Noah Digital

How To Improve Your Google Maps Ranking in 2019

How To Improve Your Google Maps Ranking in 2019

Your Google My Business page is your very own ‘profile’ on Google. You can easily add hours, locations, phone numbers, email addresses, etc., which smartphone users can quickly click to contact you. It is the best way to attract your local users because your Google My Business (GMB) page is based on location. You know all those times you’ve Googled the words “near me”? That’s it! The names and addresses you see are Google My Business pages.

With smartphone users taking over almost 70% of online traffic, you need to make sure you are ranking at the top for your product/service. Across different digital marketing channels, you have the chance to take over all of Google’s first search results page when people search for your brand. Take advantage of it.

Now, what a lot of people get confused about is Google maps. “How can I create my address?” The beauty of Google My Business pages is that it’s connected all around. Google My Business sends you a verification code by mail, yes that’s right, by MAIL, not EMAIL, to make sure your address is valid. THIS is how your listing is created. Your listing does not show on Google until you verify it with the code.

eCommerce websites can take advantage of Google My Business listings too

Don’t get me wrong though; Google My Business has evolved so much that now even eCommerce websites can have a page. You no longer have to be a local business, with a drop by the store. All you need are “service areas,” and your listing shows up around the chosen postal codes, however, even with this option, Google still requires you to confirm your address to avoid any spam or fake businesses. Having a Google My Business page increases your exposure greatly. It’s also the best way to receive reviews, and the fastest way to show potential customers that you are amazing.

Quality matters more than proximity

Many people are not aware that Google ranks your page depending on the quality of your listing. With Google My Business now making its way onto more of a social media account than just a listing, your GMB page needs to be updated regularly. It’s no longer enough to make one post a year and let it go. Without actively updating it, adding reviews, pictures and promotions, your GMB may rank low, even for your nearest customers. Google puts more importance on the quality of the page than the proximity. For example, a GMB page that is 5 km away from you will come up AFTER another GMB page that is 10 km away but has a more up-to-date listing.

As you can see, in the picture below, when I type “Ice cream shops near me,” the closest one ranks third, and the furthest one of the three ranks first because of the number of reviews and rating.

 

Make sure your category is as accurate as possible

One of the main factors when ranking for your Google My Business page is discovery. GMB is just as effective as your website (if not more) in ranking for your industry and category. Coincidentally, one of the hardest parts of creating your page is choosing which category you fall under. Google is not very flexible when it comes to your categories, and you cannot create them yourself. However, again, GMB has evolved, and now you can choose a primary and additional category. Make sure you are continually checking which categories are available, and which one is the most accurate one for your business.

  • Reviews – Customers are demanding trust. If your GMB page has few or no reviews at all, you best believe users will find one that has plenty!
  • Offers/Promotions – Did you know you can make posts on your GMB page with a call-to-action button? It’s like your little ad for free! Make sure you have something to offer local users who are searching for your products/services. Stand out from your competition.
  • Pictures– Alongside reviews, visuals work great with people. Did you know that your GMB can include videos? They have been instrumental to many businesses. Short videos are incredibly beneficial.
  • Listing age – Your Google My Business is organic (though you can run ads!), which means that just like the SEO on your website, it takes months to pick up. Don’t be discouraged if a business that has been around for 15 years ranks higher than your 4-year-old business. Just continue to focus on your offer, study your audience, and update your listing. Don’t give up; it takes a lot of optimization but it’s worthwhile.

Get to know your local customers with insights

As you know, digital marketing does not work without all of its components together. When you start your strategy, you should always have different channels. They should always include most (preferably all) of the following: PPC, SEO, Local SEO, Website, Social media, etc. Each area gives you insights into your audience. Of course, Google Ads and Google Analytics are the most powerful when discovering what works an what does not work with your target audience. They even help you redefine your audience.

Much like social media, Google My Business has amazing insights tools that allow you to get to know your local users better. You can see what they searched for, HOW they found you, their postal codes, how many actions people took on your listing and more. When you get the chance to compare the data from your local reports, to your search engine optimization, and paid search you can start to see trends, and discover how you can target each segment of your audience differently. Your local customers are different than your e-commerce customers, and your social media followers are different than your organic users, but they all work together.

Remember: Optimization, Reviews, Quality.

You can do it! Consider your Google My Business page the same as your social media. Update it regularly, and make sure it is ALWAYS up-to-date. Noah’s clients have seen amazing results from their Google My Business Accounts.

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To an amazing 2019!

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