Google Maps is a powerful tool for consumers to discover businesses that meet their needs. You’ve probably used your phone to find new places to eat or the closest grocery store near you. This is a common practice. According to Google, 76% of users who search on their smartphones for something nearby will actually visit a business within a day. This makes sense, because if you’re googling something like “thai food near me,” you’re probably trying to satisfy a craving for that specific thing.
The opportunity for increased online exposure for businesses consists in ranking higher when people are trying to figure out where to go. The practice of ranking higher in search engines is known as search engine optimization, or SEO. When someone has a specific search inquiry, you want your business to be one of the first results that they see. Ranking higher in Google Maps guarantees the most exposure for your business. Achieving higher rankings in search engines is one of the primary goals of digital marketing agencies.
How to rank higher in Google Maps
Here are some steps you can take to rank higher in Google Maps:
- Listing your business on Google Maps — If you haven’t already listed your business on Google Maps, this is your first step before you can rank higher in Google Maps. To determine whether you have a Google Maps listing, go to Google.com/maps and search for your business. If your business is not listed, an option will appear in a drop-down menu to “add a missing place” to Google Maps. Then you can fill in the details for your business and you’re already on the way to increasing your digital presence!
- Claiming your business listing on Google — Now that your business is actually listed on Google Maps, you need to “claim” it to provide additional information. If you don’t already have one, you’re going to need a Google My Business account. Once you’re signed in to your My Business account on Google, go to the Google Maps listing for your business and you’ll find an option to “claim” the business! From there, you’re able to add additional information to the listing, answer questions, respond to reviews and more. This makes your digital presence much more engaging for online users.
- Cultivating your Google reviews — Now that your business is listed, you are automatically set up for other Google users to leave you reviews. No pressure! Reviews are a powerful tool and a form of user-generated content. Reviews can increase a user’s confidence in giving you their business. In fact, 86% of users read reviews for local businesses. This data makes it clear that users care a lot about reviews. The more reviews you have, especially positive ones, the more likely you are to rank higher in Google Maps. But usually you have to ask customers to leave a review for you. Try having employees ask customers for reviews in person, on social media, or on your website with a phrase like, “If you enjoyed our service, please help us out by leaving a review.”
- Add quality photos to your listing — Most users are interested in what your business looks like before they make the decision to go there. Because of this, you’re more likely to engage users with high-quality photos that show what your establishment has to offer. It also lets Google know that your listing is currently active, which can help boost your ranking. The more frequently you add photos, the more active you are and the better chances you have for ranking higher in Google Maps.
Want to rank higher in Google Maps? Burg & Co. can help
Ranking higher in Google Maps means increased exposure for your business. This can attract users and potentially lead to new clients. It can be difficult to get your Google Maps listing to rank higher when you’re first starting out. Fortunately, this is one of the areas we specialize in at Burg & Co.
Our team has years of experience in helping businesses improve their digital presence to attract new leads and retain existing ones. If you’re looking to perform better in search engine results and Google Maps listings and attract more visitors to your site, we’re ready to talk to you to see how we can help. Contact our team today for more information about digital marketing or to schedule a complimentary consultation.
