It’s vital to appear in Google Maps results so that you can reach potential customers. Good reviews, brand credibility, and a fleshed-out Google Business Profile (GBP) can help with Google Maps rankings. Appearing in Google Maps may be more important than your website’s homepage because it allows for a better user experience and increases online visibility. You want your company to appear in “near me” searches that people are making.
Google’s algorithm continues to evolve with every year that passes by. The order of importance for different aspects of online visibility may change in priority. For example, getting your business to show up on Google Maps may be more important than the actual homepage of your website. While your homepage is still something you should refine, it shouldn’t be your main focus. Highstreet Marketing can help your business rank in Google Maps.
Why is Google Maps Vital to a Business’s Success?
When someone makes a search trying to find a local business or service, they’ll usually choose one of the top results. If your business listing shows up far down the list, or not at all, it’s likely that a potential customer will choose your competitor over you. For example, when someone is close by and looks up “blank near me,” you want your business to be one of the highest results.
Your goal should be to rank in the top three spots on Google Maps for local searches. The 3-pack are the businesses that Google pushes first to searchers. As a result, they receive the most exposure, calls, visits, and other forms of engagement. All other businesses will only show up after you press the “more places” button. The audience naturally perceives these businesses as closer by and more relevant, regardless if that is the case or not.
Some of the benefits of ranking in the Google Maps 3-pack include:
- More likely to result in a purchase.
- More likely to be visited in person by a consumer.
- Your target audience can more easily access information about your business.
- Google Maps results can easily show directions to your establishment.
Factors Behind Google Maps Rankings
Credibility
If Google decides that your website and company are credible and can be trusted, then you will rank higher. Some of the details that Google utilizes to make this decision are having citations on local review websites, mentions on social media, and the quality of your Google Business Profile listing. Don’t neglect to provide Google with accurate information about your company. All of these things and more can impact your credibility, and therefore your visibility.
REVIEWS
Google looks at the reviews your business has to determine how high it ranks. It doesn’t only look at reviews on Google Maps, but also on other platforms. Positive reviews tell Google that your brand is worth promoting. The higher your star rating, the more people will choose your company and the better your rankings on Google Maps will be. It’s not just quality that’s important- you also want to have a lot of reviews.
Google looks at reviews, but so do searchers. Having favorable reviews easily visible to the public on Google Maps may be more helpful than having a good webpage. Without Google Maps reviews, people might not even click through to your webpage in the first place. Customers usually read multiple reviews before making a purchase decision. If you only have a couple of reviews, they may choose a different company over yours.
How Has Digital Marketing Changed?
In the early days of the internet, people relied on webpages alone to make online purchases. There was always some risk involved because it was more difficult to tell if websites were legitimate. Back then, businesses put all their stock in a high-quality website to make online sales.
Nowadays, simply having a good homepage for your website isn’t enough. This is especially true for small, local businesses. To be visible to high-intent customers, you need to appear in “near me” Google Maps results. Your audience can usually get all the information they need from your GBP listing and may only use your website for additional questions. This makes Google Maps more useful for searchers for immediate answers than a home webpage.
The main benefits of prioritizing Google Maps over your homepage are:
- Visibility
Your Google Maps listing will usually appear above website results in rankings. This means that more searchers will see it. To find your website, users may have to scroll down farther and click more times. Google Maps listings are also larger and more eye-catching than a simple website link, with map locations, photos, and information. Additionally, many websites lack the
2. User Experience
Google Maps instantly provides searchers with all the information they need, whereas on a website homepage, the visitor may have to scroll to find it. Most people look up nearby businesses on their phones, and Google Maps is very easy to use on mobile. Although some websites have added maps to their websites, Google Maps remains the easiest way to find a business’s location. Google Maps can hyperfocus on the searcher’s location by using keywords and geotagging to deliver the most relevant results.
Over the last two decades, Highstreet Marketing has gained experience in the digital and web marketing industry and continues to evolve with the market. With these years of experience, I have developed client relationships and stayed up-to-date with the latest trends.
Over the last two decades, Highstreet Marketing has gained experience in the digital and web marketing industry and continues to evolve with the market. With these years of experience, I have developed client relationships and stayed up-to-date with the latest trends.
If you’re ready to help advance your business’s digital marketing efforts, Highstreet Marketing is the team for you. We are equipped with the newest updates, ensuring that your business stays relevant to your target audience. Call our office or schedule a free consultation today. We look forward to meeting with you soon!