When you start a business, it becomes important to increase its visibility in search engines. Backlinking is an important factor for maximized reach. Google maps acts as a main source to showcase your business. In many cases, business owners pay money to Google for advertisements. It can be in the form of Google ads, when a user searches a keyword and paid ads appear on screen. Sometimes, a paid promotion of business occurs with special icons. In this blog, we’ll cover the important local ranking factors and how to optimize your Google Maps presence to rank in the local pack.
Local Ranking Factors
First things first, let’s talk about the local ranking factors. The local ranking factors are the key components that Google considers when determining where to place your business on Google Maps.
These factors include the relevance, distance, and prominence of your business
- Relevance refers to the relevance of your business a user searches on the maps.
- Distance in local ranking means that the closer you are to the searcher, the more likely you are to rank higher in local search results.
- Prominence means the authority and credibility of your business on Google maps. It is increased with more reviews, backlinks, and more images.
Step 1. Add your business to Google Maps:
So, how do you get started with optimizing your business for Google Maps? Step one is to add your business to Google Maps. This can be done by simply going to the Google Maps website and clicking on the “Add a missing place” button.
Once you’ve added your business, you’ll want to make sure that all of the information about your business is accurate and up-to-date. This includes your business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation.
Step 2. Add your business to Google My Business:
Step two is to add your business to Google My Business (GMB) and optimize the listing. This is a crucial step as it allows you to manage and update the information about your business on Google Maps and in local search results. You’ll want to make sure that you provide as much information as possible, including photos and videos of your business. This will help to increase the prominence of your business in the eyes of Google.
Google My Business Account:
- Creating a Google My Business account is a simple process that can be completed in just a few steps. Here’s how you can do it:
- Go to the Google My Business website. You can access this by typing “Google My Business” into your search engine or by going directly to https://www.google.com/business/.
- Sign in to your Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, you’ll need to create one before proceeding.
- Enter your business name. If your business name appears in the suggested options, select it. If not, click “Add your business to Google.”
- Enter your business information. This includes your business category, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation. Make sure that this information is accurate and up-to-date.
- Verify your business. Google will send a postcard to your business address with a verification code. This can take up to 14 days to arrive, so be patient. Once you receive the postcard, enter the verification code in your Google My Business account.
- Optimize your listing. Once your account is verified, you can add photos, respond to reviews, and update your business information as needed.
Step 3. Get more Reviews
Reviews are one of the most important factors that Google considers when ranking businesses on Google Maps. Encourage your customers to leave reviews by providing great service and asking for their feedback. You can also include a call-to-action on your website or in your email signature asking for reviews.
Step 4. Optimize your website
Having a well-optimized website can help to improve your local ranking on Google Maps. Make sure that your website is mobile-friendly, has a fast loading speed, and includes relevant keywords related to your business.
Step 5. Build relevant backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to your website, and they’re an important factor in Google’s ranking algorithm. Reach out to other businesses in your industry and ask for backlinks. You can also create high-quality content that other websites will want to link to.
Step 6. Audit and update NAP citations
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number, and it’s important to make sure that this information is consistent across all of your online listings. Inconsistent NAP citations can hurt your local ranking on Google Maps.
Step 7. Add Schema Markup to your Website
Schema Markup is a type of code that you can add to your website to help Google better understand the content on your site. This can help to improve your visibility on Google Maps and in local search results.
Step 8. Try Google Maps Ads for Ranking
Google Maps Ads can help to improve your visibility and attract more customers to your business. You can create ads that appear on Google Maps when users search for businesses in your area.
Step 9. Track your Google Maps Rankings
Lastly, It’s important to track your progress using a rank tracker and track your progress over time. This will allow you to monitor your local ranking and see how your efforts are impacting your business’s visibility on Google Maps. You can also use a rank tracker to keep an eye on your competitors and see where they’re ranking in comparison to your business.
Selecting The Best Local Search Company:
Choosing TDTRG as your local search company is a great way to increase your visibility on Google Maps. TDTRG has a team of experts who specialize in local SEO and can help you optimize your Google My Business listing, website, and other online profiles to improve your local ranking and attract more customers to your business.
When you work with TDTRG, they will begin by conducting a comprehensive audit of your online presence to identify areas that need improvement. They will then develop a customized strategy based on your specific goals and needs. This may include optimizing your Google My Business listing, creating high-quality content, building backlinks, and implementing other tactics to improve your local ranking.
Conclusion:
In short, if you’re looking to rank on Google Maps and get into the local pack, it’s important to add your business to Google Maps and Google My Business, optimize your listing, use exact match keywords, and track your progress using a rank tracker.
With these tips and techniques, you’ll be well on your way to increasing your business’s visibility and attracting more customers in your local area. Don’t forget to download a rank tracker and start implementing these local ranking factors to get your business to rank on Google Maps!