Google Business Profile and Google Maps are two crucial free SEO tools provided by Google to help you get more visibility on Searches in your local area. These two are for local SEO, an essential part of local businesses. They help customers discover companies that deal with specific things in their local area. More often than not, those who find businesses via Google Maps become clients.
Ultimately, if your Google Business Profile or Google Maps ranking sucks, you’ll lose many potential clients every month.
What are Google Business Profile and Google Maps?
First, let’s begin with Google Business Profile. This free tool from Google helps businesses control their online presence across different Google services, including Local Pack, Maps, Search, Knowledge Graph, and more.
Business owners can use Google Business Profile to manage what info users see when searching for their entity across Google. This can include the official business name, contact information, products or services offered, location, operating hours, website, and photos. Google Maps, on the other hand, as most of you know, is a web mapping service that provides a detailed view of different geographical regions worldwide.
Google Maps is popularly used to get directions, explore, and find places and businesses. As a business owner, listing on Google Maps helps customers discover your business more easily.
Likewise, claiming a Google Business Profile page lets you edit your address and add relevant information to help potential clients who seek your products or services easily find your business.
Therefore, Google Business Profile and Maps are essential to champion local SEO listings.
5 Benefits of Getting Rankings on Google Maps
Ranking high on Google Maps has its pros. Here are the five significant benefits of ranking higher on Google Maps
Business Discovery
Listing your business on Google Maps will help potential local clients discover your business quickly. Brandify’s 2019 Local Search Consumer Survey reveals that 77% of over 1,000 consumers across all U.S. states use Google Maps when searching for local companies. As more people continue to use Google Maps, ranking higher will increase your business’s visibility.
Increases Sales
Higher rankings on Google Maps can potentially increase your sales revenue. When you’re on top, you get more traffic to your website and business, translating to more revenue. In addition, someone searching for information on Google Maps means they need those services soon, if not immediately. The survey mentioned above from Brandify also found that 56% of consumers are more likely to visit a business after discovering it in a Search, while 54% could see it right away or on the same day.
Take Control of Your Listing
Ranking on Google Maps allows you to manage how you wish customers to see your business information in the search results. As a business owner, you can directly edit your business’s information, like address, contact, hours of operation, and various products and services offered. Adding a photo is also essential, especially for hotel industry employees. Google says businesses with pictures in their Business Profiles receive 42% more requests for Google Maps directions.
Directly Engage with Customers or Potential Customers
Another advantage of listing your business on Google Maps is you can easily interact with potential customers. You can respond to reviews left on Google by customers who have been to your premises. Additionally, some customers may prefer asking a question directly from Google so that you can answer them. According to Google, getting “high-quality, positive reviews” can also help you maintain your rank in Search.
Stand Out Above Competitors
Ranking higher on Google Maps gives you an advantage over your competitors. For instance, if someone searches for a “restaurant near me” and your business is the first one on the results, you get more discovery and make more sales. Another critical reason to rank on Google Maps is that top map results can be shown in Google Search if the Search has local intent.
The accessible nature of Google Maps makes it an indispensable tool for businesses. And with Google’s presence in the world of Search, the company controlled 87% market share as of July 2020; you can’t ignore listing your business on Maps. Without a Google Business Profile or Google Maps listing, you aren’t playing the local SEO game as it should be.
10 Reasons A Business May Not Be Ranking Locally in Google Maps
Ranking on Google Maps is essential for local SEO. However, if your business is not already ranking locally in Google Maps to realize the benefits mentioned above, we’ll help you figure out why.
These ten reasons should help you figure out why your business isn’t ranking locally in Google Maps as you expect.
You Haven’t Listed Your Business in Google Maps
Before you start figuring out why you are not ranking, have you listed your business in Maps? If you’re unsure whether your business is listed on Google Maps, open the app on your device or go to Google.com/maps. Then, search for your business. If it can’t appear, you need to create a listing. Then, add your business to Google via this link.
Your Business Isn’t Verified
If your business is listed on Google and not ranking, you may not have claimed it yet. By claiming your business, you can add rich information to help Google index your profile in relevant searches. Creating or claiming a Google Business Profile profile to verify your business is mandatory.
Your Google Business Profile Information is Incomplete
Listing your business on Google Maps and linking it to a Google Business Profile account is just the beginning. Do so if you haven’t completed all the mandatory information sections in the GMB dashboard. By completing business information in Google Business Profile, you can rank higher. Businesses with complete and accurate information are easier to match with relevant searches. Also, this makes it easy for users to know your business better.
You Don’t Have Photos Included in Your Listing
Photos are essential in Google Maps ranking. As mentioned above, businesses with images get more discovered, so Google will prioritize listings that include them. Bright Local’s study reiterates the same, revealing that companies with more than 100 photos received more calls, direction requests, and website clicks. Add pictures to your Google Maps listing by heading to the Photos tab in GMB.
You Don’t Have Reviews or Have Fewer Than Your Competition
Reviews also strengthen your ranking. Google loves what customers love, so a business with positive, quality reviews will ultimately rank higher on Google Maps and Search. You can get reviews by encouraging customers who visit your premises to leave reviews on your business listing in Maps. Furthermore, you must respond to reviews so Google knows you value your customers and feedback.
You Aren’t Updating Your Profile Regularly With New Photos or Articles
Google also prioritizes businesses that regularly update their information. This includes when you’re open or closed and unique operating times like public holidays. Posting regularly to your Google Maps Business listing will also help boost your rankings.
You Recently Added or Edited Your Business Information
If you recently edited or added some information to your listing, it may take a while to reflect those changes. Google’s algorithms consider various factors, so it may take up to three days for your changes to show up. Your listing may not show in discovery searches during this period but can be seen when a customer looks up your brand name.
You Have Multiple Phone Numbers, Locations, or Listings
Google doesn’t rank businesses with multiple phone numbers or duplicate locations highly. If your listing has various phone numbers, weed out the rest and remain with one number. Moreover, consolidate the duplicate listings to stay in one precise location. Multiple listings could be why your ranking in Google Maps is unimpressive.
You’ve Not Correctly Categorized Your Business
Google gives priority to relevance. So, not correctly categorizing your business will ultimately hurt your Google Maps rankings. Instead, consider using keywords that are relevant when searching for your business. Local keywords aligned with your industry will also help boost Google Maps search rankings.
Your Overall SEO Is Not Up To Par
The traditional SEO factors influencing rankings also apply to the local pack rankings. This includes a great website experience for your users, great local content, and inbound links from local sources within your geographic area.
You’ve Violated Google Terms For a Listing, or Your Business Does Not Qualify.
Google states that a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours at the location listed to qualify for a business profile.
The following businesses are not eligible for a business listing:
- Rental or for-sale properties include vacation homes, model homes, or vacant apartments. Sales or leasing offices, however, are eligible for verification.
- An ongoing service, class, or meeting at a location you don’t own or have the authority to represent.
- Lead generation agents or companies.
Tip: Be careful how you build your website, as we’ve seen local businesses who try to create multiple location pages for every city around their target market get kicked off of GMB (delisted and lose all the testimonials they had). We think this is either due to the quality of content or Google classifying these websites as a lead generation – which is not allowed to be listed.
Conclusion
The advantages of ranking higher on Google Maps as a local business are too far to ignore. With these tips, you should get your business listing on top of relevant searches in your area in Google Maps or Google Business Profile.