5 Ways To Get To The Top Of Google Maps

Have you ever used Google Maps to find a restaurant? Most of us have. Have you ever asked Google Maps for a restaurant and been offered listings for nearby movie theaters, coffee shops, and retail stores? You likely have not, due to how much time, money and energy Google has invested in making sure that Google Maps is the top Maps app available. This investment has paid off, as 60-70% of Americans use Google Maps.

That user base also means that Google Maps is a big factor in any local industry. The difference between a restaurant at the top of Google Maps for a search and a restaurant that isn’t even on Google can be the difference between profitability and failure.

But how do you get to the top of Google Maps? Google’s algorithms and ranking factors can be difficult to understand for most small business owners, but the consequences can be fantastic or catastrophic. Whether you like it or not, Google Maps is a medium you need to consider, especially if a large percentage of your business is local to your area.

The content team here at JSL Marketing & Web Design put together this handy reference guide to help you get to the top of Google Maps in your area. Read on and study and if you play your cards right, you too can be at the top of Google Maps in your local area.

Read Onto Get To The Top Of Google Maps!

SEO Tip 1: Optimize Your Google Map Listing

You might think that it’s merely as simple as having a Google listing. While having a listing is simple, keeping up to date with your listing can be a challenge. There’s a variety of information displayed on that listing, information that is vital to understanding, evaluating and contacting your brand. Many brands don’t even have this information properly displayed or worse, don’t have the information up to date. An old phone number or an inaccurate hours of business could cost you a sale.

Once you get past the obvious glitches, it becomes readily apparent that most businesses aren’t effectively utilizing their Google listings. Linking to your website is a great way to let Google users leave Maps and browse your menu or services to make an informed decision, but many brands don’t connect the two.

Moral of the story, stay up to date with your listing for best results!

SEO Tip 2: Showcase Your Stellar Reputation

Reputation matters. The biggest brands in the world know this and pay thousands of dollars for public relations to prevent harm to their reputation. You might not have a public relations agency on standby, but you can have your customers sing your praises with the right reviews. The right quantity and quality of reviews lets your customers know that your brand is legitimate and in good standing with your customers.

There are a few reasons why this can be so impactful for your business.

• Google will show listings with better reviews near the top of Google Maps.
• Customers are much likelier to click on a listing if you have a number of strong reviews.
• Customers are 35% more likely to click on a listing with review stars.

SEO Tip 3: Align Listings

There are dozens, probably hundreds of listings, for your business online. You might not know that, but a plethora of online directories and listings list your business. The problem, however, is that many of these listings aren’t accurate. That’s a big issue, as Google and other search engines look for business addresses to be accurate across directories. These random and scattered listings, listings you likely never set up, are almost certainly dinging your SEO. The best route to rectify this is to claim and correct these listings.

SEO Tip 4: Use Branded Images

Few people recognize that images can actually improve your local SEO. As with many internet marketing mediums, Local SEO is improved by beautiful images. We typically recommend location images of the building where your brand is located. This way, your Google Maps users are able to get an idea of what the physical location will look like before arriving in person. Use branded images to leave a longer-lasting impression and better inform your users.

SEO Tip 5: Reach The Right People At The Right Time With Google Ads

The aforementioned options are good fits for businesses who can take the time to properly optimize and grow their local SEO presence. However, some brands need to make a quicker impact and are willing to pay that premium to get to the top of Google. If that’s where you find yourself, we would recommend Google Ad campaigns to display information about your business at the top of Google and Google Maps.

Google Ad campaigns are…

• Geotargeted
• Cost-Effective, As You’re Only Billed For Clicks
• Optimized Towards A Number Of Factors, Including Maximizing Clicks, Maximizing Conversions or Maximizing Impression Share.
• Compatible with Google’s Search Audiences For Better Data

Climb To The Top Of Google Maps With JSL

Local SEO and reputation management can be hard. You’re busy running a business, hiring new staff, negotiating with vendors, and managing operations. The last thing you have time for is adding Local SEO to your ever-growing to-do list.

Partner with JSL Marketing & Web Design to get to the top of Google! Maps

Our process is simple; we take the time to consult with you and learn about your business before we design a strategy. There’s no one-size fits all approach here. Every brand is unique and deserves to have its own custom strategy. Our team works with you to learn the why behind your business and how to speak to your customers in your particular market.

Depending on what our SEOs recommend, we might end up…

• Removing/Claiming Duplicate Listings
• Scrubbing Incorrect Listings
• Adding Keyword-Rich Content To Grow Organic Search
• Optimizing Existing Location Listings
• Generating More Reviews Via Reputation Management
• & More!

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