Not having your business listed on Google Maps is doing nothing but hurting your sales.
In fact, you need to do more than being there – you should always try to improve your Google Maps ranking.
Think about it: when customers are looking for a product or service, they want it as fast as possible. And the only way to get something fast is by going to a store nearby.
So, your average customer will search for businesses near him. The thing is, he won’t look for a long time. The first couple of results will be good enough for most people!
That’s why your Google Maps ranking matters – and it matters a lot. Because of that, you need your business’s online presence to have great SEO.
And SEO also applies to Google Maps!
If you want to take your SEO game to the next level, make sure you target indirect searches (product names), not direct searches (your business name). SEO strategies based around indirect searches bring new customers.
Your main goal is to appear in Google’s local 3-pack. If you don’t know what that is, it’s the three top results that appear on Google after you search for a store or product.
For example, look up “hardware stores” right now, and you’ll get three stores and their location before any other result appears there.
If you manage to climb to the local 3-pack, your conversion rate will skyrocket. Simple as!
And the only way to get your store into the local 3-pack is by getting a better Google Maps ranking.
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How to rank higher on Google Maps
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If you know how important your Google Maps ranking is, you probably are trying to figure out how to improve your own.
So, the question is, how can your business get better results on Google Maps? It’s not that hard to do – but you have to do it right to make it work!
You probably know the answer: the key behind having a great Google Maps ranking lies in SEO. Just like there’s SEO for local websites, there’s SEO for business listings!
How can you improve your Google Maps ranking? Well, first, cover the basics: make sure your business profile is in proper shape.
That means making sure you write your business name right and include the exact address is there as well; update your business hours, categorize your business, and write down a description for your business. Adding accurate information will help your Google Maps ranking.
And, of course, remember to verify your business profile! That’s the first thing you need to do.
Then, you can do more complicated stuff like building backlinks, adding subcategories if you can, and other important stuff – or you can let the pros do it for you!
You can always avoid tedious trial and error by hiring someone to improve your chances.
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What is Google Maps marketing?
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Google Maps might seem like a navigation map alone for the average guy – but, in fact, you’re looking at a huge marketing platform.
It’s where the right strategy can make or break your online presence!
How does Google Maps marketing work? Well, it’s simple: you use different strategies and methods to optimize your brand’s online presence in Google Maps.
Simply put, the better you rank on that platform, the more chances you have of bringing new customers in. That’s why your Google Maps ranking matters so much!
Sure, some people might not care about ranking on Google Maps – and they’re losing money for thinking that way.
If you’re here, you’re better than that. You know you need to do your part to improve your Google Maps ranking. That way, whenever someone is searching for something that you sell on Google, your business is the first one to appear on the results page!
The endgame of doing Google Maps marketing is appearing on the top three results, also known as the local 3-pack.
The three businesses that appear on that small box are the ones who are taking all the traffic for themselves – and you can be one of them!
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How important is Google Maps marketing?
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Nowadays, Google isn’t merely a search engine. Or, better said, you shouldn’t treat it as a search engine alone – if you want to make the most out of it for your business.
You need to think of Google as a place where you can increase your brand presence like no other!
And that’s why every local business needs to prioritize its Google Maps ranking; the better it is, the more customers you will get from Google, and the more sales you’ll get.
At this point, you can understand that the right marketing strategy for Google Maps means more profit for your business.
There’s a reason for that: studies show that close to 7 out of 10 smartphone owners use Google Maps. That’s a lot of people – and you also should take into consideration that Google gets 3.5 billion online searches every day.
Not only that, but studies also show that more than 80% of Americans claim to Google search for a store before they decide to shop there. A poor Google Maps marketing strategy could rob you out of that 80% of people!
The point is clear: Marketing is crucial. And your Google Maps ranking could be the difference between your business going green and going into the red zone.
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What is Google My Business?
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Google My Business, sometimes referred to as GMB, is a free tool created by Google that allows business owners and entrepreneurs to promote their products and services throughout different platforms.
There are rules when it comes to creating a profile, though. If you want to use GMB, you need to have face-to-face contact with your customers during business hours. That means you probably need a brick-and-mortar store to do business.
Google My Business works this way because it was created for stores that can appear on platforms like Google Maps. If you don’t have a physical location, then GMB loses its purpose – and you can’t benefit from using it.
If you don’t have a brick-and-mortar store or a location where you can run your business, then GMB might not be the right tool for you.
If you do have a physical location available, GMB can help you display a wide variety of information, such as your business name, address, description, and more. Customers can leave reviews on your profile as well.
There’s more to do than just writing down your business name and a description – but it’s a lot to cover all at once! For now, you should know that the more information your GMB profile has, the better.
And, the better your profile does, the higher you’ll rank in Google’s platforms – and the more customers you’ll get.
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How to set up a Google My Business account
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Step 1: Login into GMB with your Google account
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First thing first, login with your email. You’ll use it to manage your GMB account from now on.
Then, click the blue button that says “Manage now.”
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Step 2: Create your business listing
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Once you logged in, go ahead and create a new listing. Name it as well.
After that’s out of the way, start writing your business information.
There’s something important you should know: Google has strict guidelines you should learn and follow. Read them – that way, you won’t risk Google penalizing you for breaking them.
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Step 3: Add as much information as possible
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The more information you add, the better.
You should start out with the name of your business, but you shouldn’t stop there. Add an address, write down a description, include a phone number, and more.
Google will rank your business listing higher if you fill out every single detail. They care about this kind of information, and they will reward you for giving it to them.
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Step 4: Verify your account
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New GMB accounts need to be verified. Don’t worry, though. It’s easy to do.
Google will mail you a postcard to do it. Certain people might verify their account via phone or email, but it varies from business to business.
That’s it! Now you need to take care of your SEO strategy.
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How to optimize your business profile for Google Maps
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As you now know, Google cares a lot about information. They want their search results to be 100% accurate – and they don’t want a single mistake on their front page.
More importantly, they rely on business owners like you to get the information they show in their results.
Because of that, Google will favor business profiles that have the most accurate information. And, of course, the more information that your profile has, the better.
That’s why we said that writing down the name of your business alone won’t cut it!
You need to provide every piece of information that you can. Once that part is over, you need to make sure that everything is accurate.
Then, you can go the extra mile. Add a description, upload pictures, ask your customers to leave a review, and do anything else you can think of.
Remember to always play it by the book, though.
Even if you’re desperate to improve your Google Maps ranking, you should never try to cheat Google – because they will find out faster than you think. If that happens, you can end up at the bottom of the search results.
Treat your GMB profile the same way you treat your business – and you’ll succeed.
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Do you have any questions on Google Maps ranking?
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We’re more than happy to help you with any questions you might have on Google Maps marketing – or any doubts regarding local SEO.
So, no matter what you want to know, let us know your question in the comment section down below! If you prefer to keep things private, you can contact us.
We’re always trying to help businesses thrive – and we’d love to help you review and improve the local SEO strategy for your business!
Remember: we all start at the beginning! So, no matter what you want to know, we’re here to help you. Contact us for more information.