Proximity Based Search Results
How often have you typed in “coffee shop near me,” or, “gas station near me,” when looking for a service? Google knows your location, based on your smartphone's GPS. It will subsequently pull up results it knows are near your geographic location, and it does its best to pull up results that are inline with what you are looking for.
From a business owner's perspective, this is a huge benefit of mobile search for your business. Searchers in your area will be able to connect with your business due to their physical location. This type of search is becoming more and more common because it's incredibly convenient, and usually consumers don't like to go too out of their way to find a service. This is a benefit if you work in the home service industry, because you're likely catering to clients near your business location anyway.
The second way Google Maps pulls up results is by ranking them india phone number list reasons. Not all consumers have their location turned on—particularly if they're using a laptop or tablet to search rather than their mobile device. Also, most consumers around the globe can look at GMB listings anywhere—even if they are not close to them. Lastly, even within one area there may be a number of similar services offered—especially if it's a competitive market—so organic ranked results help a consumer make an informed choice.
But how does Google rank different businesses?
Based on their reviews. The search engine takes into account both the positive and negative reviews your listing has, as well as the total number of reviews, and creates an average. This number in turn influences where a business appears on Google Maps.
Google Maps: Organic Search Results
There are a few ways to increase your organic search results with GMB. It's important to optimize your online efforts to rank organically with a comprehensive SEO strategy. Keep in mind that your goal should always be to wind up within the top three spots of your respective Local Map Pack. These are the results that will automatically appear on Google after a search is put in related to your business.
The Local Pack receives 32% of clicks on SERPs—without Local Services Ads. In other words, these results are obtained organically and you can't buy your way to the top. Continue reading to discover how you can maximize your GMB listing organically.
Verify Your Business
Permitting you've already created a Google My Business listing, the next step is to claim or “verify” that listing. But what's the difference? When you create your listing you can essentially only provide the name, location and category that your business belongs to. On the other hand, when you claim it you can provide many more details about your business. This is important because the more information you include about your business, the higher it will rank on Google Maps. Also, without verifying your listing you'll be unable to optimize it—which is the point of this guide.
To claim your listing, all you have to do is sign-in to your GMB account, pull up your listing and select the option to “Claim this Business.” It may also appear as, “Own this Business?”
Select All Relevant Business Categories and Attributes
Categories are what describes what type of business you operate and the services you provide. For instance, “plumbing company,” or “public library.” These are important search terms because they're often what consumers input into Google when seeking a service.
Google suggests that you choose a primary category that best describes your business. However, you should also choose additional categories to give potential customers a better idea as to what your business is all about. Ensure you select relevant services. For example, as a plumber you may add “drain cleaning.”
You can also select relevant attributes for your business, such as if you have outdoor seating or are wheelchair accessible. You should also add these to your business listing.