SEO Google Maps Ranking
For many local search professionals, maximizing the rankings of their clients’ Google Business Profiles and local pack listings is one of the most important aspects of what they do. And with the amount of clicks that occur within the Map pack results, the higher a client’s listing ranks in this area can have a huge impact on their bottom line.
In this article, we’ll discuss the most essential elements to consider when optimizing for Google Maps. In addition to ensuring that a client’s GMB profiles are complete and up-to-date, it’s also important to make sure they’re promoting their products and services online in ways that support their local rankings. This may include enhancing content with relevant keywords, improving on-page SEO, or creating backlinks that help boost their local visibility.
The on-page SEO elements that influence a local ranking are different than organic search, because the GMB profiles can rank without a website (though they do need to have one). Nevertheless, on-page SEO is still a critical component of optimizing for a Maps ranking.
While some experts believe that the Vicinity update has brought proximity back into the equation, it’s important to remember that prominence remains the most difficult and important factor to pin down. Prominence is a combination of both offline and online recognition, including things like the quality of a company’s website organic positions, Google My Business reviews, and other social media mentions. In addition, a company’s location may be a ranking factor in its own right.
Another thing that can be overlooked is how much attention a company pays to its business description. The longer and more detailed the description is, the more likely it is to rank highly in Google Maps. However, it’s important to avoid using keyword stuffing or making it seem overly salesy. Instead, focus on providing a clear and accurate description that showcases what the company does.
It’s also important to continually monitor how a business is performing in terms of its Google Maps and regular search engine results page rankings based on the keywords it’s targeting. This can be done manually by running a manual Google search in Incognito Mode or with the use of a ranking monitoring tool that can filter for specific localized results.
By nurturing the four primary local SEO areas — business data, local landing pages, off-page visibility, and online reputation — on an ongoing basis, businesses can greatly improve their chances of getting their listing featured in the Google Map pack. This is especially true if they’re working with a local marketing agency that has the experience and expertise needed to understand what’s going on in the ever-changing world of local SEO.