Published on April 22, 2024
Your Google Maps listing is a valuable tool for your business. It helps you find new customers, beat your competitors, and make more money—all for free. But to get these benefits, people need to be able to see your listing easily. Just being on the map isn't enough.
Many people think that just being close to a location makes you show up higher on Google Maps. But that's not true. Google looks at lots of things to decide who shows up first. In this guide, I'll tell you 10 easy things you can do to make sure your business shows up higher on Google Maps and gets more attention from customers.
Google uses various factors to decide how businesses show up in search results. Whether you want to attract more customers through reviews or improve your online presence, knowing how Google ranks local businesses is key. Here are the main things Google looks at:
Is your business a good match for what people are searching for? If yes, your business info will appear in local ranking searches.
If someone needs a nearby business, Google will show businesses close to them. So, linking your business to Google Maps helps people find you, especially for local ranking services like plumbing or electrical work.
The more your business is talked about online, the higher Google will rank it. But it’s not about cheating the system with fake listings. It’s about making your brand stand out in a positive way to boost your search ranking.
Ready to make the most of your Google My Business page? Here are seven simple ways to optimize your GMB listing and improve its ranking.
Regularly update your Google My Business profile to make sure it's accurate and complete. This helps your business show up better in local search results. Use your GMB dashboard to manage your information.
Your business description is the first thing users see on Google search, so make it count. Here's how:
Be Clear and Unique: Clearly explain what your business offers and what sets it apart. Add some personality by sharing your brand's story and values.
For instance, let's take a look at a local bakery's description:
"Welcome to Sweet Delights Bakery! We're passionate about creating delicious treats using only the finest ingredients. From mouthwatering cakes to freshly baked bread, we have something to satisfy every craving. Visit us and experience the sweetness!"
This description is concise, and engaging, and highlights what makes the bakery special.
Remember, Google My Business descriptions have a 750-character limit. To update yours, log into your GMB account, click "Edit profile," then edit the Description section.
Did you know that 26% of views for U.S. businesses come from Google Maps? Your Google My Business listing is automatically added to Google Maps, making it easier for potential customers to find you. Having the most accurate and updated information helps people locate your business more easily.
Setting up direct messaging allows you to answer questions and engage with potential customers. This feature lets searchers contact you directly, which can boost sales and attract more business.
Responding personally to each customer's concerns shows that you value them, building trust and satisfaction. Happy customers are more likely to recommend your business to others.
To set it up:
Go to the "Messages" section on your Google My Business dashboard.
Click the "Turn on" button and add your contact info.
You'll receive a verification code from Google to confirm your identity. Enter the code, and you're all set.
After setting up your Google My Business account, it's important to verify your business listing. Google may ask for verification during account creation or when you make significant updates to your information.
Verifying your business makes it more authentic compared to competitors and boosts its visibility on search engine result pages (SERPs).
For an extra step, you can get your business Google Guaranteed. While not free, this green badge helps build trust with customers and adds credibility to your business.
Business listings with photos are seen as more trustworthy and can drive 35% more clicks than those without. On average, a Google My Business listing has 11 photos.
Having high-quality photos can make your business look more legitimate and reliable to local searchers. Authenticity encourages more potential customers to engage with your business, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Google values businesses with positive reviews, so it's important to encourage customers to leave feedback. Here's how:
Ask for Reviews: When you create a business listing on Google Maps, it opens the door for reviews. However, you need to actively ask customers to leave reviews.
Respond to Reviews: Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, is important. It encourages more reviews and shows potential customers that you care about their feedback.
Remember, negative reviews are rare unless your service is really bad. Properly responding to negative reviews can help mitigate their impact.
Having multiple phone numbers or locations listed for one business can hurt your ranking. Remove duplicate listings and unnecessary information to ensure your main listing ranks well.
Just like on social media, you can keep your customers informed through your Google My Business profile. This could be announcements, special offers, events, or anything else you want to share.
To get the most out of your posts:
Post regularly: Some types of posts expire weekly, so it's important to keep engaging regularly.
Coordinate with your marketing efforts: Sync your posts with your marketing campaigns for better results.
Use links and calls to action: Include links and clear calls to action to encourage customers to visit your business.
Apart from enhancing your business listing directly, you can also tweak your website to boost your Google Maps ranking. Here's how:
Make sure your website works well on all devices and screen sizes. Google Maps listings link to your website, and since about 60% of Google searches happen on mobile devices, a responsive site is crucial. If your site is hard to use on mobile, it can hurt your Maps ranking.
Target your website for local searches by adding location-based keywords to important pages like the homepage, about us, contact, products, services, and blog posts. Include these keywords not just in titles, but also in headings, text, image tags, captions, and URLs. This tells Google that your business is relevant to local searches.
Adding a Google Map to your website confirms your business location to Google. Most businesses do this on their contact page. Search for your business name in Google Maps, click "Share," then "Embed a map," and copy the link to paste onto your contact page.
By optimizing your website, you're telling Google that you're a prominent local business, which can improve your ranking on Google Maps.
Crafting a Google My Business profile consolidates your business's presence on the most widely used search engine worldwide. With GMB, you can enhance your online visibility, draw in more customers, and actively interact with your current clientele through consistent reviews.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
At cloodot, we specialize in empowering small businesses to foster engagement and customer satisfaction through automated marketing strategies and leveraging the power of positive reviews. Let us elevate your online standing and propel you to the prominence you deserve.
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