How to improve your google maps local ranking
Google Local Business is one of the best ways of receiving local enquiries for your business, we will show you how to improve your Google Maps Local ranking. Google Business, formerly known as (Google Business Profile) is a free service that allows you to promote your business and manage your business on Google's online search engine. It’s a great platform to appear on local search results that will have a massive impact for your businesses to reach more customers. Focusing on your Google Maps search engine optimisation will increase your foot traffic, and web traffic which will essentially increase your sales and leads.
One of the first things you should consider when your website has been created is to be listed on Google Maps. This should be your top priority, especially when you attract new customers and build your brand. Customers are more likely to click the top three positions on a Google search so it’s important that you position yourself in the top three. Anything less the chances are that you won't be seen so it's best to focus on this as one of your first tasks. Google Maps are also leading the way in navigation with over 21 million downloads for Google Maps in 2023. This just shows how important and beneficial your Google listing can be especially when it’s free. With billions of local searches each day more than 30% of all mobile searches are related to location.
What are the most important Google Maps ranking factors?
Google issued a statement and mentioned the most important Google Maps ranking factors are distance prominence and relevance.
Relevance is when a potential customer or user searches for a query that matches your business results. This could be information linking to your Business profile such as relevant content, product/service, or location. For example, if you’re a plumber installing outside taps in London, your business profile may read 'outside tap fitters in London'. Keyword research will give you some good insights into which words you should use on your Google Business page and website. You might discover that your business isn't appearing in relevant local searches. To improve your business's visibility in local search results, it's important to verify that the information in your Business Profile is accurate, comprehensive, and appealing.
Distance plays an important role, if you’re outside the local search area you’re less likely to show on local search results. for example, if you’re a coffee shop located in London you’re less likely to be found in Surrey. Google Business listings will rank higher if a searcher is closer to the listing's location. However, Google's algorithms are technical and will adjust search results to provide the best results, so the same person may see different results for the same search term.
Prominence outlines how well-known a business is and how it will appear in search results. Websites and pages with great content, trust, directories, links, and SEO have a better prominence. It’s always best to leave this part to professionals, if you have the time and skillset then we are about to show you how to rank on Google Maps. Take a look at the image below and see how easy it was for us to rank for that keyword.
Optimise your google business profile to rank on Google Maps
Ranking on Google Maps can be difficult when done correctly, but the results are worth all the hard work. Google Business receives all of its data from your Google business profile. It’s important to have all the correct details such as an.
- Address
- Phone number
- Website
- Opening hours
- Content
This information will all be displayed on SERPs (Search engine ranking pages). Your website information must also match your Google business profile as this will boost your rankings.
The first thing we should do is make sure all your Google business information is correct and up-to-date. Select the right category, description, and attributes to reflect what your business does, or you won’t rank. When you set up your opening hours they need to match your website or any business directories you’re listed with. We suggest using Semrush listing management tools to check your local citations. We offer directory link-building packages to help boost your local listing and improve your Google Maps Local ranking.
Google reviews
Try contacting customers to begin accumulating Google reviews which indicate relevance, and trust, this will improve your local maps ranking faster. Try to reply to all of your reviews. This shows that you care and your customers trust you. When you receive a negative review answer this with compassion as potential customers will be looking at these reviews. if you receive a fake review, you can contact Google directly to see if they can remove the review for you. When someone leaves your business a review, you’ll be contacted by Google through email which gives you a great opportunity to reply. Anytime you reply, the customer will also receive an email notifying them that you have responded. Invite people to leave a Google review with a newsletter, QR code, social media, or a link on your website.
Make regular Google Business updates
When you click on your Google Business profile you will see a section where you can add regular updates. Doing this you can add photos and descriptions about your recent work, products, or services. Regularly updating your business profile with content will build trust and show that you are constantly improving your profile. Be mindful of the information you include in your content. Start by mentioning the services you offer and your location, then add photos to enhance it. Over time you will see a big difference in how you rank on local searches. if you have a promotion, news, or blog, post this information as your potential customers may be looking. Google has mentioned that businesses with 42% more requests for directions on Google Maps had more photos on their profile.
Join business directories
There are many online directories across the world, it’s a great idea to be listed on as many as possible as long as they hold authority and trust. Local directories will ask for your business name, address, category, telephone number, photos, and social media links. This must match your Google business profile, it will build an online presence locally and help build your Google Maps Local ranking. When joining directories make sure you create an eye-catching profile. Like any website content is king and the same goes for a website you're listing whether it’s a directory or not. We always recommend a minimum 500 words but the more the merrier
Embed Google Maps on your website
Google offers a service where you can sign in and provide your business location credentials. Google will give you a code to place on your website to embed a local map location to your website. This again builds trust to allow people to know where you are based. Google will know this is linked to your website which may increase your website's domain authority.
Create local backlinks
Successful Local backlinks and Link building will improve your Local Google Maps ranking. Local backlinks are when you have a link from one website to your business website. The websites they come from must be found locally in a local directory, business, news article, or a government website. We provide local link-building packages that take all the stresses away to help build your Google Maps locally.
Be active on Social Media
Having an active social media presence can indirectly improve your ranking. When creating a social media ad, be sure to include photos, hashtags, and a description with targeted keywords and hashtags for platforms like Instagram. It's important to respond to comments, as this interaction is beneficial, similar to the way reviews are. Communication of any kind is valuable
Have a great Website
Your website plays a crucial role in representing your business, brand, and services. When people look for your business on Google, they will likely land on your website. Therefore, it's important to ensure that your website is engaging, contains quality content, and is easy to navigate, with attractive visuals and infographics. Having these elements can improve your presence on Google Maps. Additionally, having strong local backlinks can enhance your Google Maps listing.
Furthermore, it's essential to review your website for any spam or toxic links, as these can negatively impact your website's ranking on Google. Google devalues websites with poor links as it violates their policies. It's also important to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and fast. One way to check your website's speed is by using a tool like page speed insights.
In terms of content, make sure it is easy to understand and provides comprehensive information that a customer might seek. It's crucial to avoid spelling mistakes, so using a tool like Grammarly can be helpful. This software can identify spelling and punctuation errors and even provide an average reading age for your website. According to Grammarly, a website should ideally target a reading age of nine to 15 years, depending on the nature of the service offered. Our web design team create stunning websites at affordable prices.
Implement Schema Markup
Search engine optimisation has become essential for website ranking, and implementing schema markup can give your website a significant edge. Schema markup, also known as structured data, is a code you can add to your website's HTML, to help search engines understand your content better. By providing additional information about your website's content, schema markup enables search engines to display rich and engaging snippets in search results. This, in turn, can improve your website's visibility, Google Local maps, click-through rates, and ultimately, conversions. Implementing schema markup can be a game-changer for businesses, helping them stand out from the competition in search engine results pages. Whether you run an e-commerce store, a local business, a recipe website, or anything in between, implementing schema markup can enhance your online presence and attract more traffic and enquiries to your website. By providing search engines with structured data, you are making it easier for them to understand what your website offers, improving the chances of attracting relevant visitors who are more likely to buy.