Google Maps website ranking is a critical component of any local SEO strategy. When a local entrepreneur in your city performs a search on Google, they will probably first check the top 3 results in the Google Maps pack. If your marketing agency doesn’t rank among these results, you’re losing clients and revenue on a daily basis. That’s why you should prioritize your Google Maps Marketing efforts.
Google uses three factors to determine which businesses appear in the local pack: relevance, distance, and prominence. Getting your business in the local pack is not an easy task, but it is possible with some work and the right strategy.
Relevance is all about how closely your business matches the searcher’s query. This includes ensuring that your business name, address, phone number, and other key information is correct and up-to-date. It also includes having a relevant website with quality content and backlinks. In addition, if you do paid searches on Google Maps, the clicks and traffic from those searches will count towards your local ranking.
In addition, you must optimize your Google My Business listing to include the keywords that are most important to your business. It is important to use these keywords in the title and description of your business, as well as in the images and videos you post on your listing. Using these keywords will help searchers find your listing and be more likely to click on it.
Another key factor in determining your Google Maps ranking is having high-quality reviews. According to a study by Brightlocal, 87% of online searchers read reviews of local businesses before making a purchase decision. That’s why it is important to encourage customers to leave reviews of your business on both Google Maps and your website. It is also important to respond to all reviews, positive and negative, as quickly as possible.
The main category you select in your Google My Business profile can have a significant impact on your ranking, especially since it was added to the ranking algorithm for local searches. The most important factor in deciding what to set as your main category is whether it accurately describes your business and is unique.
It is also important to verify your Google My Business listing and make sure all of the information on your listing is accurate and up-to-date. This will increase your chances of being displayed in the local pack and will improve your overall rankings on Google.
Finally, it is a good idea to run some paid ads on Google Maps to increase your visibility. This will help you get more views and clicks on your listing, which will then lead to more local customer leads. Additionally, running paid ads on Google Maps will encourage people to visit your website and leave reviews. These reviews will then boost your Google Maps website ranking. Ultimately, optimizing for Google Maps is not the most obvious way to drive traffic to your website, but it can be an effective way to attract local customers and generate more sales.