Getting to the top of the Google Map Pack is key for local businesses. This no-nonsense guide on how to rank in Google Map Pack gives you actionable tactics to get you to the top and more local search traffic. Ready to get on Google Maps? Dive in.
Quick Hits
- The Google Map Pack is a prized slot in search results that drives visibility and engagement for local businesses, based on relevance, distance, and prominence.
- Optimizing the Google My Business profile is crucial, including accurate and consistent NAP details, claiming and verifying listings, optimizing category and content, and updating regularly to boost local SEO.
- Website optimization for mobile and local keywords, embedding Google Maps, building citations and backlinks, using Google Ads, and using special tools are the tactics to rank in the Google Map Pack.
What is the Google Map Pack
The Google Map Pack, or Google Local Pack, is a special section in Google’s search results that shows the top 3 local business listings. It’s a goldmine for businesses, a prime position above the text only results and gets a big chunk of the clicks. These Google Maps listings are not just names and addresses; they show a wealth of information at a glance:
- Google reviews
- Ratings
- Business summary
- Location address
- Opening hours
- Price range
- Featured photo
So why is ranking higher on Google Maps so important? The answer is simple. A feature in the Google Map Pack can give you:
- a flood of organic and local foot traffic
- an increase in phone calls
- an edge over the competition
- a boost of on-the-go mobile traffic
This is a big deal for businesses looking to get online and reach a wider local audience.
What affects Google Map Pack rankings
Although the Google Map Pack is a good thing, getting in there requires knowledge of what affects its rankings, mainly relevance, distance, and prominence.
For businesses looking to get on Google Maps and get in the Google Map Pack, these three are the things to tweak.
Relevance Optimisation
Relevance optimization is about making your business a clear and relevant result for user searches. To make a business relevant on Google Maps the business should:
- Have the same name and address across all online properties, including website and social media profiles
- Use a local phone number in the Google Maps listing
- Write a description that incorporates keywords for your products and services
Another part of the relevance optimization process is selecting the primary and secondary categories for your business on Google Maps. This will make your business more relevant in the search results by showing what you do.
Also creating local content that ties your business to its community and posting regular updates like news or events will make your business more relevant and boost your local search rankings for local businesses.
Distance Optimisation
Another factor in Google Maps rankings is distance optimization. If your business is closer to the user searching, the more likely to appear in the local maps search results. Although Google may rank a business slightly further away higher, if it matches the search query better, proximity usually wins the day.
The first step in distance optimization is to verify each location on your Google Business Profile. This will make your business more likely to be close to the search users and thus appear in their local maps search results.
Prominence Optimisation
Prominence optimization is about managing online reviews, increasing online mentions and posting content regularly. Online reviews impact Google’s search rankings and add credibility to your business. Businesses with more positive ratings and reviews will appear more in the Google Map Pack.
Ask customers to leave reviews and respond to all reviews, including negative ones, which shows your business values feedback and can impact its prominence. Also increasing your business’s mentions within the local community and online, and posting content and building links regularly, can make it more prominent and visible on Google Maps.
Google My Business Profile Optimisation
A complete Google My Business profile is key to local search rankings. It should have:
- Name
- Category
- Address
- Service areas
- Opening hours
- Phone number
- Website
- Products
- Services
- Attributes
- Description
Updating your profile regularly and managing your posts like offers or events is important for improving local search rankings. Making sure your business is marked accurately on Google Maps is also crucial for customers to find your business and be visible in local search results.
Claiming Your Profile
The first step to take control of your listing and be able to respond to reviews is to claim and verify your Google My Business profile. To create and claim a Google My Business listing you need a free Google My Business account. Once you’re at the location, click on ‘Claim this business’ in the Maps pop-up to start the process..
Then you’ll need to verify your Google My Business profile using one of the methods determined by Google, such as:
- phone
- text
- video
If you have a verified Google Search Console website you can verify instantly. Businesses with multiple profiles can use the bulk verification process and in some cases, Google may even do a live video call verification.
Profile Information Optimisation
Once you’ve claimed and verified your profile, the next step is to optimize the information on your Google My Business profile. This means making sure your Name, Address and Phone Number (NAP) is consistent across all online platforms to give clear local search signals to Google.
Now here are some steps to categorise your business on Google My Business and make it relevant to user search:
- Write a detailed business description with keywords.
- Keep your products and services up to date.
- Add high-quality photos to your profile to make it appealing and engaging.
For businesses with multiple locations, you can use a bulk upload spreadsheet to update business information in one go and fill out every section of the listing to avoid duplicate listings.
Updating Your Profile Regularly
Updating your Google My Business profile regularly is part of active profile management. Regular updates like changes to services or opening hours tells Google your business is active, and keeps the information up to date and reliable which in turn can make it more prominent and relevant in local search rankings. Responding to reviews, using the Q&A feature and asking customers to message your business makes you more engaging with customers and can positively impact local rankings by providing more in-depth and relevant content and showing active profile management.
Updating your Google Maps listing is important for building trust with customers and local SEO. Here’s how to do it:
- Add new photos regularly
- Write blog posts about local events or news
- Delegate profile management to others
- Use the notification system to be informed of changes to your business profile
Follow these and you’ll be up-to-date and customer-engaging online.
Website Optimisation for Local SEO
Website optimization is a powerful tool for local SEO. It increases visibility in Google Maps rankings and gives you an edge over local competitors in the Google Maps Pack.
Local SEO including website optimization is key to beating local competitors in Google Maps Pack.
Local Keywords
Including local keywords in your website content is a vital part of local SEO. Structuring your website content allows Google to crawl and index it better which is important for local organic search and Google Maps ranking. Writing content rich with local intent-driven keywords will optimize your online presence for the local audience.
Using location-specific keywords like ‘New York best coffee’ instead of broader terms like ‘best coffee’ can make a business more visible on Google Maps. This helps search engines understand your business is relevant to local search and can help you rank higher.
Mobile Friendly Website
As most Google searches come from mobile devices it’s obvious your website must be mobile-friendly as part of website optimization. Improving user experience for mobile visitors can improve your website’s ranking in Google Maps.
30% of smartphone internet searches are location-based so it’s obvious a mobile-friendly design is important to attract this audience. Your website must load quickly and be navigable for mobile users to support higher Google Maps rankings.
Adding Google Maps to Your Website
By adding Google Maps to your business website you can boost local search signals and help get higher in Google Maps by verifying your location. Google Maps can be added to a website by using the ‘Share or embed map’ feature by copying and pasting the provided HTML code into the website’s HTML.
Customization options for the embedded Google Map include selecting from presets like Small, Medium, Large or Custom Size before copying the HTML code. Using an API key to embed Google Maps gives you more control over the map but requires coding knowledge. Some features like live traffic updates are not available in embedded maps according to Google’s terms of service.
Embedded Google Maps on your business’s ‘Contact Us’ page creates a consistent user experience and can drive in-store foot traffic by helping customers find the physical store through a Google Maps business listing.
Citations and Backlinks
Another way to boost your local search rankings is to build citations and backlinks. Citations are important for local search rankings and must mention the business name and key information across the web to increase the chances of being in the Google Map Pack.
Citation building requires local listing management solutions, especially for multi-location businesses and should focus on niche industry platforms to signal to search engines. Backlinks from authoritative sites improve local SEO and is a key factor in ranking higher in Google Maps, community involvement makes them more powerful.
Building backlinks can be:
- Outreach for mutual value links
- Creating shareable content like high-quality articles or infographics
- Leveraging testimonials
- Analyzing competitors’ backlinks for new opportunities.
Google Ads for Local Visibility
Google Ads is another powerful tool to boost your local visibility. Google Maps Ads appear above the organic results on the Google Maps search engine results page (SERP). Promoting your business profile natively in the local pack increases visibility and prominence on Google Maps.
These ads give you a strategic advantage by:
- Being above other results
- Grabbing more immediate attention
- Sending potential customers directly to your Google My Business listing instead of your website
This visibility can drive both online and local foot traffic and give you an edge in the local market.
Check Your Google Map Pack Rankings
Monitoring your Google Maps ranking is important to know how your business is performing in local search and what to improve. There are various tools designed to help businesses monitor their Google Map Pack rankings, each with features tailored to local SEO needs.
Some notable local SEO tools are:
- BrightLocal
- Synup
- Local Viking
- Whitespark
- Local Falcon
- GeoRanker
- Surfer Local
- GMB Crush
- Link Assistant Rank Tracker
Choose a tool that fits your business goals, has the features you need, is in your budget and aligns with your local SEO strategy.
Conclusion
In summary, local search and ranking in the Google Map Pack is a complex process that requires an understanding of Google’s ranking factors, optimized Google My Business profile, website optimization, citation and backlink strategy, and potentially also Google Ads. Monitoring your Google Map Pack rankings is also important to track your performance and know what to improve. Now you’re ready to go and boost your local search.
FAQs
How do you rank in 3-pack?
Rank in 3-pack by improving your link profile by getting links from local directories, partner websites and other local businesses.
How do I improve my local pack ranking?
Improve your local pack ranking on Google by optimizing your Google My Business listing, getting positive reviews, building high-quality backlinks, on-page SEO fully optimized, and monitoring performance. Also enter complete data, verify your locations, keep your hours accurate, manage and respond to reviews, add photos and in-store products, and focus on relevance and distance.
What are the factors that affect Google Map Pack ranking?
To rank in the Google Map Pack optimize for relevance, distance, and prominence. These are the main factors that affect ranking. Optimize for these and you’ll increase your business visibility.
Why should I optimize my Google My Business profile?
Optimizing your Google My Business profile is important because it affects your local search ranking and has all the information about your business and needs to be actively managed.
How do I make my website mobile-friendly?
Make your website mobile-friendly by quick loading and easy navigation for mobile users. Most of Google searches are from mobile.