When it comes to local SEO, Google Maps play an essential role. Having your presence on Google Maps means that your business listing has a better chance at Google’s local ranking. It puts you right where people are, making it easier for potential customers to access your business when they’re searching for similar offerings. Today, when most of the potential customers turn to Google Maps to discover local businesses and make more informed buying decisions, optimizing your profile has become crucial.
However, the question is how businesses can rank higher on Google Maps. If you also want an answer to this question, then continue reading this blog to get an answer to your query.
How to Rank on Google Maps?
Ranking well on Google Maps might prove to be a monumental task for local businesses, but in reality, it can help have more customers. The first and foremost important step in establishing visibility in Google Maps is optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP). Since more people refer search engines to find local information, having a presence on Google Maps can prove highly beneficial. For instance, searches like “bakery shop near me” or “salon near me” highlight the significance of creating and optimising your GBP.
By doing so, businesses can boost the chances of appearing in local search results and attracting more foot traffic.
Google Business Profiles: The Key to Ranking in the Local Pack
Google Business Profile is a free profile that allows businesses to show their presence on Google Maps and engage with customers for free. Whether or not you know it by name, you’ve likely seen and used a Google Business Profile listing. Google Business Profiles play an important role in getting more visibility among the targeted audience.
Your Google Business Profile contains details related to your business name, business category, phone number and address, website link, reviews, business images, popular times, etc.
What are the Benefits of Getting Ranked in the Google Maps Pack?
For businesses with a physical location, optimizing their online presence for local SEO prominence is important for business growth and expansion. Google users primarily search on mobile devices, with 1/3rd of them having location-driven intent. More than 70% of the individuals who search for something local visit a business within a day or two. So imagine the benefits businesses can have by ranking high on Google Maps.
- More than 85% of consumers who search for any local business on Google Maps visit that business in the next 2-4 days.
- Based on Google’s report, close to 30% of these Google Maps local searches usually result in a purchase.
- The tentative customers make quick purchase decisions based on the customer reviews, credibility scores, and online reputation of any business.
- Google Maps Listings boost credibility and trust. The users often perceive businesses that appear at the top of search results as more credible and trustworthy.
- The customers can make direct phone calls or book reservations instantly. Therefore, ranking on Google’s local listing ensures improved conversions. This seamless interaction results in higher conversion rates and more satisfied customers.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide to App Store Optimization
How to Improve Your Google Business Profile Ranking: Ways to Optimize?
If you want to make the best of your Google My Business page, then read below to learn easy ways to optimize your GMB listing and improve its ranking.
Set Up Your Google Business Profile
First and the foremost important step is to keep your Google My Business profile updated to enjoy maximum benefits. Make sure that the information displayed on the local search results panel for your business is accurate and updated through your business dashboard. Mention accurate details related to the business name, contact details, address, website, working hours, business categories, etc.
Ensure your GMB listing is on Google Maps.
Your GMB listing will be automatically added to Google Maps. The potential customers looking for your offerings will search for your business through Google Maps, and by listing it on the same platform, you can become more accessible. It is important to verify your business listing in Google as it shows your business on Google Maps until it’s verified.
Verify Google Business Profile Listing
Verifying your business listing is important to build trust. Google usually requests verification during account creation and while updating or adding any critical information related to your business. Make sure you authenticate each category mentioned in Google. The more authority, the higher the Google Business Profile ranking in search engines will be.
Verifying your business automatically makes it look more authentic than its competitors. This helps improve your appearance on SERPs (search engine result pages).
Include high-quality Photos
Business listings with photos are considered reputable and genuine and thus can have more clicks. By adding photos or videos, local businesses or home-service businesses look more legitimate and trustworthy to local searchers. Google reported that businesses with photos on Google Business Profile got 35% clicks through to the websites and 42% more driving direction requests as compared to businesses without photos.
Therefore, local businesses must include photos of their business in GBP listing. If you want to motivate more potential customers to engage with your business, adding photos is a must.
Include a Q&A Section
With the help of the GMB tool, businesses can invite others to submit questions about their business listing. Both business owners and the general community can give answers to the questions. Try to reply to new questions as soon as possible to build trust. Furthermore, the more engaged you are while answering, the stronger your ranking will be.
Regular Posting on your Business Profile
Along with posting regularly on social media platforms, businesses can also update their customers through their Google My Business profile. From providing information related to a general announcement to seasonal offers or discounts to product launches, the business profile can be used to inform potential customers.
Read more: Boost Organic Results with A/B Testing on Google Play and App Store
Invite for Google Reviews
Customer reviews play an important role for any website as they are the first thing people see on any website. Moreover, Google reviews considerably increase conversion rates compared to deploying other SEO strategies. Since the majority of the customers make an opinion about your business and your offerings by reading reviews, so focus on that.
Reviews are the primary influence on consumer purchases, and the more positive reviews there are, the more customers you will have. However, your listing can show both positive reviews and negative reviews, so a timely response to negative reviews is also important to show professionalism. Contrary to popular belief, negative reviews give an immense opportunity for all to recover gracefully.
Put Your Business On the Google Map
Hope now you know how to rank higher on Google Maps; following the tips mentioned above helps optimize your Google Business profile properly. However, establishing your authority and expertise online is a difficult task for those with no or very little digital marketing experience. Thus, it’s better to hire a local SEO Company in Delhi to optimize your Google My Business profile, as they have the right skills and deploy the best local SEO strategy to give you the desired results.
So, connect with the experts to optimize your Google My Business profile and generate more relevant traffic and leads for your products and services.
