We’re pretty sure you’ve tried to look for a product or service near you and Google showed a map listing of all the relevant businesses in your area before it presented the organic search results.
This shows that your Google Maps listing is just as important as your ranking in local search results. In fact, it plays a critical role in your local SEO efforts.
Higher local rankings on maps also means ranking on the first page of Google search. It can help you get discovered by new customers, attract more leads, and generate more sales. In short, it's one of the local SEO ranking factors.
However, just because your local business is listed in Florida, doesn’t mean Google and other search engines will automatically rank you for relevant searches in the area. You still need to work on your Florida local SEO and optimize it to strengthen your visibility for local search.
Is your Google Maps listing ranking well?
We're assuming that it isn't, which is probably why you’re here. But, don’t worry because we’ll discuss the most common reasons why local businesses struggle to rank on Google Maps. Not only that, but we’ll also share tips on how to fix them and ensure that local customers find you.
First, claim your business on Google My Business, and then make sure to verify it. Unless your business listing in Google is verified, you won’t show up on the map results.
Here’s how to verify your local business:
In case you didn’t know, creating a Google My Business account does not automatically connect it to your Google Business Profile. You need to manually link them by confirming ownership of your business.
Once you’ve verified your local listing, follow these steps to optimize it:
Take your time verifying your Business Profile and fill out every information you need accurately. Don’t leave any blanks and make sure to optimize it for Florida SEO.
Another reason why your business is struggling to rank on Google Maps is either you don’t have any ratings or you only have negative reviews.
Positive reviews and ratings are trust signals that prompt search engine bots to rank your business accordingly. They also tell human users whether or not your business is credible and if they should engage with you.
Here are a few stats explaining why you should definitely collect good feedback:
The more positive reviews you have, the more likely a potential customer will end up contacting or visiting your business. As for negative reviews, they can only drive potential customers away.
If you don’t have any ratings or positive reviews, urge your customers to leave you one and make sure to respond to reviews. It doesn’t matter if they're positive or negative - always thank them for their feedback. Do it as politely and professionally as possible.
Also, act upon negative reviews. Apologize to your customers if they’re not satisfied with your product or service. If you’re really in the wrong, offer a refund or maybe a big discount the next time they come back. Make sure to resolve their complaints, whether it has something to do with your products, customer service, delivery time, or whatnot.
If you don’t have a Google map of your location on your site, then it’s time to insert one on your Contact Me page. This will help improve your ranking and allow prospects to conveniently pinpoint your location fast.
Adding Google Maps on your local business website serves as a confirmation that you’re in the area you claim to be located on Google My Business. Include the name of your business to the neighborhood so searchers with high local intent can easily find you.
Inserting Google maps on a website is simple. Here’s how:
It’s easier to figure out what a business is all about if it’s stated in its name.
For example, the business name Dale’s Waxing Salon tells you immediately what this establishment is all about. On the other hand, a business name like Ruthie’s Store is vague and suggests nothing about what it’s selling.
Including your primary keywords in your Google My Business listing is one of the most crucial factors that can influence your ranking on Google Maps. This will not only help you connect with the right audience, but also prompts search engine bots to rank you for relevant searches.
A local citation is any online reference of your business name, address, or phone number. This can be on social media, local business directories, local news websites, local bloggers, etc.
If you want to rank well on Google Maps and be a part of the Local Pack, then you need to build your local relevance. You can do this through on-page and off-page optimizations.
For on-page, you can add your location into your content. Let’s say you own a bakeshop in Florida. You can establish your local relevance by adding the word Florida in your keywords, business name, and meta descriptions.
For off-page, you can get local citations by doing the following:
Your Google Maps listing is an important marketing tool that can put your business ahead of your competitors, attract the right customers, and drive more foot traffic to your shop.
As a local business owner, you want to get your GMB verified, urge your customers to get more reviews, use your keywords in your listing, get local citations, and optimize your Florida SEO to boost your online visibility and ranking on local searches.
At Digital Resource, our team of SEO experts will not only put your business on the map, but they'll also help you achieve business goals and growth through effective SEO.
Besides assisting you on local listings, you can trust them to handle other local search optimization-related tasks - from local SEO keyword research and local link building to crafting a local SEO strategy that matches your needs. And, they're always learning how to use the latest local SEO tools to generate the best results.
Before you know it, you'll be dominating local search engines like never before!
Check out our client testimonials to see how we’ve helped hundreds of other businesses in California succeed online. If it happened to them, it’s possible for you, too!
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