Google SEO San Antonio — Local and Google Maps SEO
In today’s competitive online market, one of the keys to success for any business is having a website that is fully optimized for Google Maps. If you’re marketing locally, being on top of the local 3-pack and the Google Maps search results allows you to attract more customers, since most people click on one of those first few results that show up. Investing in getting optimization has become mandatory for any business wanting to succeed with a local customer base.
Incite Digital Marketing and Advertizing wants to support your business’ SEO optimization goals, including for Google Maps. Our integrated approach will help boost your rankings and get you the clicks you need. We have a multitude of strategies and options to get you optimized for both the 3-pack and organic search results through Google SEO. Do not miss out on the opportunities that come from being atop those listings.
How Do Google Maps Listings Work?
Often, Google’s search engine will provide a list of local businesses based off a keyword search. If someone searches for “men’s clothing Boston”, for example, then a display of several results, along with their location on a local Boston map will be displayed. It doesn’t matter if the searcher is in Boston at the time. As long as they used the city-name in the search, then Google will provide the results and locations of the best optimized businesses for that keyword.
How Does Google Maps Rank Pages?
Google, and subsequently Google Maps, uses a complex and evolving algorithm designed to determine how sites should rank on results pages based on the keyword entered. For Google Maps, that algorithm is slightly different since it is working with local rankings, as opposed to rankings from all across the web. Among the many factors that are taken into consideration are:
- Average review ratings on Google My Business Local
- How often the site is mentioned on other listings, such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Facebook, for example. These are known as “citations”, and the quality of citations can vary based on the accuracy of the information
- If the business has verified their Google My Business page
- How close the business is to the city-centre of the city used in the keyword search
- If the My Business page is optimized properly
- How well the business ranks in organic search results.
There are other factors as well, however these are the more prominent for getting results in the local 3-pack. Having a strong SEO strategy for appearing in these results is one of the best things you can do to grow your business.
Why is This So Important?
Millions and millions of people use mobile Internet searches every day, and much of that traffic are users searching for businesses where they live or are visiting. Google Maps has never been more relevant or important, and it will only continue to do so. We use some proven techniques to improve optimization and help rank higher in the 3-pack, which are vital for local businesses and for franchises as well.
- Nowadays, up to 80% of people on the internet are browsing using their mobile devices
- There is an emphasis on users searching for businesses and services in their immediate area. Google Maps not only displays search results, but will also provide basic contact information, operating hours, directions, and select customer reviews.
- Those who access the web using their smart phones are searching for local products and services more than 50% of the time.
- Google Maps on those mobile devices is designed to specifically highlight local search results, including businesses and services.
Optimizing for local Google Maps search results is simply too big a marketing opportunity to pass up. Otherwise, you will most certainly get left behind.
Digging Deep Into Local Maps SEO Services
To get to the top of Google Maps listings, there are several things you must have in place. One of the easiest is to simply have a business listing in all search engines, and not just Google. This includes Bing Local and the Yahoo. You may even already have a listing and not be aware of it, so make sure to check. Another major factor is to have your business “verified” by Google. This means that ownership and management of the page is actually handled by your company, and is a recognized business. Here are some steps to go through that process:
- Making sure that the verification application has every bit of information possible, such as operating hours and contact information
- Getting great reviews on Google My Business, and also on Yelp, Bing Local, and other business listings.
- Making sure that any “citations” of your business on the web are accurate
- Using the proper categories for tagging your Google My Business page. For example, if you own a restaurant you shouldn’t tag your business with ‘lingerie”.
- Media content, like images and videos, of your business that are optimized for search
A strong strategy for Google Maps optimization and marketing can make or break your business. Make sure you can be found at the top of the list so you can blow the competition away. If you want the opportunities that come with a solid Google Maps ranking, then give us a call at (210) 477-4004 or let us design your blueprint to success for free! No matter what type of business, and no matter what size, we can help you succeed with Google Maps search marketing, and local SEO services.