AngelCity

Flashing Messages
Digital Marketing

BusinessDevelopment

AngelCity

DigitalMarketing

BusinessDevelopment

Our Systems

Drive Revenue by Automating Customer Acquisition

Click below to learn how to:

Automate customer acquisition

Create reliable revenue streams

Minimize wasteful spending

Simplify your processes

Free up your time & resources

Qualify & nurture prospects

What we do

DigitalMarketing

Automated and tailor-made client and customer acquisition for simplified, effective growth

Done-for-you systems for easy and seamless integration with your existing processes

Personalized and targeted outreach using data-driven insights and stronger engagement

PublicRelations

Strategic media engagement to boost your brand's visibility and credibility

Localized brand awareness and authority in your field as your business stands out as a thought leader

Focused storytelling and media outreach that leverage impactful narratives and high-visibility placements

AutomatedSolutions

Streamlined and custom automation systems to enhance efficiency and reduce operational overhead

Set-and-forget automation tools that effortlessly merge with your business workflows

Precision-engineered and online processes to maximize productivity and minimize manual input

ArtificialIntelligence

Cutting-edge AI-driven tools tailored to refine decision-making and enhance analytical capabilities

Intelligent integration solutions that adapt to your business environment, improving efficiency and outcomes

Advanced AI chatbots for increased engagement and conversions and less manual follow-up

BusinessDevelopment

Proactive and tailored growth planning, brand development, and resource optimization to enhance cash flow

Brand positioning consulting for enhanced competitive advantage

Expert guidance and targeted initiatives designed to foster sustainable and scalable growth

WebDesign

Custom-designed websites crafted to enhance user engagement and convert visitors into customers

Hassle-free integration with your digital infrastructure for a cohesive user experience

Attractive and intuitive designs backed by strategic insights to increase traffic, rankings, and user interaction

InfluencerPartnerships

In-demand influencer partnerships to boost organic traffic and brand awareness

Specialized targeting to your audience using niche influencers across social media channels

Improved reach by engaging your audience where they are and utilizing strategic partnerships

GoogleRanking

Superior ranking services to drive organic growth through top-of-search-results SEO strategies

Guaranteed placement in top 3 Google Maps positions for local keywords

Updated tactics and ongoing best practices to ensure quality optimizations as algorithms change

CreativeServices

Engaging video editing services for ongoing content creation needs and requirements, esp. for social media

Tailored photograph editing to reimagine your content and stylize your brand image

Professional graphic design and logo creation services to ensure brand uniqueness and memorability

Our Systems

Drive Revenue by Automating Customer Acquisition

Click below to learn how to:

Automate customer acquisition

Create reliable revenue streams

Minimize wasteful spending

Simplify your processes

Free up time & resources

Qualify & nurture prospects

What we do

DigitalMarketing

Automated and tailor-made client and customer acquisition for simplified, effective growth

Done-for-you systems for easy and seamless integration with your existing processes

Personalized and targeted outreach using data-driven insights and stronger engagement

PublicRelations

Strategic media engagement to boost your brand's visibility and credibility

Localized brand awareness and authority in your field as your business stands out as a thought leader

Focused storytelling and media outreach that leverage impactful narratives and high-visibility placements

AutomatedSolutions

Streamlined and custom automation systems to enhance efficiency and reduce operational overhead

Set-and-forget automation tools that effortlessly merge with your business workflows

Precision-engineered and online processes to maximize productivity and minimize manual input

ArtificialIntelligence

Cutting-edge AI-driven tools tailored to refine decision-making and enhance analytical capabilities

Intelligent integration solutions that adapt to your business environment, improving efficiency and outcomes

Advanced AI chatbots for increased engagement and conversions and less manual follow-up

BusinessDevelopment

Proactive and tailored growth planning, brand development, and resource optimization to enhance cash flow

Brand positioning consulting for enhanced competitive advantage

Expert guidance and targeted initiatives designed to foster sustainable and scalable growth

WebDesign

Custom-designed websites crafted to enhance user engagement and convert visitors into customers

Hassle-free integration with your digital infrastructure for a cohesive user experience

Attractive and intuitive designs backed by strategic insights to increase traffic, rankings, and user interaction

InfluencerPartnerships

In-demand influencer partnerships to boost organic traffic and brand awareness

Specialized targeting to your audience using niche influencers across social media channels

Improved reach by engaging your audience where they are and utilizing strategic partnerships

GoogleRanking

Superior ranking services to drive organic growth through top-of-search-results SEO strategies

Guaranteed placement in top 3 Google Maps positions for local keywords

Updated tactics and ongoing best practices to ensure quality optimizations as algorithms change

CreativeServices

Engaging video editing services for ongoing content creation needs and requirements, esp. for social media

Tailored photograph editing to reimagine your content and stylize your brand image

Professional graphic design and logo creation services to ensure brand uniqueness and memorability

The Angel City Blog

An image of Google Maps displaying three top-ranked local businesses, each marked with location pins and 5-star ratings. The businesses include a café, a retail store, and a fitness gym, with distinct logos, review counts, and nearby streets and landmarks.

Top 5 Ways to Ensure Your Business Ranks in Google Maps' Top 3

September 26, 20245 min read

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

- Theodore Roosevelt


TL;DR: Ranking in the Google Maps Top 3 (Map Pack) can make or break local businesses. This guide will walk you through five essential steps to boost your rankings and improve visibility, from optimizing your Google My Business profile to leveraging customer reviews, local content, and backlinks.

Black and white image of dark, silhouetted trees on mountainside

I recently visited Alaska and took some pictures of the landscapes.

For local businesses, being visible on Google Maps is a game-changer. With more consumers relying on Google to find nearby services, ranking in the top 3 positions—known as the "Map Pack"—can drastically increase foot traffic and customer acquisition. Studies show that nearly 80% of local mobile searches result in an offline purchase, meaning that getting your business into that coveted top spot can have a direct impact on your revenue.

This blog covers five actionable steps that local businesses can take to improve their Google Maps rankings and stay ahead of competitors.

Understanding How Google Maps Rankings Work
Before diving into strategies, it’s important to understand what influences Google Maps rankings. Google uses three primary factors to determine placement:

  1. Proximity – How close your business is to the person searching.

  2. Relevance – How well your business matches the search query.

  3. Prominence – How well-known and trusted your business is, based on reviews, website authority, and other factors.

While proximity is difficult to control, businesses can improve relevance and prominence through strategic optimization.

Step 1: Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
The cornerstone of any Google Maps ranking strategy is a fully optimized Google My Business (GMB) profile. Here’s how to ensure your GMB profile works in your favor:

  • Accurate Information: Ensure that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are correct and consistent across all platforms.

  • Choose Relevant Categories: Selecting the right categories for your business is crucial. Be specific about what your business does, as this helps Google match your business with relevant searches.

  • High-Quality Images: Visuals matter. Upload high-resolution photos of your storefront, products, and services. Businesses with photos get 42% more requests for directions.

  • Complete Your Profile: A fully completed profile can boost rankings, so fill out every section—including business hours, services, and website URL.

Mountain in center of image with sea in front. Mist and light surround the mountain in glorious fashion. Slight blue hue to the image.

Step 2: Encourage and Manage Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are one of the strongest factors in Google Maps rankings. Here’s how to leverage them:

  • Ask for Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. You can ask via email, social media, or even in-store.

  • Respond to All Reviews: Engaging with reviews (both positive and negative) shows Google that your business is active and customer-focused. Thank positive reviewers and address negative feedback with professionalism.

  • Prioritize Review Quality Over Quantity: While having a high number of reviews is good, it’s important that they are genuine and detailed. Google favors authentic, detailed feedback over generic comments.

Step 3: Local Citations and Consistency Across Platforms
Local citations (mentions of your business name, address, and phone number across the web) are crucial to improving your prominence. Consistency is key:

  • Ensure NAP Consistency: Your business details should be consistent across your website, social media, and directories such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and local chamber of commerce listings.

  • Get Listed on Local Directories: Seek out industry-specific directories and local websites to list your business. These listings help establish your business’s credibility and prominence. (Angel City can get you listed automatically in over 90 different directories...shameless plug.)

Step 4: Create Location-Specific and Relevant Content
To improve your relevance in local searches, produce content that’s specific to your area. Here’s how to use content marketing to boost Google Maps rankings:

  • Location-Based Blog Posts: Write blog posts that feature local events, partnerships, or community involvement.

  • Landing Pages for Each Location: If you have multiple locations, create individual landing pages with unique content for each one.

  • Use Local Keywords: Research keywords related to your business and location. Use them in your website’s metadata, blog posts, and social media content to show Google that your business is relevant to local searches.

Inside an ice cave carved from under-glacier river. Blue-hued and sharp ice formations wall the ice-cave.

Step 5: Build Backlinks from Local and Industry-Relevant Sites
Backlinks—links from other websites to your own—are another important factor for improving your Google Maps ranking:

  • Earn Links from Local Businesses: Partner with other businesses in your area. For example, you could sponsor a local event or collaborate on a blog post. These partnerships can lead to valuable backlinks.

  • Reach Out to Local Bloggers or News Outlets: Getting featured in local blogs or news articles can not only drive traffic but also improve your prominence.

  • Focus on Industry-Specific Backlinks: If possible, get backlinks from industry-specific websites or organizations. These carry more weight and help build your business’s authority.

Ranking in Google Maps’ Top 3 requires consistent effort, but the payoff is well worth it. By following these five steps—optimizing your Google My Business profile, encouraging customer reviews, maintaining citation consistency, creating local content, and building relevant backlinks—you can significantly improve your business’s local SEO performance.

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level and want guaranteed placement in Google Maps' Top 3 (Map Pack), visit Angel City Business to learn more about our unique marketing system. We specialize in automating customer acquisition and securing top spots on Google Maps—and if we don't, we work for free until we do.

Matthew, the Founder and Chief Consultant of Angel City, leverages his business, engineering, and educational background across marketing, aerospace, medical, financial, and coaching sectors. Currently, he leads AI R&D and automations at Angel City, focusing on programming and integration as well as implementing investment marketing strategies for its clients. Outside work, he enjoys outdoor adventures, soccer, photography, reading, and writing.

Matthew McNab

Matthew, the Founder and Chief Consultant of Angel City, leverages his business, engineering, and educational background across marketing, aerospace, medical, financial, and coaching sectors. Currently, he leads AI R&D and automations at Angel City, focusing on programming and integration as well as implementing investment marketing strategies for its clients. Outside work, he enjoys outdoor adventures, soccer, photography, reading, and writing.

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