Google Maps Ranking is a crucial part of local SEO and can drive more traffic to a business website or physical store. In fact, over 85% of people who search for businesses near them on Google Maps end up visiting them. Ranking among the top-3 spots in Google Maps Pack will significantly increase online exposure and boost sign-ups, site visits, phone calls, and other desirable conversions.
Optimizing your Google My Business (GMB) listing, ensuring that all information is accurate, and securing high reviews are some of the best ways to increase your chances of landing a top-tier spot. However, manually tracking your Google Maps rankings can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for businesses with multiple locations. That’s where Google Maps ranking checker tools come in handy.
Using Google’s free tool, Surfer Local, you can track the status of your GMB listing and see how it compares to competitors. This tool is easy to use and does not require you to register or download anything. However, if you want to check the status of your listings in more detail, it’s worth upgrading to the premium version of this service.
Another useful tool for analyzing your GMB ranking is Localo, which provides in-depth reports on your location’s performance, including its search engine optimization (SEO) and Google My Business performance. In addition, it also shows the number of clicks and conversions your listing has received. With this tool, you can quickly identify the areas that need improvement and take steps to optimize your listing and improve your ranking.
The GMB listing description should be rich in keywords and provide both the big picture to orient searchers, as well as specific attributes that set you apart from your competition. This will help Google determine which keywords to rank you for and will make it easier for customers to find your business. It’s also important to ensure that your business name and address are correct in order to prevent any confusion for potential customers.
One of the most effective ways to encourage customer reviews is to add links to your GMB page on your website, invoices, business cards, and email signatures. This will give your customers the option to leave a review on their mobile devices and make it easier for them to do so. It’s also a good idea to respond to all reviews in a timely manner, whether they are positive or negative.
In addition to providing a complete and accurate GMB listing, it is important to have a consistent and robust web presence across the major directories. This can be done by submitting your NAP data to all the major directory services and adding a map with your pinned location to your site. This will help Google cross-reference the NAP data on your GMB profile with other listings to ensure that it is accurate.
Finally, it is important to update your business details on a regular basis. The frequency with which you do this depends on the industry in which you operate, but in general, you should update your data at least once per quarter. Additionally, you should try to include photos and videos of your business in your GMB listing, as this is a great way to boost your Google Maps ranking.