There are a few things that you can do to optimize your Google Maps ranking. These include claiming your Google Business Profile, improving your online reputation, and adding photos and videos to your business listing.
Claiming and Optimizing Your Google Business Profile
Before you can optimize your Google Maps ranking, you must first claim and verify your Google Business Profile (GBP). You can follow the instructions on Google’s website for claiming and updating your GBP.
Once you’ve claimed your GBP, make sure to fill out all of your business’s information accurately and consistently across all platforms. This includes your name, address, phone number, and other essential details.
Another way to boost your Google Maps ranking is to increase the number of positive reviews and ratings that you receive from your customers. These reviews are a big part of how people decide what business to choose when they’re looking for local services.
You can also encourage your customers to leave reviews by providing exceptional customer service and asking for feedback. This can help boost your Google Maps ranking and drive more traffic to your business.
Adding Photos and Videos to Your Business Listing
Having high-quality photos and videos on your Google Maps listing is important for many reasons, but it can have a major impact on your rankings on Google Maps. Adding images and videos can provide visual context for your business and help potential customers understand what you offer.
This can also increase the amount of clicks that you receive on your listings. While there’s a debate about whether or not users’ behavior influences Google Maps rankings, you can bet that the more clicks you get on your Google Maps listing, the higher up it will appear in search results.
If you’re trying to improve your Google Maps ranking, be sure to make your website mobile-friendly. About 60% of Google searches are made on mobile devices, so having a website that renders properly on any screen size and doesn’t require pinch-and-zoom or side-scrolling is very important for boosting your rankings on Google Maps.
It’s also vital to keep your contact information up-to-date on your Google Business Profile and your website. This is because Google uses this data as a factor in their algorithm.
You should also ensure that your business’s name, address, and other information are consistent across all of your other digital marketing channels. This can include your website, Facebook page, and other social media accounts.
Then, be sure to add an accurate and updated business description to your Google Maps listing. The more accurate your information, the better your chances are of securing a top-three ranking on Google Maps.
Lastly, be sure to update your Google Maps listing as often as possible to maximize its effectiveness. This is especially important if you’re using Google Maps as an SEO strategy for your business. If you don’t update your listing, it can cause you to lose a lot of SEO juice and thereby hurt your rank in search results.