Achieving a high ranking on Google Maps is essential for any business looking to increase visibility, attract new customers, and outperform competitors. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help your business climb the ranks on Google Maps:
Key Steps to Improve Your Google Maps Ranking
- Add Your Business to Google Maps
Ensure your business is accurately listed on Google Maps. If it’s not already there, add it through Google Business Profile. - Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Claim and fully optimize your Google Business Profile by providing complete, up-to-date information. Include your business name, address, phone number, business hours, and categories. - Gather More Reviews
Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. The quantity and quality of reviews significantly impact your ranking. - Optimize Your Website
Ensure your website is optimized for local SEO. Use relevant keywords, optimize page loading speed, and make sure it’s mobile-friendly. - Build Relevant Backlinks
Acquire high-quality backlinks from reputable websites. These links boost your website’s authority, indirectly influencing your Google Maps ranking. - Audit and Update NAP Citations
Consistency is key. Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) are consistent across all online platforms. - Add Schema Markup to Your Website
Implement local business schema markup on your website to help search engines understand your business and improve your visibility in local search results. - Utilize Google Maps Ads
Consider running Google Maps ads to increase your visibility and attract more local customers. - Monitor Your Rankings
Regularly track your Google Maps rankings to identify what’s working and where there’s room for improvement.
Understanding Google Maps Ranking Factors
Google Maps ranking factors, also known as local ranking factors, revolve around three main aspects: relevance, distance, and prominence.
- Relevance: How well your business matches the user’s query. While relevance used to hinge on having an exact match keyword in your business name, the focus has shifted to your business category and subcategories.
- Distance: How close your business is to the searcher. The Vicinity update, rolled out in December 2021, increased the weight of distance in local rankings, making it more challenging for businesses to rank if they are farther from the searcher, even if they are better optimized.
- Prominence: How well-known and well-regarded your business is, both online and offline. This includes factors like your website’s organic rankings, the quality of your reviews, and your overall online presence.
Adapting to the Vicinity Update
The Vicinity update brought significant changes to local search algorithms, particularly emphasizing the distance factor. Previously, well-optimized listings could outrank closer competitors, but this is now much less likely. This update also introduced a new local pack layout in search engine results pages (SERPs), reshaping the landscape of local SEO.
Why Ranking Higher on Google Maps Matters
Google Maps is the go-to navigation app for 67% of consumers. Research shows that 84% of users discover businesses through keyword searches rather than by searching for a specific business name. Ranking high on Google Maps not only increases your visibility but also places you in the coveted “Local 3-Pack” on regular Google search results. This boosts your chances of being discovered by potential customers with local intent, driving more traffic to your business.
Final Thoughts
Your Google Maps listing is a powerful marketing tool. By following the strategies outlined above, you can enhance your visibility, attract more customers, and ultimately grow your business. Remember, optimizing your Google Maps ranking is not a one-time task but an ongoing process that requires regular monitoring and adjustments.