Google Maps Ranking is a key factor to focus on when you are marketing your local business. Google users depend on the map and navigation app to find businesses in their area, and the top 3 Maps results receive a premium placement in search engine result pages (SERPs). If you are not showing up in this prime spot, you are missing out on visibility, engagement, and potential customers.
Using an SEO tool, such as GMB Crush, can help you check and monitor your business’s Google Maps ranking, as well as the rankings of your competitors, in a few simple clicks. Once you have input your business information and location, the tool will then provide you with a list of your business’s current ranking as well as those of your competitors. You can then export the results in a CSV file for further analysis and reporting.
If you are a local small or medium-sized business, focusing on your Google Maps rankings is crucial. A large percentage of local searches conducted on mobile devices lead to a physical purchase, so it is important that consumers can easily find your business on Google Maps. The first step is to add your business to Google and become verified. This process is quick and simple, and can be completed on the official Google My Business page.
Your Google My Business profile is a crucial part of your online reputation, so it is essential that the information is accurate and up to date. Make sure that you are adding the right photos to your listing, and that you have a compelling description of what your business does. You should also choose the best primary business category for your business.
Regularly posting in your Google My Business dashboard enables you to share updates about your business with your target audience, as well as promote specials and events. This activity will signal to Google that your business is proactively managed, which is a factor that impacts your Google Maps ranking.
You can also embed a Google Map with your pinned location directly on your website to reinforce that your business is located where it says it is. Google cross-references the NAP data of your business listing with other prominent directories, so having a single, definitive online profile is essential. Semrush’s Listing Management tool can help you submit your NAP data to all of these major directories, as well as track and manage reviews from consumers.
By taking a strategic approach to Google Maps marketing, you can improve your Maps ranking and boost your overall search engine optimization efforts. Nurturing the areas of your business that impact your Maps ranking each month — through KPI goals or percentage improvement of your local SEO — can help you stay ahead of the competition and dominate the Google Maps results for your industry.