If you own a local business or offer services in your area, ranking at the top of Google Maps can be a total game changer for your revenue. It’s where people turn first when searching for nearby places and services. Picture this: you’re out and about, feeling hungry, and looking for a local restaurant - what’s your first move? You check Google Maps! Being at the top means more visibility, more clicks, and, ultimately, more revenue because you will have more customers walking through your door! But how do you get there? Let’s break it down step by step.
Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the foundation of your presence on Google Maps. If you haven’t claimed your profile yet, that’s step one - your starting point to getting noticed! There is absolutely no way around a GBP. Without it, your business will never show up on Google Maps!
How to Claim Your GPB
- Go to Google Business Profile.
- Sign in with your business email account.
- Search for your business name.
- If it’s listed, click "Claim this Business." If not, create a new profile.
Basic GBP Optimization
Once you’ve claimed your profile, it’s time to optimize it so Google understands your core business and can suggest you to potential customers who are looking for exactly a business like yours. This is how you do it:
- Business Name: Ensure it’s accurate and includes your primary keyword (but avoid keyword stuffing).
- Address and Phone Number: Use the exact same format across all online listings.
- Business Categories: Choose the most relevant primary category and up to 9 additional categories.
- Opening (Business) Hours: Keep them accurate and up to date.
- Business Description:
- Write a compelling description.
- Include primary and secondary keywords naturally.
- Mention unique selling points (e.g., family-owned, eco-friendly, etc.).
- Photos and Videos:
- Upload high-quality images of your business, products, and team.
- Add videos showcasing your services or customer experiences.
- Website Link: Ensure your website URL is working and optimized meaning no weird numbers and characters.
- Attributes: Select the right attributes for your business like for instance free parking, wifi availability, woman-owned business, payment options, etc.
- Menu Items: If you have a restaurant or bar make sure you upload your menu and list your menu items.
- Social Accounts: Link your social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn for easy switching between channels that allow potential customers to get more information with less searching.
Leverage Local SEO Best Practices
Now that we’ve covered the basics of your Google Business Profile (GBP), it’s time to dive into optimizing and fine-tuning for local SEO. This isn’t just about polishing your GBP - it’s about enhancing your entire online presence, including your website. By optimizing both your website and overall online presence, you’ll boost your performance on Google Maps.
We’ll focus on specific ranking factors - think of them as signals sent to Google - that help the search engine connect your business with the right search queries. With a strong online presence, when a potential customer searches for something like “restaurant near me” on Google Maps, your restaurant will be among the top results. So, how do you make that happen? Let’s break it down!
On-Page Local SEO
Let’s kick things off with on-page local SEO - optimizing your website to shine in local search results! Here are some key points to help Google understand your website better and recognize it as a positive signal for local SEO success:
- Title Tags and Meta Descriptions:
- Include your city and primary keyword (e.g., “Best Pizza in Chicago”).
- Keep it engaging and under 60 characters for the title and 160 characters for your meta description.
- NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number):
- Add your NAP details to your website.
- Use schema markup to make it easier for search engines to identify your local business.
- Local Landing Pages:
- Create location-specific pages if you serve multiple areas.
- Include relevant keywords, customer reviews, and local images.
- Create a contact or “where to find us” page and use a local business schema. Check out our free local business schema generator for help!
Off-Page Local SEO
Off-page local SEO focuses on improving your online visibility across the web, beyond your website (that’s what on-page local SEO is for, remember?). The goal is to build citations that consistently include your business details - name, address, and phone number (NAP) - and to earn high-quality backlinks to your website.
Citations
- Ensure your business information is consistent across directories like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Yellow Pages.
- If you are using Obenan, we will get you listed on all important business directories, find and fix inconsistencies, and maintain consistent business details (NAP consistency) across the web.
Backlinks
- Get backlinks from local websites (e.g., local newspapers, bloggers, or chambers of commerce).
- Focus on quality, not quantity. Link building is difficult and takes time. Don’t stress too much, they are not your number one priority but you should not let a good opportunity pass by!
Collect and Respond to Reviews
Reviews play a crucial role if you want to rank higher on Google Maps. They build trust and credibility while helping Google gauge your business’s relevance and how customers have experienced your services. If you search for popular keywords like “restaurant near me” on Google Maps and analyze what sets the top-ranked businesses apart, you’ll notice their reviews stand out. They likely have not only a high number of reviews but also an impressive overall rating!
How to Get More Reviews
- Ask Your Customers:
- Send follow-up emails or texts after a purchase.
- Include a review request link in receipts or invoices.
- Use Signage:
- Place signs in your store asking customers to leave a review.
- Use QR codes linking directly to your Google Business Profile.
- Incentives:
- Offer incentives to your staff for collecting reviews. Make it a monthly or quarterly challenge and provide each staff member with their own QR code.
Tips for Managing Reviews
- Respond to All Reviews:
- Thank customers for positive reviews.
- Address negative reviews calmly and professionally.
- Make sure you respond to all reviews within 24 hours (ideally within the hour).
- Use Keywords:
- Incorporate keywords in your responses when appropriate.
- Example: “Thank you for choosing our dental clinic in New York City!”
Examples of Review Responses
| Review Type | Example Response |
|---|---|
| Positive Review | “Thank you, [Name]! We’re thrilled you loved [specific service]. Hope to see you soon!” |
| Negative Review | “We’re sorry to hear about your experience. Please contact us at [email] to resolve this.” |
Prevent Negative Review
Let’s face it - no one likes negative reviews. But here’s the twist: a few negative reviews can actually be beneficial. Yes, you read that right! They make your online reputation look more authentic - after all, nobody’s perfect. That said, an overall bad rating is definitely not the goal. So, how can you minimize negative reviews while still learning from constructive criticism?
If you’re using Obenan, you can set up a review collection campaign - like using a QR code - that leads customers to a landing page where they’re asked to rate their experience. If they give a positive rating, they’re directed to your Google Business Profile to leave a public review. If they choose a negative rating, they’re sent to a private survey instead. This approach gives you greater control over your online reputation while allowing you to collect valuable feedback to improve your services internally. Win-win! An improved overall rating also improves your chance to rank higher on Google Maps! And if you get a negative review on your GBP, don’t panic. Use it as a learning opportunity and address it properly! Responding to negative reviews is insanely important to de-escalate the situation and try to resolve any dispute with the disgruntled customer.
Check how many reviews you need to collect to improve your overall rating with our free Google Review Calculator.
Improve Your Location Signals
Location signals help Google understand where your business operates and how relevant it is to local searchers. By optimizing these signals, you can boost your Google Maps ranking and attract more local customers. Here’s how you can make that happen effortlessly!
Geotagging Photos
- Use tools like GeoImgr to add location data to your photos before uploading them to your website or your GBP and Social Media accounts.
Proximity to Searcher
- Proximity to the searcher refers to how far a business is away from the person searching.
- While you can’t control proximity, having accurate location details ensures your business appears when people search nearby. Thus make sure that your address is correctly mentioned everywhere!
Local Keywords
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to find local keywords that you implement in your content.
- Include these keywords in your website, posts, and descriptions.
- Learn how to perform local keyword research. Good to know, if you are using Obenan, we will do the keyword research for you!
Post Regularly on Your Google Business Profile Using Google Posts
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) lets you create posts, which can boost both engagement and rankings. By sharing fresh, daily content with local keywords and eye-catching images, you signal to Google that your business is active while providing valuable context. This makes it easier for Google to match your business with relevant search queries. Plus, it enhances engagement with potential customers who visit your GBP, increasing the chances they’ll choose your business!
Types of Posts
Promotions:
- “20% off for new customers this week!” Events:
- “Join our free yoga class at your favorite Yoga Studio Sunshine in New York this Saturday at 10 AM.” Updates:
- “We’re now having a brand new cocktail on our menu list making your Saturday night out in Manhattan very special.”
Post Best Practices
- Keep It Short: Posts should be 100-300 words.
- Use a Call-to-Action (CTA):
- Examples: “Call Now,” “Learn More,” and “Book Today.”
- Add High-Quality Images:
- Photos, GIFs, or videos increase engagement.
- Be Consistent:
- Post daily or at least a couple of times per week
We understand that posting daily might not be realistic when your priority is running your business. That’s where Obenan comes in! With Obenan, you can automate the creation and posting of fresh, keyword-optimized Google Posts. This ensures regular updates to keep your profile active, boost engagement, and improve your rankings - all without adding to your workload. Let us handle the posts while you focus on what you do best!
Create a FAQ Section
Add FAQs to your Google Business Profile to address common customer questions. Often, customers will ask about details that might not be fully clear from your GBP or website. Regularly check this section and respond promptly - answers from the business owner are always more trustworthy than those from past customers. Plus, there’s a chance that a previous customer might answer incorrectly, which could lead to confusion. By actively managing this section, you can ensure accurate information, share your side of the story, and remove any doubts for potential new customers. Additionally, it can be helpful to ask and answer common questions yourself, creating a mini FAQ directly on your profile. This proactive approach ensures potential customers get the information they need right away, saving them the hassle of asking. It’s a simple way to build trust, improve clarity, and make your business more approachable.
Example questions:
- “Do you offer parking?”
- “What payment methods do you accept?”
- “Do you offer vegan options?”
- “Are you open on New Year’s Eve?”
While many of these questions are often addressed through the attributes on your profile, potential customers frequently skip over them and head straight to the Q&A section. That’s why it’s essential to provide as much information as possible at every step of the customer journey. By doing so, you ensure clarity and confidence, making it easier for potential customers to choose your business without hesitation.
Google Doesn’t Sleep and You Shouldn’t Either
Google frequently updates its algorithm, so it’s important to stay informed about new features and ranking factors. By following these steps, you’ll be on the fast track to ranking higher on Google Maps. Not only will this help you attract more customers, but it will also position your business as a local leader. Start implementing these strategies today, and watch your visibility grow!
That said, you don’t have to tackle all of this on your own - or manually! With Obenan, you can automate the essential tasks needed to succeed on Google Search and of course, climb to the top of Google Maps in your local area. Say goodbye to the daily grind of manual updates, and let Obenan handle it for you!
