If your business serves a local audience, your search ranking for the Google Map Pack is key to gaining more customers. At New Wine Digital, we help small businesses improve their Google rankings with our website design and search engine optimization services. Continue reading to learn more about the Google Map Pack and how to rank for it.
What Is the Google Map Pack?
When you search for a business near you, Google displays the top 3 local map results at the top of the search engine results page (SERP). Google also attaches a few details about each business, including its Google rating, name, address, and image.
This feature is known as the Google Map Pack, which is also sometimes called the Google Local Pack or the Google 3 Pack. Because over half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices, Google has changed the previous number of 7 search results listings to 3 in order to make viewing results easier on a mobile device.
Ranking for the Google Map Pack is crucial because it significantly boosts the visibility of your business and traffic to your website. Over 25% of people that conduct a Google search click on the first result. However, ranking for these top spots is highly competitive.
Optimizing your Google Business Profile and website gives your business a much better chance of ranking in the top three Google Map Pack results. And even if you don’t make it into the map pack, search engine optimization (SEO) is still worthwhile, because it increases your visibility and helps you rank on the first page of Google search results.
How to Rank in the Google Map Pack
1: Claim Your Google Business Profile
The simplest way to get started on improving your ranking is to claim your Google Business Profile. First, search for your business using Google’s business profile manager. Google has probably already created a general listing for your business based on the data it collects online. You can optimize the listing once you claim it.
If your business is already listed, go ahead and claim it. If your business does not show up, click “add your business to Google” and follow the instructions. Once you’ve created your business profile, make sure to verify your address immediately so you can start optimizing your listing as soon as possible.
2: Optimize Your Business Listings
Google isn’t the only online directory where you should list your business. Bing Places, Yelp, Facebook, Foursquare, and Yellow Pages are just a few of the many online business directories available. Google and other search engines pull data about your business from these directories. Optimizing your listing shows search engines that your business is legitimate and active, which boosts your ranking.
To further improve your ranking, it’s important to optimize each and every business listing you claim, especially your Google Business Profile. Here’s how to optimize your business listing:
- Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are accurate
- Choose descriptive business categories, such as “family restaurant” or “wedding bakery”
- Add high-quality photos of your logo, office, products, staff, etc.
- Write a brief description of your business utilizing local keywords like “dentist in Fresno, California” or “chiropractor in Austin, Texas”
3: Encourage Reviews
Five-star reviews show search engines (and the people who use them) that your business is trustworthy. The more four and five-star reviews your business has, the more business you will get. More satisfied customers leads to more positive reviews online. This cycle of good reviews shows search engines that people value your business, which will earn you a higher search engine ranking.
You can encourage positive reviews by using a follow-up text or email to ask your satisfied customers to review your business on Google. When you encounter a negative review, it’s also important to respond to it quickly and politely. Engaging with negative reviews communicates to the reviewer and anyone reading through your reviews that you value your customers and their experiences.
4: Optimize Your Website
An optimized website helps search engines understand your business better and delivers a higher ranking. Make sure your website is easy for web users to navigate, and to use relevant keywords throughout your content. Your content should also be neatly organized and easy to read. Your site should also make it easy for customers to contact you, find your location, and leave a review.
Search Engine Optimization for Small Businesses
Improving your search engine ranking through SEO is a continuous process. The expert digital marketing team at New Wine Digital can help you improve your SEO rankings while you focus on your business operations. We’ll work with you to design and optimize a website that best reflects your business and serves your target audience. Call 480-516-1819 to get started today.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (7/5/2022). Photo by henry perks on Unsplash