Google Maps Ranking is one of the key factors for a local business’ online reputation and success. Customers often make purchasing decisions based on reviews, directions, and other relevant information displayed in a business’ Google Maps listing. It’s important for businesses to optimize their Google Business Profile and monitor their Maps rankings regularly.
Google’s search algorithm takes into account the completeness of a business’s GMB profile, its active status (publishing new posts, receiving reviews, and interacting with commenters), the quality of content posted on the GMB site, and more. This allows Google to ensure a consistent user experience and that searchers are able to easily find the businesses they’re looking for.
As more consumers turn to Google Maps to find local businesses, optimizing and monitoring a business’ Google Business Profile has become increasingly vital for its success. Whether searching from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone, users can get directions, call, and see photos of a business, allowing them to quickly find what they need and make a purchase decision.
Those that wish to increase their chances of appearing in the Google Maps pack results — also known as local pack or snack pack results — should optimize their business’ Google Business Profile and website with local SEO best practices. These best practices include ensuring the GMB profile is claimed and verified, keeping content updated, and focusing on obtaining quality reviews.
One way to do this is by using a Google Maps rank checker tool. These tools can help you track your Maps ranking and compare it to competitors. Some of these tools also offer hyper-local ranking data, allowing you to see how you rank in relation to your physical location.
A few of the top Google Maps rank checker tools available are BrightLocal, GMB Crush, and Local Viking. The first two are free to use while the latter is a premium tool that requires users to pay a monthly subscription. Using this tool is simple: simply input your business name, address, and the keyword you want to rank for, and the results will be shown in a dashboard.
Another way to improve your Google Maps ranking is by generating and managing review generation campaigns. These campaigns can be time-consuming, but they are essential for improving a business’s local search presence. Fortunately, tools such as Podium can automate this process, making it easier for businesses to generate and manage reviews and boost their Google Maps ranking.
Lastly, the most important thing a business can do to improve its Google Maps ranking is to keep its website up-to-date. This includes having a responsive design that works on all devices and screen sizes. Consumers are increasingly looking for websites that are easy to navigate on smartphones, so a website that requires pinching and zooming or has broken links may negatively impact a business’s Google Maps ranking.