Google Maps is one of the most popular maps and navigation tools on the web. Google Maps website ranking is an important aspect of local SEO, as it determines whether a business appears in the local pack (sometimes also called the Google 3-pack or the Snack Pack) on search engine results pages. This means that getting your website to rank highly on Google Maps is essential to increasing traffic and sales from the web.
According to Google, the three most important factors in Google Maps website ranking are relevance, distance and prominence. Having an optimized Google Business Profile, being close to the search user and having lots of positive reviews are key factors in achieving high rankings on Google Maps. However, there are other factors that can also influence your ranking and these include the content on your website, local link building, GMB posts and optimizing images.
In terms of the Google Business Profile, it’s important to have as much information as possible, including keywords in the name and description. It’s also important to regularly update the listing with new images, opening hours and any other relevant information. Google’s algorithms are based on the assumption that searchers want to see accurate, reliable information and will reward businesses that do this by displaying them higher in search results.
It’s also essential to make sure that your address is correct, as this will directly influence how close you are to the searcher. Being close to the searcher will not only help you appear in the local pack but it’ll also increase your conversions, as consumers are more likely to visit a business that is nearby.
The next factor is a matter of relevance, which is determined by the amount that your business matches the query. Luckily, this can be relatively easy to control. Making sure that your Google Business Profile is filled out with the right keywords will help you be seen as a good match for the query, and having lots of quality, relevant local citations will help too.
Another major aspect of relevance is how well-known your business is, and this can be difficult to control. Having a robust social media presence is a great start, but it’s also important to prioritize physically engaging with local communities. This can include events and sponsorships, and it can also be a good idea to prioritize linking to local news websites and industry-relevant publications.
Finally, Google pays attention to how consistent a business is in managing its reviews and how quickly it responds to both good and bad feedback. It is therefore worth encouraging your customers to leave reviews on both your Google Business Profile and your Facebook page. It is also worth utilizing rank monitoring tools, such as Semrush’s Listing Management tool, which allows you to see how your Google Maps and regular search engine results are performing, in both Google search and within the local pack. This will give you the peace of mind that your efforts to optimize for local SEO are paying off.