Consider someone nearby is searching for the same services you provide. Your competition shows up among the top three on Google Maps search results. But not your business. That is a lost opportunity, since most people do not go any further than the first few results.
How to Rank Higher on Google Maps
In order to rank higher on Google Maps, just having the verified business listing isn’t enough. Google takes many factors into consideration to identify the best places worthy of ranking. Fortunately, you do not have to spend millions on your marketing efforts. You simply have to consistently improve your business in some ways.
Start with a Complete Google Business Profile
Imagine that your Google Business Profile is your storefront online. A Google Business Profile without complete information is hard for both Google and potential customers to figure out what kind of products/services you have.
Make sure to fill out the following information:
- Business name
- Business address
- Contact details
- Website
- Business hours
- Primary and secondary categories
- Products/ services
- Business description
- Attributes such as delivery, parking, or wheelchair accessibility, where applicable.
It’s that easy to create a basis for Google My Business SEO.
Choose the Most Relevant Business Category
The main category lets Google know how to display your business during local searches. If your business is a cake shop, for instance, using the category Bakery is better compared to using Restaurant.
Secondly, you can use additional categories to show other services that you provide, although your main category needs to describe your core business. Picking an incorrect category might make your business invisible to users’ searches.
Collect Reviews Regularly, Not Occasionally
Reviews impact not only consumer choices but also GMB ranking factors. Do not wait for promotional periods to ask customers for reviews; do it on an ongoing basis.
Ask for feedback from satisfied customers after:
- Providing a service.
- Delivering an order.
- Resolving a consumer’s problem.
Consistent flow of reviews works better than getting tens of them at once and then nothing for months.
Reply to Every Review
While most businesses have review pages, very few respond to the reviews.
The review could be either positive or negative but, in any case, ensure you respond professionally to both. Just say thank you to the compliment and respond appropriately to the criticism and show that you value their opinion.
Responding actively to the review ensures that your page remains active and boosts your Google Maps SEO.
Upload Fresh Photos Frequently
Photos help determine if potential clients will come to your business or not.
Instead of just uploading a couple of pictures and forgetting about it, continue uploading new pictures of:
- The front of your shop.
- Your employees.
- Your products.
- Your completed projects.
- Your office/store interior.
- New arrivals or seasonal items.
Updating your pictures reassures your customers about how active your business is.
Keep Your Business Information Consistent Everywhere
Your company’s name, address, and telephone number must be consistent among your website, your social media accounts, and even directories.
For instance, when your Google listing displays a certain phone number while your site features another number, Google will find it hard to trust that information regarding your business.
Consistency improves local SEO Google Maps and allows search engines to have more confidence in your business.
Use Google Posts to Stay Active
Google Posts are often overlooked; however, they are one of the easiest ways to prove that you are an active company.
Share information about:
- Special offers
- New services
- Holiday hours
- Events
- New product launches
- Useful tips
Even posting once or twice per month ensures that your page remains current and informative.
Build Local Pages on Your Website
Your website is an integral part of the process of Improving GMB Ranking.
In case your business has several locations, make individual pages for each one and don’t put all cities on one page.
Like this:
- Plumbing Services in South Delhi
- Bathroom Remodeling in NCR
- Emergency Plumbing in New Delhi
The pages should have unique, informative content related to that particular area.
Do not just copy and change the city name.
Earn Local Mentions and Links
When reputable local websites make references to your business or include links back to your website, Google recognizes these as trust factors.
You can take advantage of this via:
- Local Business Associations.
- Community events
- Industry directories
- Blogs
- Press coverage in local newspapers
- Sponsorships
Such mentions add to your credibility and boost GMB Optimization for Local Search.
Keep Improving Instead of Setting and Forgetting
Most people set up their Google My Business profiles once and never come back.
Rather than that, set up a monthly list for yourself:
- Upload new images.
- Answer all reviews.
- Modify your business hours if necessary.
- Post a Google Post.
- Include new products/services.
- Ensure all business details are correct.
These small changes can make a difference, and you will be able to rank higher on GMB without depending solely on advertising.
Final Thoughts
There is not really any fast-track way of increasing your visibility locally. The companies that usually appear at the top of the list are the ones which always maintain up-to-date profile details, are active, have real reviews by their customers, and provide accurate information. View your Google My Business page as an extension of your business instead of creating one and ignoring it afterward.
If you are looking to get help from professionals to increase your local visibility and generate leads locally, we at Blueletter India would be happy to help you with our local SEO solutions. They will help you to establish your credibility both with Google and your potential customers.
