The Google Maps app was downloaded over 25.5 million times in the US alone in 2021, so it’s no surprise that ranking high in local search results is a priority for most businesses. A Google Maps ranking can increase foot traffic and website traffic, which in turn, can boost sales. But optimizing your Google Maps profile for a top ranking isn’t as simple as throwing some keywords into an Easy Bake Oven and hoping for the best.
To improve your local search engine optimization, you’ll need to make multiple changes and keep them up-to-date. In addition to making sure your business’s information is accurate, you should be building local citations and using local keywords on your website. The most important factors for ranking in Google Maps are your Google Business Profile and Google reviews. However, there are many other off-page and on-page factors that contribute to a business’s Maps rank.
A well-optimized Google Business Profile is a critical first step to improving your Google Maps ranking in 2022. Filling out your GBP to 100% completion and adding quality photos will help Google evaluate how interested customers are in your business. You can also encourage interaction on your GBP by encouraging customers to call, review you, or visit your business. This information will be analyzed by Google to determine your ranking.
Another critical factor for a Google Maps ranking in 2022 is your proximity and prominence. Google’s most recent Vicinity update brought back proximity as one of the primary factors for a local business to be ranked higher in Google Maps. To improve your proximity, optimize your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP).
Finally, you should be building local citations by getting your business listed on third-party directories such as Yelp and Facebook. This will show Google that your business is popular and authoritative in the local community.
Lastly, you should be monitoring your Google Maps ranking for spam. This can happen in several ways, such as an intern accidentally creating a duplicate profile for your business or unscrupulous actors creating listings to steal leads and review-bomb your business. Fortunately, a tool like Semrush’s Listing Management can identify these duplicate profiles and automatically notify Google of the issue.
Google’s local search algorithm is constantly changing, so it’s important to keep your business updated on the latest changes. By regularly posting things on your business listing like current sales, store announcements, and new products you’ll show that your business is active on Google and will be rewarded with a higher Google Maps ranking. So if you’re ready to rank higher in Google Maps, put these tips to use and let Nozzle help!