Google Maps is one of the most popular navigation apps in the world. As a result, it is crucial to understand how to rank on Google Maps website and ultimately attract more clients to your business. This article will take a look at some key factors that influence the ranking of a Google Maps listing.
Proximity
Google places importance on businesses that are located close to the searcher. This is a fairly obvious ranking factor that can be improved through ensuring your Google Business Profile has all relevant information. A recent update to Google’s algorithm, dubbed the Vicinity Update, placed even more emphasis on proximity than before.
Relevance
A business’s relevance to the query is another major Google Maps ranking factor. This can be influenced by optimizing your website and Google Business Profile with the most important keywords for your business. However, a good SEO company will ensure you are not spamming your business listing with irrelevant keywords.
Reviews
Positive customer reviews are a huge ranking factor in Google Maps. As a result, it’s incredibly important to make it easy for your customers to leave a review of their experience with your business. Google also takes into account how active a business is in responding to their reviews.
Photos
Adding pictures to your Google Business profile can significantly improve its ranking. This is because Google places a lot of value on the quality of images it displays to its searchers. In fact, a study by Bright Local found that listings with more photos received more calls, direction requests, and website clicks than those without photos.
Structured Data
The use of structured data on your website can dramatically improve its ranking in Google Maps. It can be used on your contact page, about us page, social media profiles, and more. This is because it helps Google better understand the content of your website and therefore place you higher in the local pack.
Competition
Google places a lot of weight on competitors’ rankings in their algorithm, which is why it is important to stay on top of your game. A competitor’s presence in the local pack and their ranking are based on a number of factors, including their domain authority, backlinks, and reviews.
Spam
Spam is a big issue in Google Maps and can seriously hurt your ranking. It can be in the form of duplicate or incorrect listings, keyword stuffing, or even fake locations. If you come across a spam listing, it is best to report it through the Google My Business redressal form or via their support line. Taking this step will not only remove the spam listing, but it will also help prevent future spammers from creating new accounts and attempting to abuse the system.