There are so many ways you can improve your business’s SEO, it’s difficult to know where to start. If you want to start anywhere though, it should be with the Google Map Pack. Here’s what it is, how to use it, and why you should put work into creating one.
What Is The Map Pack?
You may have seen this Google function referred to as the Google Map 3 Pack, and that’s thanks to how it lists businesses with this function. Have you ever Googled a business in your area, and found that there’s three businesses listed at the top along with their info? That’s the 3 pack. You can see it in the image below
This service is designed to help searchers find what they need in their local area, without ever having to leave Google itself. Say you’re looking for landscaping services in London. Once you put in the relevant data, you’ll have the three closest landscaping companies to you show up in the 3 pack at the top of the page.
The Benefits Of Google’s Map Pack
As you own a business, you can list your business to appear in these search results if someone searches for a service like yours. These listings are designed to give the searcher all the info they need right away, so they don’t have to go anywhere else. It’s helpful for them to see everything about you on the search results page, so they can get in touch directly.
The more info you can provide, the better. The basic map pack result will show your name, address, and contact details. That will help a lot, but there are other details you can include that will help. For example, if you have reviews on your Google Business Profile listing, these will show up too. Photos are another good piece of data to include. With all of this information included, it makes it easier for a searcher to choose your business.
How To Optimise Your Google Map Pack Ranking
If you want to show up in the Google map pack, then you’ll need to optimise your listing. Here’s how to do it:
Create a Google Business Profile listing: If you haven’t done this already, now’s the time to do so. This is where you’re going to claim your business, and have it verified. Do this first, and you can start optimising the listing.
Add the relevant details: Now you’ll need to add in as much detail as you can on your listing. Ensure that everything that you add is correct, such as your address or phone number. Incorrect information will affect your ranking, so it’s vital you do this.
Add in as much data as you can. Upload relevant photos, write an informative description, add business hours and NAP data, and enable reviews.
Optimise your website for local search: Now you’ve done all this, you’ll need to optimise your website for Google’s local search function. The site needs to be relevant to a searcher’s queries, so ensure you’re adding in data that they’re looking for.
You’ll need to be prominent in your area too, and that’s where reviews come in. The more positive reviews you have, the more likely you are to show up in search results.
Don’t forget about your mobile browser experience, too. Your site needs to be optimised for mobile usage, as the map pack was designed with mobile users in mind.
All of these tips will improve your search rankings as a whole, so you should be doing them either way. The more you improve your website and Google Business Profile listing, the more that customers will come to trust you. As this happens, you’re much more likely to make it into the map pack and have more customers coming to you. It can feel impossible, especially if you have a lot of competition in your area, but it can be done.
And there you have it. The Google Map Pack is what shows you the nearest relevant businesses, when you search for a local service. If you optimise your listing and website, you can make it into the map pack yourself. It takes a little work, but you too can take advantage of that extra business
