Google Maps ranking is a crucial factor to get your business noticed by new clients and boost your local SEO efforts. However, there are a lot of factors to consider when optimizing your Google Maps listings, and achieving top visibility is not as simple as it sounds.
The most important step to take is claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP, formerly Google My Business) listing. This includes verifying your listing and filling out all the information you can.
You should also make sure that all the information you provide in your GMB profile is consistent with the information published on your website and anywhere else you promote your business. This includes keywords and the NAP data (name, address, phone number). If you change any of this info on your website, it may cause a negative impact on your Google Maps ranking.
Once you have your GMB optimized to the best of your ability, it’s time to move on to other rank-influencing factors like prominence. Prominence is the most difficult to optimize, and it’s largely dependent on how well known your business is both offline and online. According to Google’s documentation, prominence is based on your company’s NAP data, your company’s website organic positions, GMB reviews and ratings, and backlinks.
Aside from these, you should also ensure that the categories and attributes of your business are a good match for your target keywords. Similarly, your GMB description should be a good fit for the type of services you offer. This will help you to target the right people who are likely to use your business.
In addition, you should also pay attention to reviews, as they are a critical part of your Google Maps rankings. The more positive reviews you have, the higher your ranking will be, and it’s a great way to get potential customers interested in your business.
Finally, you should also focus on getting your business listed on popular review aggregators and local directories. While this is not a direct ranking factor, it can influence your Maps rankings as it may improve your visibility in the 3-pack results.
Getting to the first 3 spots of the Google Maps Pack search results is one of the most effective ways to attract nearby customers and drive more sales. Over 85% of users who use ‘near me’ queries on Google Maps visit businesses they found in the search results within 24 to 48 hours.
Although boosting your Google Maps ranking requires comprehensive optimizations on a variety of levels, it is not impossible. Using a reliable tool, such as Localo, will allow you to track your rankings and see how your efforts are paying off. Try this free tool out and start optimizing your business for Google Maps today!