Local SEO: How to Rank in the 3 Pack of Google Maps
Here are the best tips to increasing online conversions in 2020.
If you are looking to:
– Generate more sales
– Increase basket values
– Gain customer loyalty
Then you will love the new actionable techniques covered in this guide.
Let’s get started.
Are you running a local business? If yes, then this article is for you.
Have you ever thought about the benefits you can acquire by ranking your business in the 3 pack of Google Maps? Well, let’s see how it works & how to do it.
Why does it matter?
When someone searches a local business on Google map, Google then displays a pack of 3 local businesses related to that query. These 3 businesses get most of the traffic and potential customers. To get the majority of traffic, work on your local SEO to rank higher in Google and appear in 3 pack of Google Maps.
Follow these tips for Google map optimisation and improving My Business ranks.
Get your business on Google Map
First thing first! You need your business to appear on Google Maps. Search your business on Google Maps. If your business appears in the results, then claim your listing and verify yourself as the owner. Otherwise, add your business on Google Maps and then claim the listing.
Complete your Google My Business profile
The most important thing in local SEO is completing your Google My Business listing with accurate information. If your goal is to improve My Business ranks and Google Map optimisation, make sure your profile is complete. Because your profile completion status directly influences your business’s ranking on Google Maps.
For Google Map optimisation, double-check every section of your GMB profile to ensure nothing is left blank.
You should provide all the following information on your Google My Business listing:
- Business Name
- Phone no.
- Operating hours
- Website
- Category
- Profile image (preferably shop front)
- Reviews (must reply to reviews)
- Q & A section
- Rating
- Posts
Optimise your listing description
One of the basic aspects of local SEO is to use local keywords in your listing description. This helps a lot to rank higher in Google search results.
Considering the character limitation while writing your listing description, try to be succinct & engaging. You should place your target keyword naturally in the description like ’best tailor with cheap rates + your area’. Make sure to use keywords that include the name of your local area.
Putting a local number goes a long way in Google Map optimisation
If you are using a toll-free number as your contact number, delete it now. Google has no interest in ranking such listings in 3 pack of Google Maps because these numbers are considered spam. The best thing to do is to put your local number with the area code of your region against contact no.
This gives an indication to the searchers that you are a local business in their concerned area.
Use local keywords
You can’t expect your business to rank higher in Google Maps without using local keywords. An important local SEO tactic requires you to optimise your web pages with local keywords for performing better at location-based searches.
You need to perform all the standard local SEO practices on your web pages like writing geographically modified keywords in your web content. Put these keywords in your content wisely.
Using city names in your location page is still relevant and plays an important role in Google map optimisation. Use your city/area name in the URL, title tag, body text, and page copy.
Include visually appealing images to your listing
Putting attractive images actually works a lot. It is a sure way to get more clicks on your listing as compared to the listings with dull images or no images at all.
Take pictures of your shop from different and attractive angles and add them to your listing.
Google’s ranking algorithm love reviews
Do you know what’s the quickest way to improve My Business ranks? It’s the reviews that quickly help improve Google My Business ranks.
If your GMB profile is lacking in reviews, then send review requests to your consumers and ask them to write down their review/feedback on your My Business listing.
Backlinks have great value
Having a strong network of backlinks is a ticket to rank in the 3 pack of Google Maps.
can build backlinks in various ways. Make sure to get your site listed in at least 30 local directories. Guest posting is another great way to improve My Business ranks. You can do guest posting on websites with high authority DA. Having a strong social media presence also plays a significant role.
You can utilize specialized tools like Ahrefs for backlink building efforts. Your business’ local citations are still relevant and helpful to appear in the 3 pack of Google Maps.
Focus on UI/UX of your web pages
Here, focusing on the UI/UX of your web pages means that your website should be absolutely mobile-friendly. When people are looking for a local business, most of the time they use their mobile devices for searching on Google. Therefore, it makes sense to optimise your website for mobile devices. Make sure an SSL certificate is installed to your website and the loading speed is super-fast as well.
Having a mobile-friendly website design lowers the bounce rate and increases the conversion rate. These two factors are directly linked to your ranking on Google Maps.
Final Words
We hope that you find these tactics helpful and efficient. However, expect these strategies to take some time before you start reaping the benefits.
When your website is new and you try to rank it higher in the search results against a particular keyword, it takes time to get the desired results. The same thing happens when you try to rank in the 3 pack of Google Maps.
Keep practising the above-mentioned strategies like getting reviews on your listing and link building. Take your time and drip-feed all the strategies to improve My Business ranks.
Dean Lynn
Managing Director
Dean is the Founder of Trusted Media and has over fifteen years experience of commercial business marketing. If you ever meet Dean, you’ll quickly realise how honest and straight to the point he is; something his clients love about his marketing approach. When Dean’s not at Trusted Media providing marketing consultancy to clients, he can be found at home with his daughter, who loves creating (breaking) things. Dean never sits still, enjoys eating food (part-time #instafoodie), and finds his happy place in the kitchen baking or in the garden.
