Tips For Improving Your Google Maps SEO

Do you know that the top-ranked Google Maps lists are the ones that get the most clicks? Does that mean ranking in the top 10 will get your business the push it needs? But how to maximize your local search results? Google Maps optimization.

To do so, you must know tips on how to improve your current Google Maps rankings. Why do you need to do it? Because 93% of the customers search for businesses online and with Google Map SEO, you will have better visibility and more business only if you rank at the top in searches.

Why Is Google Maps Ranking Important?

Google Maps ranking is vital for your business to rank better on local SEO. Around 70% of people prefer Google Maps to look for a business as their preferred navigator choice. More often, when people need to find a company, they prefer to go with the top choices offered by Google Maps. 

Optimizing your listing accurately to be at the top can bring in more customers and increase your business. Besides, earning a higher rank also enhances the overall quality of your business listing. Your customers will also have multiple ways of approaching and interacting with you. 

Does SEO Work On Google Maps?

We all have heard about SEO in general; however, do you know what SEO is for Google Maps and how it can help your business? Google Map SEO is optimizing your business’s presence on Google Maps to improve its ranking and visibility in local search results.

You will be surprised that Google Maps are used and tested by 72% of map interface users. They considered it the best option for searching for a locally-owned company and finding the best products and services in that area. 

SEO works great on Google Maps as its optimization helps in improving search rank. It not only works, but it can prove to be excellent for your business. You can use Google Map SEO strategies to boost your business in the following ways:

• Google Maps can be used to improve how your website and landing pages work and can also be included on your website.
• You will get a different and brand-new place to post more content, share articles and photos, and attract customers for your business even if you don't have a website.
• You will get the option of geo-tagging for Google Maps optimization for more accurate targeting and relevance. You can easily geo-tag media for the same purpose.
• It is also a new way of advertising, connecting with more audiences, and eventually improving your business’s place in local search results.

Factors Impacting Google Maps Rankings

The Google Maps ranking factors depend on three algorithms, which are its three prominent pillars. If you understand these three, you will also understand how to rank higher and improve local visibility on Google Maps.

#1. Relevance

The first algorithm that impacts the ranking is the relevance of the business with the searched query as per Google Maps. For example, if a user searches for a beauty parlor, Google Maps will share all the most relevant results as per the user’s area.

On the other hand, if a user types a beauty parlor for women and kids, Google Maps will only show results that have mentioned this criteria in their profile. Google Maps will filter out the remaining search options. Therefore, to enhance local relevance on Google Maps, you must mention category.

#2. Proximity

Next comes the location of the user as an essential ranking factor. When you search for a business, Google Maps will show you the nearest one per your search query. However, you can still get other results. 

For instance, searching for restaurants in XYZ city will show you all the results about XYZ city. However, it can also have results from ABC City. However, the results of ABC City will be much less compared to the former. Therefore, updating your business profile with all the necessary information, including address, is an important element of local searches.

#3. Prominence

Prominence is the last factor that affects the business rankings on Google Maps. This algorithm is designed to understand a business’s prominence through its reputation and popularity. There are four things that it considers under the prominence factor:

• The star ratings that the business has received
• The total number of reviews for that business
• How many links are there to the business’s website

These things tell Google Maps how popular your business is with the local people. Businesses with many backlinks pointing to their website and higher average star ratings are regarded as more popular and ranked higher.

Tips For Improving Google Maps SEO

You must adequately approach Google Maps SEO to achieve your objectives. It is just like you would with any other part of managing your SEO campaign and improving your search rankings. Here are some Google Maps listing optimization tips:

#1. Update Google Business Profile

Google offers Google My Business, or GMB, as a free service. Users can utilize it to set up and maintain their business profiles in Google Maps and search results. For getting found in local searches, your Google My Business (GMB) will support you. It is an essential tool that can offer interested users detailed information about your business.

You can think of your GMB as a virtual store for your users where they will get to know about you before they visit you. Moreover, it is a critical and the first and foremost element of Google Maps SEO. 

#2. Claim Your Listing

The next essential step is to claim and verify that your business is legitimate. Once you claim your listing, Google Maps will allow you to add more relevant information about your business, resulting in increased ranking and more customers. Remember, you can only claim your listing once you have a Google My Business account. Hence, the first step is essential.

Once the account is ready, the process to claim is very simple. Find your Google Maps business listing and click on one of the options - “own this business” or “claim this business?” and follow the process. In a few clicks, you will easily claim your listing. 

#3. Update a Keyword Rich Business Description

It would help to have a detailed business description for your Google listing. Two things will happen by including local keywords, and both will impact your search rankings. 

First, your customers will know about the nature of the business and the products/services offered. Second, Google will clearly understand what your business is and how it relates to companies in your local area. 

#4. Choose the Right Categories

There is a brilliant feature offered by Google My Business where you can select the category or the nature of your business. When you choose the category from GMP, be cautious of selecting the category that resembles your work perfectly.

Google will understand your business through the category you have selected, and when users search for a company, it will pick it from this section and display it in the results. Hence, by categorizing accurately, the chances of maximizing Google Maps presence for businesses increase significantly.

#5. Post Content Per Local SEO

If you want local and organic traffic, your website needs to be well-optimized as per SEO. You must post regularly using local search terms to attract potential customers. You can discuss events, updates, promotions, offers, and more on your GMB profile. 

Google prefers active business listings to help your profile rank higher in local search results. Thus, prioritizing local search optimization will ensure customers know your business is still operational, leading to increased engagement.

#6. Ensure Accurate Pin Location

Optimizing location information for Google Maps means accurately pinning your location on the map. Your accurate pin location will help customers reach your store easily. It will, thus, improve their experience, leading to more frequent visits. It is also necessary to make it easier for customers to navigate your business.

Optimization increases the chance of your business appearing in “near me” search results. Your business locations support local search results to a great extent; hence, it is considered an essential element of local SEO strategies. Go to your GMB profile, choose your business, and edit your location for accuracy. 

#7. Add Updated Business Information

The most important information on your GMB website and across are your Name, address, and phone number, also called NAP. You must have your NAP constantly updated and consistent for your potential customers and for Google to share your business on search results. Updating your NAP is called Google Maps citation management. 

You can also include your working hours in the business information. When you update it regularly, your consumers will know when you are available, and it will give them confidence that you will be open when they reach your store.

#8. Add Virtual Tour and Pictures

How will your customers know if your business is right for them? Visual appeal by optimizing images for Google Maps listings. Add good HD-quality images, preferably taken from a professional camera, to showcase your business to your customers. You can even add pictures of your products or services or even add the option of a virtual tour of your company.

It will build trust with your customers, and Google will use its AI tools to analyze pictures as a part of local SEO results which will lead to better Google Maps rankings.   

#9. Get Google Reviews

Remember the prominence factor of Google rankings; your reviews will impact that significantly. According to a survey in 2022 by BrighLocal, 77% of customers prefer to read reviews to know about a company or business. Businesses with higher ratings and more positive reviews automatically build a trust factor with customers. 

Additionally, when your business has more reviews, it will help enhance your presence and, thus, increase organic traffic. This is true for both your Google My Business profile and Google Maps searches. 

#10. Add Google Maps to Your Website

Adding a Google Map to your website will have two purposes - customers will easily find your business, and it will improve your SEO efforts. When you embed a map on your website, Google will know that your location is accurate. It increases your credibility and, thus, ranking. 

Besides, it will also enhance your customer’s experience, making them leave good reviews of your business on Google. It is also visually appealing for customers when added to a web page. The best way to include it on your website will be by adding it under the About Us page. 

#11. Build Relevant Backlinks

Backlinks are links on third-party websites that help customers reach out to your website. It is considered one of the most significant factors in improving your ranking on Google Maps for any business. How do you build backlinks?

Create engaging and informative content that third-party websites can add. It can be blogs, videos, infographics, etc. Check out guest post options by requesting websites of similar niches to let you post content. Google considers backlinks a vote of confidence other businesses also show towards your business.

#12. Run Ads Occasionally

Running ads occasionally can help in increasing clicks and calls through Google Maps. Paid Google ads can boost your business’s visibility. It is not directly linked to SEO, but paid ads can help build favorable ranking as it places your business on top of the search results.

When users search for a business with near-me criteria, they will always see the most relevant companies with paid ads on top. Paid ads help increase customer engagement instantly.

#13. Remove Duplicate Map Listings

You must ensure just one business listing per location to rank on top. It will even when you decide to change addresses, ensure you modify your existing GMB instead of creating a new one. Similarly, if you have more than one service under a more extensive umbrella, do not create separate GMBs; use only one to list all.

Duplicate listings can confuse customers and Google Maps on the accuracy of your business information. You should constantly check for duplicate listings and remove or merge them in case they have reviews valuable to your business.

#14. Publish Business in Directory

Get more citations and links by publishing your business listing in directories, as these backlinks and citations can help you improve your Google Maps rankings and local SEO efforts. Remember, the directories you use are all reliable, and people use them often. 

Additionally, if you use more than one directory, ensure the data provided and updated is consistent. Your data should also match what is mentioned on your GMB profile and Google Maps listing.

What is Marketing through Google Maps?

The technique of making your business more visible on Google Maps is known as Google Maps marketing. Optimizing Google My Business for Maps is a kind of marketing that helps boost your website’s traffic and visibility by ranking higher on Google Maps. It is an essential thing to consider for your business as people search online in these digital days to find businesses nearby.

You will be surprised that over 70% of smartphone users prefer searching for local businesses online and using Google Maps to reach them. Another report suggested that 83% of Americans prefer to search online before visiting the store.

What is Google Pack 3 For Maps?

When you search for a local business listing on Google Maps, have you ever noticed that you get the top three names together? These are known as the Google Pack 3 and are the top SERP, or search engine result pages, as per Google. In this pack, the data presented from Google's end will be the most relevant to your search. It is a way in which Google ensures its users find exactly what they came for.

Google displays all possible local businesses that match a user's search query when they look for a business. The user's location is then taken into account to further customize these results.    

Try searching for a local business to see if local SEO for Google Maps is effective. You can include the name of the location or use the search term "businesses near me" to get precise results. For instance, if you search for "the best advertising agency near me," the top three agencies in your area will appear in a pack of three.

The Google Pack 3 results are generally faster and better than any other form of SEO. This pack has all the necessary information a user must know about a business. This includes business address, contact details, price range, website link, directions, map location, and ratings.

Conclusion

You must have a solid presence on Google Maps to win your local market. If you can correct this, you can comfortably boost your visibility, organic traffic, and more. All the tips mentioned in the article above are simple and easy to follow and ensure that your SEO efforts will enhance your Google Maps rankings.

You can put them to the test for yourself and observe a noticeable shift in the volume of people who come to you and inquire about your goods or services. Recall that having a customer-focused approach, being consistent, and being relevant are the keys to success in local SEO.

FAQs

1.  What is the best way of doing SEO for Google Maps?

You should optimize your GMB profile with accurate and up-to-date information, customer reviews, and quality images. You can also add relevant keywords and encourage engagement for Google Maps SEO purposes.

2.  Why is SEO for Google Maps important?

SEO for Google Maps is essential for businesses, particularly local ones. It facilitates their visibility in local search results. Their physical stores may see an increase in visitation as a result of their improved search result ranking.

3. How long does it take to observe outcomes from using SEO tactics for Google Maps?

The time frame for outcomes of Google Map SEO optimization may differ. Certain modifications, including altering contact information, may take effect right away. It may take longer to improve ranks based on reviews, though.

4. Are there any hazards associated with using Google Maps SEO?

No, but even with Google Maps optimization's advantages, you should be on the lookout for negative reviews and competitors' updated information. Consequently, pay special attention to your SEO strategies.