The Ultimate Guide to Ranking on Google Maps

Ranking on Google Maps is crucial for local businesses like home service companies. Here's a condensed but comprehensive guide to help you navigate the complexities.

Why Google Maps?

"People trust Google. When your business ranks well on Google Maps, that trust is extended to your business."

- Neil Patel, Marketing Expert.

Initial Steps

Claim Your Google Business Profile (GBP)

"Your GBP is your business card on Google."

- Joy Hawkins, Sterling Sky.

1. Visit Google My Business.
2. Input your business info.
3. Verify your listing.

Optimize Your GBP

• Business Name: Stick to your actual business name. Don't try to keyword stuff it- it'll get you suspended.
• Category: Choose the most accurate category.
• Description: Keyword-rich but not stuffed.

"Keywords in the business name help a business rank about 2.3 positions higher on average than if they didn't have keywords in the name."

- Google’s Own Guidelines.

Local SEO Fundamentals

Keyword Research

• Use Google's Keyword Planner.
• Look for long-tail keywords.

On-Page SEO

• Title Tags
• Meta Descriptions
• Local Keywords

"Proximity to the searcher is the top local search ranking factor."

- Google’s Guidelines.

NAP Citations

Name, Address, Phone Number should be consistent across platforms.

"Local citations are the bread and butter of local SEO."

- Darren Shaw, Whitespark.

Mobile Optimization

• Responsive Design
• Fast Load Time

Reviews

• Actively solicit reviews.
• Reply professionally to reviews.
• The goal here isn't total reviews, but instead, recency + frequency.

"High-quality, positive reviews from your customers will improve your business’s visibility,"

- Google's Guidelines.

Advanced Tactics

Localized Content

• Blog about local events or news.

Local Backlinks

• Partner with local organizations for backlinks.

Utilize Social Media

"Social signals play a role, albeit small, in your local rankings."

- Brian Dean, Backlinko.

Use Google Maps Ads

Paid Google Maps listings can also help you rank higher.

Monitoring and Analytics

• Use Google Analytics to track your performance.
• Use UTM parameters for tracking your Google Maps campaigns.

Conclusion

Improving your Google Maps ranking is a marathon, not a sprint. It involves a multifaceted approach combining Local SEO, content creation, and community engagement.

Quotes from Google's Guidelines

• "Represent your business as it’s consistently represented and recognized in the real world."
• "Relevance: How well a local Business Profile matches what someone is searching for."
• "The prominence of businesses that are well-known or well-regarded based on information Google has about a business."

There you go, a condensed guide with the essentials for ranking on Google Maps. For a deep dive, we'd recommend a combination of webinars, podcasts, and reading up-to-date articles. Or, contact our team to handle it for you.