profile on your website and promote it in your offline marketing materials. Having a prominent link to your business on your website helps Google trust that you’re in the area you say you’re in, which can affect your Maps rankings.
5. Monitor Your Rankings
You can use a variety of tools to monitor your Google Maps rankings, including manual searches in Incognito Mode and paid rank monitoring software. These tools will show you the current position of your business in both Maps and regular search engine results pages for the keywords you’re targeting. Using these tools will give you insight into how your optimization efforts are paying off and whether you need to shift gears or make any adjustments to your strategy. Ultimately, monitoring your Google Maps rankings can help you make smarter decisions about where to allocate your marketing budget.