Google Maps website ranking is a crucial component of local SEO and it’s becoming increasingly important as voice search becomes more popular. A well-optimized Google Maps listing can help a business get more visibility on search results pages (SERPs) and attract more customers. With so much competition for coveted spots on SERPs, it’s critical to know how to rank high in Google Maps and keep up with changes in the algorithm.
As Google continues to refine its algorithms and refocus the local search experience, it’s essential for businesses to optimize their GMB listings, website, and content from a keyword, link, and location perspective. This ensures that all the elements are working together to boost a business’s local rankings and drive traffic.
The three most important Google Maps ranking factors are relevance, distance, and prominence. This means that your business must have a complete and accurate GMB profile, including relevant keywords in its name, description, and categories. Moreover, you should regularly update the listing with photos, opening hours, and services that you offer. In addition, it’s crucial to build local citations by submitting your business information to reputable local directories such as Yelp and YellowPages.
Local citations are mentions of your business that appear online and include your NAP (name, address, and phone number). They are an integral part of any Google Maps strategy and can boost your visibility by improving the accuracy of your Google My Business profile, as well as your overall organic search engine optimization. However, not all citations are created equal. Some are more valuable than others, and you should aim to acquire high-quality citations.
To increase your local citations, you can submit your business to directories like Yelp, YellowPages, and CitySearch. You can also include your business in niche and industry-specific online directories. Alternatively, you can use a link-building tool to generate natural links from websites that have authority in your niche.
Once your website and content are optimized for local SEO, you can then focus on other key ranking factors for Google Maps such as your GMB profile’s prominence. Prominence is calculated based on how well-known your business is both offline and online, including its organic positions, GMB reviews, ratings, and backlinks. Prominence is difficult to rank for, but focusing on building and promoting your reputation in the community should help.
To make sure that your business’s Google Maps listing reflects the reality of its physical presence, you must keep up with changing times and seasons. Make sure to set your GMB profile to show closed hours on holidays. It’s also important to update your listing with any seasonal specials or deals you’re running. This will ensure that users searching for your business don’t encounter any erroneous or misleading information, which can negatively impact your ranking. Moreover, it’s essential to monitor and respond to your reviews, whether they are positive or negative. This will not only help you improve your prominence but it will also show that you care about your customers’ experience with your business.