Did you know 86% of people find a business in their area using Google Maps? That’s exactly why Google Maps SEO is so powerful and must be a key part of your overall marketing efforts.
Imagine your car broke down in an unfamiliar area and you need an emergency auto service. What would you do?
Most likely, you’d pull out your smartphone and search for “auto repair near me” on Google Maps. You would probably go for a shop that offers clear contact details and has an excellent rating.
As a business, you have to ensure your business shows up higher on Google Maps when your prospects look up services or products you offer locally. For this, you need a solid Google Maps SEO strategy.
Listing your business in an area is just the first step. You can stand above your competition only when your listing has strong visibility.
Let’s find out what Google Maps SEO is and how you can use it to dramatically improve your local search visibility and get more customers with ease.
What is Google Maps SEO?
Google Maps SEO refers to certain practices of optimizing your business’s listing on Google Maps. It helps business websites rank higher in local search results. Over the past few years, Google Maps SEO has emerged as a major platform for driving business growth.
Where your business stands in local search results largely depends on the strength of your Google Maps SEO.
Just like your website SEO has many puzzle pieces to manage, Google Maps SEO also requires attention to several key areas. This includes customer reviews, local keyword integration, and optimizing your Google My Business profile.
Factors that determine Google’s local search results:
Relevance: How well your listing matches users’ search intent.
Distance: How far your business is from a user’s location.
Prominence: How reputable your business is considering factors like reviews and ratings.
10 Strategies To Rank Your Business Listing Higher on Google Maps
BrightLocal’s 2023 Customer Review Survey found out that in 2022, 98% of consumers used the internet to find information about local businesses, an increase from 90% in 2019.
To reach potential customers who use Google to find local businesses, you need to focus on these key strategies:
Add and Claim Your Business Profile
Skip this section if you’ve already added and claimed your business profile.
Simply search your business name on Google Maps to see if a profile already exists. If your business profile appears with a location, your business is listed. In this case, you can go ahead and start optimizing your profile.
If your business name doesn’t show up, you’ll find an option to “add a missing place.” Here you provide your business name, category, and location.
Once you create a listing, the next step is to claim it so you can add more details. The more information you provide, the better your chances of appearing higher in search results.
Create an account on Google profile to get started. Simply fill in the information and follow the prompts.
Optimize Your Listing on Google Maps
The next step is to add information to your listing and optimize it for higher ranking. Login to your Google Profile account to start managing everything.
The ‘info’ tab in the dashboard is where you need to go to add or optimize info about your business such as name, category, service area, address, phone number, products, website, description, etc.
Here are some tips to help you complete this step using Google Maps SEO best practices:
Be consistent with your info
Your trustworthiness is a critical factor when it comes to ranking higher on Google Maps. So, make sure your NAP info is consistent across your online presence; website, social media, listings, etc.
For example, your business name and address on Google Maps should match exactly with what’s on your website and other online listings.
Write a concise business description
You have to introduce your business using only 750 characters. So, prioritize info that draws a bigger picture of your business. And do not forget to use your targeted keywords in the description.
Use a local telephone number
As a local business, ensure to add a local telephone number to your info. There are two benefits of doing so. First, it will help you rank near the top in search results. Second, your searchers will confidently call you.
Pick the category carefully
When filling up the info on your Google Profile, select the primary category that best represents your business. There’s no option to add custom categories so you have to choose one from listed categories.
Do not forget to set business hours
Google Maps shows whether a business is currently open or closed. Therefore, keep your hours updated so that your customers know when to call you to visit your business. Also, update your holiday hours to avoid the ‘hours might differ’ label.
Upload Photos to Your Profile
Photos and videos make your profile more attractive to customers. Not to mention, Google favors when you add personalized, original photos to your listing.
Help your customers recognize your business on Google Maps with photos. Profiles without any image are less likely to rank as high as listings with photos. So, here is your chance to stand out with a high-quality profile picture.
To add a photo, sign in to manage your Business Profile. Select a business account you’d like to add photos to and then click ‘Add Photos’. Simply drag a photo or upload it from your device. Use PNG or JPG format. Besides, your photos must be at least 250px tall and wide.
Manage Reviews Effectively
Now this part is about managing your reputation online. Your reviews can make or break your business.
Why? Because over 99.9% of customers read reviews when shopping online, and 96% specifically seek out negative reviews.
As we know, Google’s algorithms are heavily influenced by customer behavior, especially when it comes to reviews. The more positive reviews your business receives, the better your chances of ranking higher in search results.
So, the first step is to get as many Google reviews as possible. Creating a presence on Google Maps will allow your customers to drop reviews automatically. However, be proactive and ask customers for reviews.
Related: 22 Ways to Ask for Reviews (With Copy/Paste Templates)
The next important Google Maps SEO strategy is to respond professionally to reviews. Turn on notifications so you immediately know when a review is posted.
You must respond to both positive and negative reviews in a professional tone. Remember, reviews are one of Google Maps ranking factors.
To make your life easier, you can use an automation tool that will manage your reviews on the go. All you need to do is set up automated responses. For example, a thank-you response to all positive reviews. But try to maintain the human touch.
Also, take customer reviews as a marketing asset as they can give you valuable insights
Related: 9 Ways To Handle Negative Reviews
Regularly Post Content On Google Maps Listing
Google Maps loves active business profiles. And one of the ways to keep you active is to post valuable content frequently. In case you’re wondering what to post, here are some ideas:
- Special offers
- Event announcements
- Promotions
- Links to relevant blog posts
- General business updates
- Recommendations
To make your content more appealing, incorporate photos – Visuals get more attention and clicks. Do not forget to link your posts to your main products or services on your site.
Optimize Your Website For Local SEO
Now let’s talk about a Google Maps SEO strategy that is about your web presence.
To rank well on Google Maps, you need to focus on optimizing your overall web presence. For example, your website must be optimized for your local audience.
A thorough local SEO audit will help you identify areas where you can focus on local keywords and link strategies.
Make sure your website content is rich in local, intent-driven keywords. Include your city or neighborhood in your on-site SEO content: meta tags, headings, etc.
If you operate in multiple locations, create dedicated location pages to better serve each area. Moreover, add your address, business name, and phone number in the footer on all pages.
It may seem unrelated, but offering a seamless user experience across all devices is crucial for engaging local customers. Remember, most people search for local products and services on their phones.
Related: DIY Website Audit: Free Optimization Tools to Improve Your Site
Implement Local Business Schema
To improve your Google Maps SEO, consider structuring your website’s content using local Business Schema. Google prioritizes standardized content.
This is where schema markup comes into play.
Local Business Schema allows you to wrap specific code around your business details. Well-structured information makes it easier for Google to identify your key information like business, address, and phone number.
Wondering how to implement Schema Markup?
Utilize tools like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper or online generators to create the appropriate schema code. Add the code to the HTML of your web pages.
Validate your schema with the help of Google’s Rich Results Test to ensure your markup is correctly recognized by Google.
Lastly, review and update your schema markup in case your business details change. Make sure Google has the most accurate and current information about your business.
Embed Google Maps on Your Website
Embedding a Google Map on your site might not directly impact your Google Maps ranking. However, Google likes this format.
When you embed a Google Map on your location pages, it helps your prospects find your business and enjoy a better user experience. Besides, Google better understands the geographical context of your business.
To embed a Google Map on your website, find your business name in Google Maps. Go to “Share” and click on the “Embed a map” tab. Just copy the link and paste it on your contact page.
Related: How to Embed Google Maps in HTML [Step-By-Step Guide]
Build Local Backlinks
Backlinks or inbound links are the ones that you get from other sites. Local backlinks are more related to your local area.
The more relevant and authoritative sites that link back to you, the better your chances of ranking higher—both in search engine results and on Google Maps.
From an SEO standpoint, backlinks play a key role in your overall online presence. They’re like votes of confidence that establish your trustworthiness.
The following are strategies to build local backlinks:
- Cross-promote: Collaborate with other local businesses to launch a mutually beneficial backlink campaign.
- Network: Connect with local bloggers and influencers to bring about a promotion exchange. You can also explore the possibility of local news websites sharing your story, linking back to your website.
- Submit to directories: List your business on local chamber of commerce sites and other local directories.
Make sure to track and analyze backlinks to your site. You might encounter toxic links that can harm your site.
Incorporate Long-Tail Keywords In Your Content
Local searchers are more likely to use long-tail keywords to get more specific results. Long-tail keywords have a low search volume but high conversion rates.
Here is why long-tail keywords must be a part of your broader Google Maps SEO strategy:
- Less competition: It’s often easier to rank for long-tail keywords when you focus on a specific geographic area.
- More detailed: Because long-tail keywords are more detailed, they attract people who are closer to making a purchase.
- Highly targeted: By including location-specific words, you can better reach local customers who are searching for businesses like yours in their area.
Use a tool to find highly relevant long-tail keywords.
Related: Long-tail Keywords: What They Are and How to Get Search Traffic From Them
10 Practices That Can Negatively Impact Your Google Maps SEO
Make sure to avoid these practices when improving your Google Maps ranking:
- Keyword stuffing in your business name or description.
- Relying on fake or spammy reviews.
- Not asking customers for reviews.
- Having inconsistent NAP information across directories
- Incorrect or missing categories in your Google Profile.
- Ignoring customer reviews or reviews gating.
- Paying for spammy backlinks.
- Using generic or low-quality images.
- Violating Google’s guidelines for local businesses.
- Falling for SEO scams.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you understand how Google Maps SEO works, it’s time to build a strong presence on Google Maps. As a local business, you might find Google Maps a highly competitive space.
But with the right tools and Google Maps best practices, you can manage and get your listing ranked higher in search results.
Today’s consumers need quick and reliable information to solve their problems. Try to be helpful and give them what they need to make informed decisions. With consistent efforts, you’ll be able to unlock improved online visibility, engagement, and, most importantly, more revenue.
Get Found with Profitable Media’s SEO Services!
Is your website buried in search results? At Profitable Media, we help businesses like yours climb to the top of Google rankings with proven SEO strategies. From keyword research to technical optimization, we’ll drive organic traffic that converts.
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