As localized search results on Google have become popular, businesses online should take good care in securing maximum clarity on local search resources. Among these local search resources are “Google My Business”, “Google Maps” and “a mobile-friendly website” which are essential components of an optimized presence in local search results.
Your listing on Google Maps is a critical business marketing tool. It can help you stand out above competitors, get discovered by potential customers, and generate more business. To help your business stand up and earn a higher ranking on Google, here are some of the easy steps for increasing your business’s local ranking on Google Maps.
Follow these 12 Easy Steps to Boost your Local Ranking on Google Maps
1. List your business on Google Maps
First, you need to get listed on Google Maps and claim your listing for you to rank higher so you can perform Google Maps marketing. If you already have it listed, you may skip this step. But if you don’t have any listing yet, you may follow the steps below to list your business on Google Maps.
- Proceed to Google.com/maps or the Google Maps app on your phone or web, and search for your business name.
- If your business name appears in the drop-down menu with a location next to it, you already have a listing! You may then proceed to the next section.
- If your business name doesn’t show, you’ll be able to see an option in the drop-down menu to “add a missing place.” Once you click that option, you’ll be prompted to provide your business name, location, and category.
- One thing that you have to remember is that anyone can add a business to Google Maps. So, even if you haven’t done so, it’s still best to check and make sure your business listing doesn’t already exist. But you don’t have to worry; no matter who the person is, who adds your business to Google Maps does not also have control over that listing. Only the one who claims the listing by proving ownership of the business has that control, which is what we’ll tackle on the next step.
2. Claim your business listing in Google Maps
When you create your listing on Google Maps, it only requires to provide the business name, category, and location. Claiming your listing can provide many more details about your business, by adding more information a business listing contains, for it to rank higher on Google Maps.
The requirement for claiming your business listing on Google Maps is having a Google My Business account for free. If you already have an account, you may just pull up your Google Maps business listing, and select the option “Claim this business”. If you don’t have a Google My Business account yet, proceed to Google my Business help and it’ll walk you through creating an account and claiming your business.
3. Add information to your business listing in Google Maps
Now that you have your business listed on Google Maps with your Google my Business Account linked to it, you are then ready to optimize your business for it to rank higher in Google local search results. As what was mentioned earlier, the more information your listing provides, the higher it will rank in search results. You will have to log in to your Google My Business account for you to add information on your listing. Afterwards, you will see a dashboard with several tabs down the side.
4. Keep your business’ operating hours accurate
Keep updating your business hours regularly, including when you open and close, and special hours for holidays and events. Accurate hours info lets customers know when you’re available by giving them confidence and accuracy that your business will be open when they arrive.
5. Add photos to your business listing in Google Maps
To improve your ranking on Google Maps, uploading high-quality and captivating photos to your business listing helps in capturing customers by thinking what it’s like to be at your business. You can do this by proceeding to the “Photos” tab in your dashboard on Google My Business and click on the blue circle with a white plus sign. From there, you’ll be able to drag and drop or upload several photos and/or videos at once.
6. Receive Google reviews and ensure your website being responsive
Just to let you know, Google Maps gives ranking favor to business listings with positive reviews. Want to know how do you get reviews? Well, when you created a business listing on Google Maps, this automatically opens your business up to reviews. But that doesn’t mean you’ll get them easily. You’ll need to take charge in asking for reviews, and also responding to them. Responding to reviews encourages more customers and reduces negative reviews. Moreover, being responsive shows how attentive you are to your customers by handling or resolving their issues.
7. Regularly post to your business listing in Google Maps
Regularly posting stuff related to your business sends signals to Google that you are actively managing your listing, which considers when ranking. Moreover, when customers are on search engines, they have high aims. In that case, you can get your offers in your possible customers by regularly posting on Google.
8. Add local keywords on your website
Adding keywords on your website helps to rank higher in Google Search, but may also impact how high your business listing ranks in Google Maps. Drawing attention by being discovered and popular through your website in your local area can help Google to feel convinced and confident in ranking your business listing on Google Maps for that area as well.
9. Embed a Google map on your website
By embedding a Google map, you are showing Google that your business is located where your listing says it is. Search for your business name in Google Maps to embed a Google Map on your website. Click the “Share” option in your listing and select the “Embed a map” tab. Afterwards, simply copy and paste the link on your business’s contact page.
10. Build Niche, Local related citations and Backlinks
One of the features of local SEO designates building niche and local relevance via page optimizations. One way to do this is to build a niche and local related citations. One example of a local citation would be the local chamber of business’ website. An example of a niche relevant citation would be a business directory. You can help these citations get values by linking out to them from your site, putting them through the Google mobile-friendly testing tool, or sending them to an indexing service. Take note that they are pretty much worthless for SEO if they don’t get indexed by Google.
A citation is simply a record of your business name, address, and phone number, and in some instances your website URL as well. Google validates your business location by using citations. You may also consider citations as the equivalent of backlinks in organic SEO strategy. The more valid and related the citation sources are to your business, the more hit it will give you in improving your Google Maps rankings.
11. Be Patient in having your business rank higher on Google Maps
If you have a new website for your business, and you are trying to have it ranked on local search results, you should understand that it may take time. Be mindful that doing multiple backlinks from your website, and getting a lot of reviews all at once can look suspicious. Just take your time, and make sure to utilize all of the links. Once you are settled, just keep adding posts, listings, and citations until you hit the 3-pack.
12. Organic SEO Makes Better Local SEO
Another thing people frequently forget is that Organic Search engine optimization (SEO) for the website of your business also helps with Local SEO, and vice versa. Signals such as “Google My Business”, reviews, on-page, and links are all necessary for the improvement of your local and organic search results rankings.
SEO isn’t an over and done job. You have to continue working on your SEO to increase the traffic. Traffic does play an important role wherein your website appears in search results takes place. By collaborating with a Web SEO expert, you’ll be able to boost your website search rankings across all locations.
