Google is probably the most popular search engine on the internet, so it’s no surprise that consumers use it to find local businesses to purchase goods and services. In fact, 46% of searches on Google are location-based. If a business wants to attract and retain more clients, it should focus on SEO Google Maps Ranking.
Local SEO involves optimizing a website, Google Business Profile (GBP), and other local business listings in order to rank higher in local search results. A high GBP ranking improves a business’s chances of appearing in the Google Map pack, a grouping of three business listings that appear at the top of all location-based searches. In addition, GBP links to the business’s main website are considered a major ranking factor for local search.
Several factors go into ranking a GBP, including how complete the GBP is and how often it’s updated. In addition, adding and managing social media accounts can increase a business’s visibility on Google and boost its ranking. Having positive reviews, as well as an active and engaged GBP, can also have a positive impact on a business’s Google Maps ranking.
The best way to ensure that a GBP is complete and up-to-date is by making sure that the business information it provides is accurate. This includes the company name, address, phone number, and website. It is also important to update the business’s opening hours regularly. In addition, the business should ensure that all citations for the company’s NAP are consistent. This can be done by reaching out to local directories and news publishing outlets.
Another factor in a Google Maps ranking is whether the business has claimed its Google My Business listing and verified it. The process is fairly easy and can be completed in a few steps. Including keywords in the business’s listing is also helpful because it helps to rank for relevant searches.
Google is big on standardization and uses structured data to help their crawl bots identify what a website is all about. Local business schema, which is a form of code that wraps your content in an easier-to-read format, is one of the most effective ways to improve Google Maps SEO. Using local business schema for the business’s NAP, address, and business hours is especially beneficial.
Backlinks are also a crucial part of SEO Google Maps Ranking. When a website has a large number of quality, locally-relevant backlinks, it shows that the site is trustworthy and can be trusted by search engines.
Optimizing for SEO Google Maps is not as complicated as it sounds, but it does require ongoing work to keep up with the competition and ensure that the rankings are steady or increasing. Ultimately, it can be the difference between a business that attracts clients and one that does not. Those who optimize for SEO Google Maps will be able to grow their client base and achieve business success.