Google Maps website ranking is one of the most important aspects of local search optimization for business owners. This is because it can mean the difference between being seen in the Google Maps SERP local pack, or missing out on this valuable real estate to competitors. Optimizing your Google Maps profile is crucial to gaining views, clicks and eventually paying customers.
Having a well-optimized Google Maps listing will help your business rank higher in the local pack and increase the number of people who see your business. This is why it’s vital to understand what factors affect your Google Maps ranking and how you can improve them.
In addition to ensuring that your business’s location, hours, and contact information are accurate, you also need to focus on getting positive reviews. Google places a lot of weight on these, and the more positive reviews your business has, the higher it will rank. This is why it’s important to encourage reviews by asking politely and by responding to them in a way that’s helpful and genuine.
Another factor that Google uses to determine how high a business ranks in the local pack is prominence. This is a complex metric that can include everything from your company’s reputation and online presence, to the number of positive reviews you have on GMB and your overall star rating. As a result, this is where most local Maps SEOs tend to put most of their energy when trying to boost their rankings.
In addition, it’s important to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and optimized for local search. This is because many searches conducted on Google Maps are done on mobile devices, and if your business’s website doesn’t load quickly or accurately across various screen sizes, it could negatively impact your Google Maps rank. It’s also a good idea to embed a Google map on your website, as this will give searchers an additional indication that your business is located where it claims to be.
Aside from optimizing your Google Maps profile and working hard to get positive reviews, you can also promote your business’s online presence through paid advertising on Google. These ads are displayed above organic results, and they can link directly to your business’s website or its Google My Business page.
Keeping track of all the things that can affect your Google Maps website ranking is a challenge, but it’s worth it if you want to improve your search visibility. The best way to keep up with the latest developments in Google’s algorithm is to use a tool that can automate your local search engine optimization efforts and monitor your Google Maps profile for changes. This is what Semrush’s Listing Management tool does, and it can save you time, money and headaches by making the task of improving your Google Maps ranking as easy as possible.