Google is a regular part of most people’s daily lives, and 46% of searches on the platform are local. That’s why it’s so important for local businesses to rank well in the search results on Google Maps. Securing one of the top 3 spots in the Maps Pack will dramatically improve sign-ups, site visits, phone calls, and other desirable conversions for your business. So how do you do it? Here are 10 tips for SEO Google Maps Ranking that will help.
Ensure your NAP data (name, address, and phone number) is correct on every online listing. This includes your website and all social media profiles. Also, make sure all keywords in your listing match the keyword query used by the user.
Run a paid search campaign for your local business to boost visibility and interactions. This will encourage people to leave reviews for your business, which are a critical ranking factor on Maps.
Research local keywords and longtail keywords that are relevant to your local business. Then, use the Google Keyword Planner or a rank tracking tool to monitor your rankings for these terms regularly. The more relevant your keywords are, the more likely you are to rank high in Google Maps.
If you’re unsure about what keywords to target, try using a competitor analysis tool to see which ones are working for them. Then, add them to your list of keywords and optimize your content and local listings accordingly.
Google rewards listings with lots of quality reviews. So encourage your customers to write a review by placing a link to the Google reviews page on your website, email newsletters, or invoices. You can even offer incentives like discount codes or freebies to your loyal customers in return for a review.
When you have a large quantity of positive reviews, your business is more likely to appear in the local 3-pack on Google Search and Maps. That’s because Google wants to provide its users with the most accurate and helpful results.
Make sure all your photos are geotagged to help Google connect them with your location. And include plenty of photos of both interiors and exteriors to show off your business. This will also help your listings rank in Google Image Search.
It’s not illegal to scrape public information from Google Maps or anywhere else, but it is unethical. There are potential copyright issues, and the speed with which some data-scraping tools operate can harm a website’s delicate infrastructure.
Use a tool like Semrush to get a quick overview of your average local position. Or, for a more detailed look, try out Heatmap to see how your listing is performing in specific user locations. This is especially useful for comparing your performance to local competitors.