One of the biggest challenges for businesses is making people aware of their location, hours, and services. With the use of local SEO, sometimes called Google Maps SEO, you can create an online presence and rank higher on Google Maps and local searches.
Understanding how to promote and optimize your business to Google Maps can drive traffic to your website or location. You can benefit from the help of local SEO services to get your profile noticed and secure your spot in the local market.
Contact our digital marketing professionals at Peppermonkey Media for local SEO strategies and services by calling (888) 231-9764.
Step #1: Complete a Business Profile
Start increasing your visibility on Google by claiming, creating, and refining your Google Business Profile (GBP). To claim your profile, search the name of your business and select the option to verify the listing that appears. From here, you can log into your Google account and edit the hours, location, contact methods, and links that show on your GBP and corresponding Google Maps listing.
Having this profile and keeping it up-to-date with your most recent business information increases the chances of Google showing your profile to customers in your local area. Ensure you meet the best practices for improved local ranking on Google when creating your profile. Consider the following factors that Google uses to determine which results to show and their ranking:
- Distance: Users often use local search terms that include “near me” or the name of a specific city. Businesses closer to the central city area rank higher.
- Relevance: Google aims to provide results with relevant information based on the user’s search intent. Adding detailed descriptions of your services to your GBP and using search intent keywords in your descriptions can boost your ranking.
- Authority: Businesses with established authority and a history of quality service rank higher in local searches. You can increase your authority with reviews and information about the business’s history.
Step #2: Provide Photos
Including high-quality photos on your business profile can also ensure your business ranks higher in image searches. Having content for image searches allows you to target another segment of searchers. Posting clear photos that accurately reflect the purpose, location, and work of your business increases your authority and reach.
Step #3: Post Regular Updates
Google favors businesses that actively post and update content related to their online presence and often gives them a higher ranking. You can update your business profile with product launches, special offers, events, and blog content. Posting regularly establishes you as an active business and provides an opportunity to interact with customers.
In addition, the posts you create provide an opportunity to target keywords and increase link building. Your posts can also include a call-to-action that increases conversions or a photo that improves your ranking in image searches.
Step #4: Acquire and Maintain Reviews
Customers searching for a business or service on Google often want a business they can trust. You can establish yourself as a trustworthy source by acquiring reviews and addressing any negative feedback you may receive. You can start collecting reviews on your profile by politely encouraging customers to leave a review and letting them know that you appreciate their help and thoughts.
Once you have reviews, you can also respond to them with a professional and helpful tone. This shows you as an active business owner, which can increase your Google ranking and also shows customers your level of attention and dedication to providing quality service.
Step #5: Build Local Backlinks
A backlink refers to a link on a third-party website that directs to your business’s site. Having your website connected to other trusted sources in this manner helps Google verify your legitimacy. For local SEO, having these backlinks on related pages in the same area boosts your ranking and authority.
You can build backlinks by providing your business information for local online directories or connecting with news sources and blogs in your industry.
Step #6: Monitor Local Rankings
A large part of any SEO strategy focuses on identifying and beating the competition. Perform a search engine results page (SERP) analysis or use a rank monitoring tool to evaluate how you compare to similar businesses in the area. This analysis can help determine which keywords help you rank higher on Google Maps and local search result pages.
When looking at SERPs, target local searches with keywords such as “best,” “near me,” “local,” or “in [city]” to get an idea of where you rank and how others beat you. You can measure and track your rankings for each set of keywords over time to determine the effectiveness of your SEO strategies and make improvements as necessary.
Step #7: Consider Google Ads
Organic traffic from SEO practices and optimization can help your business, but purchasing the occasional advertisement provides an extra boost in visibility. This additional push often leads to an increase in customers, which generates more reviews. Having these reviews can increase your search rankings long after the ad campaign ends.
Step #8: Get on Social Media
Social media like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter offer free tools that can help increase your brand awareness, backlinking, and customer engagement. Making frequent posts contributes to a social signal, which Google and search engines use as their top ranking factors in local searches. Getting more likes, shares, or comments on your business’s social media profiles sends a strong social signal and gets your business name spread across multiple channels.
Rank Higher on Google Maps with Peppermonkey Media Services
The Google search algorithms and local SEO practices can appear complicated and unpredictable, but having a team to help develop your content and strategy can make it easier. Our team of experienced digital marketers at Peppermonkey Media provides Google My Business (GMB) optimization services and other tools necessary to rank higher on Google Maps and attract more customers in your area.
Request a digital marketing consultation for local SEO services and more from Peppermonkey Media by calling us at 888-231-9764.
