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Getting local customers is essential for local businesses, and local digital marketing services can be a great way to help you get your business listed on Google Maps. We've put together a Google Maps guide that will help you through being listed, ranking higher, and increasing your business to make this process easier. Digital marketing strategies for accountants are essential if they want to attract more tax clients in the present and the future.
Although when you think of maps, you would think of getting directions, many consumers use Google Maps to look for companies, just as though they would go inside Google. 50% of people who examine search results in person within a day of viewing a real place are probably utilizing Google Maps if they are looking for what you have to offer.
Almost the last two years, searches that mention "near me" have climbed by over 200%. Try using the term "near me" in your search and then add your industry to the end of it, such as "tax services near me," "property maintenance service near me," or "bookeeping near me." Simply put, Google Maps may make you stand out from the competition and draw in new clients locally.
What is Google Maps marketing?
A marketing strategy might not seem to match maps naturally. However, because Google Maps is the sister product of Google Search, the industry leader in search, the platform offers some fantastic marketing benefits. What's great is that you may run an optimization campaign in which you generate a Google My Business (GMB) listing and become listed on Google Maps. Google Maps and Google Search share a dashboard, and working together promotes traffic and search.
It's easy for consumers to find your company and services using a Google Maps listing. You'll consequently receive more incoming calls and website visitors. More people will find you thanks to a better listing, resulting in more customers and leads.
Making the most of all opportunities to communicate information about a company and interact with clients through Google Maps marketing is essential. This involves ensuring that your listing is up-to-date and comprehensive. The platform allows reviews, so you can browse user comments and create responses to both favorable and hostile remarks.
Why Google Maps ranking matters
The ranking is the position of your information in the search results. The results of Google Maps are ranked and listed in a particular order, precisely like those of Google Search.
It's erroneous to believe you can construct a GMB, appear on the map, and begin bringing in new clients. The location alone won't help you much on Google Maps if you don't rank properly.
Consider this: nobody is clicking on any of those little, red map points to find out additional information. They desire the best solutions that are distinctly presented and easily reachable.
7 Helpful Ways to Rank on Google Maps
Ranking well on Google Maps provides free awareness for your company that can help you attract new clients, increase sales, and differentiates yourself from the competition. To make it easier for local customers to find you, here are seven tips to get your local business ranked on the Google Maps platform.
Make sure your business is listed on Google Maps
Making sure your local business is listed on Google Maps is the first step in local digital marketing services. You can create a free Google My Business (GMB) listing to manage how your local business appears on both Google Search and Maps. Doing so will allow customers to find you when they search for local businesses related to yours.
Additionally, your GMB listing will provide customers with important information, such as your hours of operation, address, and phone number. The summary of your company should be included in the description of your Google Maps business listing to assist customers in finding you and persuading them to click. This is because roughly 60% of Google searches are made on mobile devices, and Google Maps business listings include links to your website. To ensure that your local business is listed correctly on Google Maps, make sure to:
- Input the most accurate and up-to-date information about your local business into your GMB listing. This includes phone numbers, business hours, and addresses.
- Add your business category and a description of your local business to the GMB listing.
- Include photos or videos of your local business in the GMB listing.
- Add local keywords related to your local business into the GMB listing.
Claim your business listing and add all the relevant information
Claiming your local business listing on Google Maps is an essential step in local digital marketing services. With a verified GMB account, you can provide detailed information about your local business that potential customers will see when searching for related local businesses. It also allows you to take advantage of several other features, such as reviews, Q&As (Questions and Answers), and posts which further increase the visibility of your local business.
Additionally, claiming your local business listing ensures that only you can make changes to it, preventing any incorrect or malicious edits from being made. If you aren't utilizing the possibilities of social media marketing services, your competitors are stealing your customers. To correctly claim and optimize your local business’s GMB listing, make sure to:
- Ensure all pertinent contact details are current and accurate, including phone numbers, addresses, and business hours.
- Create a captivating local company description that succinctly summarises your offerings.
- In the GMB listing, use regional keywords relevant to your local business.
- Include images or videos of your nearby company in the GMB listing.
- Quickly and courteously respond to consumer questions and reviews.
- If customers had a good experience with your local business, encourage them to submit reviews.
Request customer reviews
Customer reviews are one of the most critical factors for improving local ranking on Google Maps, as it shows potential customers how well you have served previous customers before them. Customers’ ratings help boost local relevance and can benefit local digital marketing services. To get more customer reviews, you can create a simple link that customers can use to quickly and easily leave reviews for your local business on GMB. You should also encourage loyal customers to leave reviews by sending them emails or texts after using your local business’s services.
Create a custom Google Map for your business
Creating a custom Google Map for your local business is another excellent way to boost local digital marketing services. By creating a custom map, you can display important local information about your local business and make it easy for customers to find directions to your local store or office.
You can add pins to mark your local business’s location on the map, as well as any other relevant points of interest, such as parking lots or public transit stops. You can also add lines to indicate walking routes or driving directions from various locations. A customized Google Map will help customers find their way to your local business quickly and easily without searching through long directions.
Implement Local SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) helps local businesses rank higher on search engine results pages. This is especially important for local digital marketing services, as local searches are more likely to result in visits and conversions than organic or national searches. Local SEO involves optimizing local elements of your website, such as location-specific keywords, localized content, and backlinks from local resources. Additionally, it helps Google understand the context of local queries and rank local content accordingly. By implementing local SEO tactics, you can help your business stand out among its competitors and directly increase visibility with potential customers searching for related local companies.
Your website link can be found in the Google My Business and Maps listings. This will give customers a chance to learn more about your offerings. Go beyond the typical services and information pages on your website. You can produce blog posts highlighting your expertise as the regional authority in your service area. If there are privacy issues, feel free to modify the clients' identities in client tales or in before-and-after images that showcase your work. Continue frequently posting to produce fresh content that keeps your website exciting and visitors interested. Create a Google Business Profile and publish Google Posts there.
Add photos and videos of your business to Google Maps
Adding photos and videos of your local business to Google Maps is a great way to help potential customers find you online. Visuals can be compelling in conveying information about local digital marketing services. By adding images or videos to your GMB listing, you can provide a more comprehensive understanding of what local customers can expect from your offerings. This will help create trust between local customers and your local business, as they can get an accurate representation of what it is like to do business with you.
You should also add images that showcase the local area surrounding your business, such as picturesque views or local attractions. This will make it easier for customers to identify with your company and its location when searching online. Furthermore, remember to update photos and videos regularly to ensure local customers see an accurate reflection of your local business.
Use keywords and phrases in your website and online marketing materials
The use of local keywords and phrases is an essential component of local digital marketing services. By optimizing local elements in your website content, online ads, and other materials, you can help local customers find your business quickly and easily. Include local search terms such as the name of the local area or city that you serve so that potential customers can more easily identify with your local business. Additionally, include keywords related to the services you provide for local customers to understand what products or services your company offers accurately. This targeted approach will ensure local customers know exactly who you are and what you do before they even visit your website.
Last but not least, make sure you frequently update all of your online information to keep it factual and pertinent for local customers. You may improve local exposure, build local clients' confidence, and ultimately enhance conversions by taking the time to comprehend local SEO methods and optimize your local digital marketing services.
Google Map ranking factors
Google is secretive about the mechanics of the intricate algorithms it uses to rank websites and locations in search results. This has long since become a source of frustration for local businesses, tradespeople, and contractors that handle their marketing.
The dominant search engine DOES, however, state that it takes into account three key elements when determining local search results:
- Relevance
- Distance
- Prominence
When creating or editing your listing, keep these things in mind.
Relevance
Google considers the user's search term (such as "leaking pipe") and contrasts it with the information provided in business listings. Those more closely related to the searcher's query increase rankings.
Distance
You probably don't want a lavatory refinisher from Phoenix if you live in Pittsburgh. Google looks at the searcher's location (for example, "bathtub repair in Pittsburgh") and displays the most relevant results. Google could utilize other location data to focus the results if users didn't specify a place.
Prominence
Online reputation matters to Google and its customers. Google will rank your business higher if it is well-known (or even famous). It also helps if you're a local company with a reliable website, plenty of referrals from other sites, and lots of positive client reviews.
Conclusion
Google's local digital marketing services play an essential role in helping local businesses increase visibility and reach local customers online. By optimizing local elements such as the name of the local area, keywords related to services offered, images and videos that showcase local attractions, and frequent updates to all online information, local businesses can ensure local customers have an accurate understanding of their company’s offerings.
Additionally, by taking into account Google ranking factors such as relevance, distance, and prominence when creating or editing a business listing, local companies can further enhance their search engine optimization efforts to boost their online presence. With these steps in place, local businesses will be better equipped to capture more leads from local customers and increase conversions for their business.