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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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:
Proximity – How close your business is to the person searching.
Relevance – How well your business matches the search query.
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.
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.
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.