Whether it’s a search for a restaurant in an unfamiliar neighborhood or a mechanic to fix a flat tire, Google Maps has become the go-to app for finding local products and services. Knowing how to rank higher on Google Maps is an essential skill for businesses that want to grow their client base.
A well-optimized Google Business Profile (GBP) can give businesses the chance to appear in a top spot on a Maps pack for relevant search terms—which can improve sign-ups, site visits, phone calls, and other desirable conversions. However, achieving a high position on the Maps pack isn’t easy: there are multiple factors that must be taken into account to optimize the GBP and get it where it needs to be.
For example, the most important thing to do when it comes to your Google Maps ranking is make sure that your basic business information (phone number, address, etc) is complete and accurate. This helps Google ensure that the results it delivers are accurate and relevant.
Another way to improve your Maps ranking is to build more citations. These are essentially links from other websites that point to your business on Google. These can be from local directories, review sites, or even major news websites. The best citation sources are those with a strong search ranking themselves, since Google favors citations from high-quality, authoritative websites.
Lastly, it’s crucial that you respond to reviews on your Google Business Profile, both positive and negative. This shows that you’re engaged with your clients and genuinely care about feedback—which can further boost your Google Maps ranking. While this can be a time-consuming task, there are tools available that automate the process and help you manage your reviews in one place.
It’s also critical to monitor your local SEO rankings regularly to keep track of how you’re performing on Google Maps and regular SERPs. This can be done manually with the help of a Google search (preferably in Incognito Mode) or by using one of several Google rank monitoring tools that focus on local SEO.
One final thing that’s important to do when it comes to your Maps ranking is to avoid duplicate profiles. There could be old profiles that haven’t been updated in a while, or there could be unscrupulous actors creating new listings to negatively impact your performance (or steal valuable reviews). A tool like Semrush’s Listing Management can alert you when this happens and help you resolve the issue. Taking these steps will help you achieve a higher Maps ranking, which can in turn boost your online visibility and ultimately lead to more leads and customers for your business.