Getting into the Google Maps Local Pack is one of the most desirable spots in SEO. It’s the most visible local search result and it drives traffic, calls, and leads for businesses. It also helps with brand awareness. Google studies have shown that 50% of people who perform local searches visit a business within a day.
Optimizing for Google Maps ranking is a complex task, and there are many factors that influence your visibility in the local pack. However, you should know that Google doesn’t just look at your GMB listing and reviews to rank you – they’re looking at your entire web presence to determine your rankings.
As a result, it’s important to ensure that your GMB listing is optimized from an on-page SEO perspective, as well as incorporating local content throughout the rest of your website and other marketing materials. You can do this by performing a local SEO audit and making changes accordingly.
Using the right keywords in your business listings and website can also improve your visibility in the search results. In addition to this, it’s important to keep your listings and website up-to-date as Google regularly updates its algorithm.
Another way to improve your Google Maps ranking is by encouraging customers to leave reviews for you. Google takes the number and quality of reviews into account when determining the placement of your business in the local pack. Similarly, it pays attention to how quickly you respond to reviews, whether positive or negative.
A great way to monitor your Google Maps ranking is by using a tool like Pro Rank Tracker. This free tool allows you to enter a keyword and your competitor’s name, and then it will show you their rankings in both Google Search and Google Maps. It also gives you a graph that shows you how your ranking has changed over time.
In 2021, Google released an update to its local search algorithm called the Vicinity Update. This update placed greater emphasis on proximity as a ranking factor, and it also decreased the importance of putting keywords into your business name in your Google Business Profile.
Google has made several other improvements to its algorithm in the past year, so you’ll need to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in order to keep your business listing as high as possible. This means keeping an eye on the latest news and taking the time to make any necessary changes. It’s also important to monitor your competitors’ Google Maps ranking as well. You can do this by manually searching for your competitors in Google (preferably in Incognito Mode and while logged out of your personal account), or you can use a tool such as Surfer Local, which offers a free service for tracking local rankings. It also allows you to identify any duplicate Google Business Profiles that might be negatively affecting your ranking. If you want to take your tracking to the next level, consider upgrading to a premium tool, such as GMB Crush, which enables you to see a competitor’s Google Maps ranking on both their own website and in the search engine results pages.