With voice search on the rise, Google Maps Ranking is an increasingly important tool in the local SEO toolbox. In fact, it’s one of the top factors that influence whether or not your business shows up in the local pack (the three results that appear on a search engine results page when someone searches for local products and services).
Google’s most recent algorithm update, the Vicinity Update, places more prominence than ever before on proximity as a ranking factor. Proximity is determined by the distance between your business and the location of the user who performs a search. This means that it’s even more important to ensure that your Google Business Profile is fully optimized for the keywords people search for in your area.
Another major ranking factor for Google Maps is relevance. This is largely determined by the content in your business’s Google Business Profile. It’s critical that your profile has the correct business category, relevant keyword phrases in the description, and complete and accurate product and service information.
Additionally, it’s important to have a quality backlink profile. Not only will this help you rank higher in the local packs, but it will also increase your organic ranking, which is a significant component of overall search engine optimization. Having a robust link profile that includes local and niche-specific links is a great way to improve your Google Maps Ranking.
Having a high-quality, well-optimized website is another important aspect of local SEO. Not only will it help you rank higher in the Google 3-pack, but it will also attract customers who are searching for your type of product or service in your area.
It’s also important to have a strong social media presence. Not only will this help you attract customers and increase your brand visibility, but it will also improve your Google Maps Ranking. You can do this by regularly posting photos and videos of your business and interacting with your followers.
Finally, it’s important to have a high number of positive reviews on your Google Business Profile. While it’s not always possible to please every customer, try to encourage your customers to leave a review if they had a good experience. Additionally, it’s a good idea to respond to reviews left by your customers.
In addition to optimizing your Google Business Profile, it’s important to monitor and track the results of your efforts. Using a tool such as Semrush’s Listing Management can give you a detailed look at how your listing is performing in the Google Maps packs.
Google’s search algorithms are constantly changing, but it’s not impossible to achieve a top spot in the Google Maps rankings. With a little bit of hard work, you can ensure that your business’s listing appears at the very top of the local packs for all of your target keywords. This will help you drive more customers to your physical location and increase your profits. With so much competition, it’s important to continually monitor and optimize your Google Maps ranking.