Google Maps Ranking is a key factor for local businesses looking to attract more clients and achieve business growth. The more prominent a business is on Google Maps, the higher it will appear in search results and the more clicks it will receive. Google Maps optimization is a complex endeavor that relies on multiple courses of action, including listing content, building backlinks and running review campaigns.
It’s crucial to have a strong Google Maps ranking because consumers are increasingly turning to this tool to find nearby products and services. Whether they’re searching for the best lunch spot in an unfamiliar neighborhood or trying to solve a flat tire issue, Google users are looking for the solutions they need quickly and easily. That’s why it’s so important for local businesses to make sure they’re ranking well on this platform and that their website is mobile-friendly.
How a business is ranked on Google Maps depends on many factors, with the most critical being the completeness and accuracy of its Google Business Profile. A fully completed GBP and regular updates (posting, receiving reviews, interacting with commenters) will help a business stand out in search results. The number of positive and negative reviews is also taken into consideration, and it’s vital that businesses monitor and respond to all reviews—both good and bad.
In addition, local search algorithms now prioritize proximity as a ranking factor. That means that a business with a physical location near a consumer will often rank higher than a competitor who has more authority or a larger online presence. Therefore, optimizing a website to support Google Maps rankings should be a primary focus for any local SEO campaign.
Another major factor in a Google Maps ranking is the speed at which a website loads. Google takes into account how long a site takes to load and if it is responsive across different devices and screen sizes. The fact that 60% of Google searches are done on mobile phones makes this an essential factor to consider.
Other important factors in a Google Maps ranking include the quality of a website’s backlinks, its organic search ranking and the presence of local keywords. Taking all of these steps will help to boost a business’s chances of appearing in the Google 3-Pack and driving customers directly to its doorstep.
Monitoring and improving a Google Maps ranking isn’t easy, but it is a necessary part of any local SEO strategy. Thankfully, there are several Google Maps ranking checker tools available to help businesses monitor and track their success. A free one like Pro Rank Tracker, for example, can identify a website’s rank on Google Maps and give it a detailed report with suggestions for improvements. Meanwhile, Semrush’s Listing Management tool can take the headache out of tracking and managing all of a business’s online listings, including its Google Maps listing. It can even help with duplicate profiles that have been created by shady actors looking to steal valuable reviews or covertly review-bomb a competing business.