A Google Maps website ranking is a critical part of your local search optimization strategy. More consumers use Google Maps to find products and services than any other search engine, and a good rank in the Google Local Pack can result in more clicks and higher revenue for your business. But there are a lot of factors to consider and it can be challenging to know where to start.
As with organic search, Google looks at on-page and off-page elements when determining your rank. While a business website is not required to rank well in Google Maps, the content on your site can have an impact on your ranking. The most important factors for ranking in Google Maps include relevance, distance, and prominence.
In order to rank for these keywords, you’ll want to ensure that your business listing is properly configured. This includes having a consistent name, address, phone number, and website. In addition, you’ll want to make sure that your reviews are positive and that you respond to negative ones in a timely manner. Having a high customer service score can also help your rankings.
Optimizing for Google Maps is not the most obvious way to boost your online reach, but a growing number of consumers are using this search feature to locate local businesses. In fact, over 85% of people who conduct a ‘near me’ search on Google Maps visit the business they’re looking for within 24 hours. Being one of the top 3 results in the Google Maps pack can increase your reach to these searchers and help you drive more clients to your door.
Getting more Google Maps views can be difficult, especially if your competitors are all working to improve their own listings. But the good news is that you can compete effectively if you have the right tools. There are a number of rank monitoring tools that can be used to track both your Google Maps and search engine results page (SERP) visibility progression based on the keywords you’re targeting. You can even choose to filter out the SERP and Maps results that you’re interested in.
Another way to improve your Google Maps rank is by posting updates regularly on your business listings. These posts appear directly on your Google Maps listing and can help you attract more visitors from mobile devices. These users tend to be in high intent, so this is a great way to get your offers in front of a ready-to-engage audience.
Duplicate profiles can have a serious impact on your search ranking. Whether an intern set up a profile in error years ago or an unscrupulous actor created one to covertly review-bomb you, this is an issue that should be resolved as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are tools like Semrush that can monitor your Maps rankings and alert you when a duplicate profile is found, enabling you to quickly correct it. Keeping track of your Maps and SERP progress is essential to staying on top of your local SEO.