How to Rank Higher on Google Maps as a Local Business
As a local business, securing a spot at the top of Google Maps can be a game-changer for attracting customers in your area. With millions of people using Google Maps every day to find local services, it's essential to optimize your listing to ensure that you stand out among the competition. Ranking higher on Google Maps can drive targeted traffic to your business, increase leads, and ultimately boost revenue.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best strategies for optimizing your Google Maps listing and getting your business to rank higher.
Why Ranking Higher on Google Maps Matters for Your Business
When people search for services in their area, Google Maps displays results based on location, relevance, and user engagement. If your business isn’t showing up in the top spots, you’re missing out on valuable local traffic. Ranking higher on Google Maps means:
Increased Visibility: You’ll be more visible to potential customers, especially those using mobile devices to find local services.
More Leads: People searching for local businesses on Google Maps are often ready to take action—whether it’s calling, visiting your website, or stopping by your store.
Stronger Local Presence: Dominating local search results helps build your brand’s reputation and trust within your community.
1. Claim and Optimize Your Google My Business Profile
To rank higher on Google Maps, the first and most critical step is to claim your Google My Business (GMB) profile. GMB is Google's tool that connects businesses to customers through maps, search results, and more.
Claim Your Listing: Visit Google My Business and claim your business if you haven’t already. It’s free and straightforward to set up.
Fill Out Every Detail: Google rewards businesses that provide complete and accurate information. Ensure your business name, address, phone number (NAP), website, hours of operation, and business categories are filled out correctly and consistently.
Action Step: Avoid keyword stuffing in your business name, as this can harm your ranking. Instead, keep it clean and professional.
Choose the Right Categories: Google uses business categories to help match your business with relevant searches. Choose the primary category that best describes your business, then add relevant secondary categories.
Action Step: Research your competitors and see which categories they’re using to ensure you’re staying competitive.
2. Use Location-Based Keywords in Your Listing
To rank higher on Google Maps, you need to ensure that Google understands where your business is located and what services you provide. Using location-based keywords throughout your listing is a powerful way to achieve this.
Add Keywords to Your Business Description: In the business description section of your Google My Business profile, use relevant keywords that potential customers would search for. Include your location and specific services.
Example: If you’re an elevator maintenance business in Philadelphia, your description might say: “We provide expert elevator maintenance services in Philadelphia, including 24/7 emergency repairs and more.”
Use Location-Based Keywords in Reviews: Encourage your customers to mention their location in their reviews. For example, “Best bakery in Center City Philadelphia!” These location signals help boost your local ranking.
3. Encourage Reviews (and Respond to Them!)
Customer reviews are one of the most important ranking factors for Google Maps. Businesses with a high volume of positive reviews tend to rank higher because Google sees them as trustworthy and reliable.
Ask for Reviews: After completing a service or sale, ask satisfied customers to leave a review on your Google Maps listing. Make it easy by sending them a direct link to your review page.
Respond to Reviews: Google values businesses that engage with their customers. Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows that you care about your customers and are actively managing your online presence.
Action Step: Don’t just respond to negative reviews. Thank customers for positive feedback and show appreciation for their business.
4. Add Photos to Your Google My Business Listing
Images are not only visually appealing but also serve as engagement signals for Google. The more people interact with your listing, the higher you’re likely to rank.
Upload High-Quality Photos: Include professional images of your storefront, products, services, and team. This helps potential customers get a better sense of your business and encourages them to visit.
Encourage User-Generated Content: Ask customers to upload their own photos to your Google Maps listing after a visit. User-generated content is incredibly powerful for local SEO and can further boost your rankings.
Action Step: Post regular updates with new photos to keep your listing fresh and engaging.
5. Leverage Local Citations
A local citation is any mention of your business’s NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) across the web. The more consistent your citations are across various platforms, the stronger your local SEO signals become.
Ensure NAP Consistency: Double-check that your NAP is exactly the same on all platforms, including Yelp, Bing Places, and social media profiles. Even slight discrepancies (e.g., “Ave.” vs. “Avenue”) can hurt your Google Maps ranking.
List Your Business in Relevant Directories: Submit your business to high-quality, relevant online directories. Google uses these mentions as additional ranking signals.
Action Step: Use tools like Moz Local or BrightLocal to find directories that are relevant to your industry and location.
6. Build Backlinks to Your Website
Backlinks from high-authority websites not only improve your overall SEO but also contribute to higher rankings on Google Maps.
Focus on Local and Industry-Specific Backlinks: Get backlinks from local news outlets, bloggers, and industry-specific websites. These links show Google that you’re an authority in your field and location.
Action Step: Sponsor local events, collaborate with influencers, or write guest posts for local websites to build a strong backlink profile.
7. Regularly Post on Google My Business
Google My Business allows you to post updates, offers, events, and other content directly on your profile. Regular posts help keep your listing fresh and show Google that your business is active and engaging with customers.
Post About Updates and Offers: Use Google Posts to share news, special promotions, events, or blog posts. Each post stays active for seven days, so make sure you’re posting regularly.
Action Step: Try to post at least once a week to maintain engagement with your audience and signal activity to Google.
8. Track and Measure Your Performance
To ensure your Google Maps optimization efforts are working, it’s essential to track and measure your performance regularly.
Use Google My Business Insights: Google provides valuable insights into how customers find and interact with your business. You can see how many views your listing received, how often people requested directions, and how many phone calls were made.
Action Step: Monitor these metrics regularly to identify trends and opportunities for further optimization.
Mastering Google Maps Optimization for Local Success
Ranking higher on Google Maps is a vital strategy for any local business looking to grow its online presence and attract more local customers. By following these optimization steps—claiming your GMB profile, using location-based keywords, building reviews, and maintaining NAP consistency—you’ll be well on your way to achieving higher visibility and driving more traffic.
At Dalmatian Digital, we specialize in helping businesses optimize their local SEO strategies, including Google Maps rankings. If you’re ready to dominate the local search results and grow your business, reach out to us for a free SEO audit today!
Let’s get your business on the map. Literally!