SEO Google Maps Ranking is the process of optimizing a local business’s GMB (Google My Business) listing to appear in a variety of different local searches. Achieving a high ranking can dramatically improve sign-ups, website traffic, phone calls, and other desirable conversions.
It is crucial for local businesses to focus on their Google Maps rankings, as they provide a direct link between a searcher and a nearby location. According to research, 46% of searches on Google are location-based. This makes the Maps pack especially important to businesses in competitive markets, and securing one of these top 3 spots can significantly increase visibility and conversions.
The first and most important step is to make sure that your GMB profile is completely optimized with correct, up-to-date information. This will ensure that search engines are able to match your listing with relevant queries and place it in the most appropriate position on the results page. In addition, a complete profile will also give your business a much greater chance of appearing in the local 3-pack, which provides the most prominent visibility for local searchers.
Another critical factor is the amount of reviews that your business receives. Google is known to heavily weigh the quantity and quality of a business’s reviews when determining its ranking, and it pays special attention to how quickly a business responds to its reviews. This can have a significant impact on the overall rating for your business and should be a major focus of your review strategy.
Google also places a lot of weight on the standardization of online content, and this is where schema comes in. Schema is a form of structured data that allows you to wrap your content in code that makes it easier for search engine bots to identify and understand what your content is all about. This is an extremely important aspect of boosting your Maps ranking, as it will send signals that your business is authoritative and trustworthy.
In addition, if you are able to create posts in your Google My Business dashboard that appear on your business listing, these will also help you to rank higher on Google maps. Posting regularly and ensuring that your postings are optimized for the keywords you are targeting will allow Google to recognize your business as active in your industry.
The last element to consider is that Google will also look at how close your business is to the person searching for it. This is a relatively difficult metric to influence, but it is essential that you have a precise address listed on your business profile and use accurate geographical terms in your keywords. Ideally, you should also target longtail keywords that contain qualifiers that clearly indicate user intent. These types of keywords will give you the best shot at a good Maps ranking and help you to capture more relevant traffic from people who are ready to convert. This will ultimately lead to a better conversion rate and more revenue for your business.