Improve Local Ranking on Google

You hop on Google and search your business, and still your business profile is down a few spots, or worse, it’s like on page 3…what the heck?

How do you get YOUR BUSINESS to rank higher in Google Local Searches?

This is a common problem for local businesses everywhere, everyone is eyeing that top spot.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• How to improve your local ranking on Google
• The 6 areas Google says you need to update
• The 3 keys Google uses to determine local ranking
• And what to do if you’re having issues and want to throw your laptop in the street

I’m Torie Mathis, marketing agency CEO, digital marketing coach at the Smart Arsenal, and I’ve helped businesses just like yoursaiming for that top spot on Google.

Let’s get started.

Improve Your Local Ranking On Google

When someone searches for a business or place near their location, they’ll find local results across Google in places like Maps and Search. For example, you can probably find local results if you search for “Italian restaurant” on your mobile device. Google will try to show you the kind of nearby restaurant that you’d like to visit.

To improve your business’s local ranking, use Google Business Profile to claim and update your business information.

Update Your Business Info

You may find that your business doesn’t show up for relevant searches in your area. To maximize how often users find your business in local search results, ensure that your business information in the Business Profile is accurate, complete, and engaging.

Enter complete data

Local results favor the most relevant results for each search. Businesses with complete and accurate information are easier to match with the right searches.

Important: Make sure you keep your information up to date as your business changes.

Make sure you’ve entered complete business information in Business Profile so users know what you do, where you are, and when they can visit. Provide information like, but not limited to, your:

• Physical address
• Phone number
• Category
• Attributes

Verify Your Location

Verify your business location so they’re more likely to show in local search results across Google products, like Maps and Search.

Keep Your Hours Accurate

Update your business hours regularly, including when you open and close, and special hours for holidays and events. Accurate hours info lets shoppers know when you’re available and gives them confidence that your business will be open when they arrive. Learn how to edit your hours.

Manage & Respond To Reviews

Respond to reviews that users leave about your business. When you reply to reviews, it shows that you value your customers and their feedback. High-quality, positive reviews from your customers can improve your business visibility and increase the likelihood that a shopper will visit your location.

Add Photos

To showcase your goods and services and to tell the story of your business, add photos to your Business Profile. Accurate and appealing pictures may also show shoppers that your business offers what they’re searching for.

• Go to your Business Profile.
• To add photos:
• With Google Search, select Add photo.
• With Google Maps, select More, Add photo.
• Choose and add your photo.

Add In-Store Products

If you run a retail business in an eligible country or region, you can turn online searchers into in-store shoppers by automatically showcasing your in-store products on your Business Profile.

To add your products to your Business Profile, connect your Point of Sale system to the Local Inventory app or product reader.

Other ways to help your ranking

Use Google Posts

Regularly publish posts to your Google Business Profile to announce events, offer promotions, or share updates. Active engagement through posts can improve your visibility and show Google that your business is actively managed.

Ensure NAP Consistency Across The Web

Your business’s Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) should be consistent across your Google Business Profile and all other online listings. Inconsistencies can confuse Google and potential customers, negatively impacting your search ranking.

Optimize for Keywords

Include relevant keywords in your business description and posts. Think about what your potential customers might search for and incorporate those terms naturally into your profile’s content.

Utilize the Q&A Feature

Monitor and answer questions in the Q&A section of your Google Business Profile. This not only provides valuable information to potential customers but also includes additional keywords and engagement signals to Google.

Build Local Backlinks

Backlinks from reputable local websites (like local chambers of commerce or business associations) can improve your profile’s prominence. Google views these links as endorsements, boosting your credibility and search ranking.

Engage with Your Community

Participate in community events and share about these engagements on your Google Business Profile. This can increase your local relevance and visibility.

Use Google’s Messaging Feature

Enable and use the messaging feature on your profile to quickly respond to potential customers’ inquiries. This increases engagement and can positively impact your ranking.

How Google Determines Local Ranking

Local results are based primarily on relevance, distance, and prominence. A combination of these factors helps us find the best match for your search. For example, our algorithms might decide that a business that’s farther away from your location is more likely to have what you’re looking for than a business that’s closer, and therefore rank it higher in local results.

Relevance

Relevance refers to how well a local Business Profile matches what someone is searching for. Add complete and detailed business information to help Google better understand your business and match your profile to relevant searches.

Distance

Distance considers how far each potential search result is from the location term used in a search. If a user doesn’t specify a location in their search, we’ll calculate distance based on what we do know about their location.

Prominence

Prominence refers to how well known a business is. Some places are more prominent in the offline world, and search results try to reflect this in local ranking. For example, famous museums, landmark hotels, or well-known store brands are also likely to be prominent in local search results.

Prominence is also based on information that Google has about a business, from across the web, like links, articles, and directories. Google review count and review score factor into local search ranking. More reviews and positive ratings can improve your business’s local ranking. Your position in web results is also a factor, so search engine optimization (SEO) best practices apply.

Google States

There’s no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google. Google does its best to keep the search algorithm details confidential, to make the ranking system as fair as possible for everyone.

As always, if you have any issues, you have a few options.

First, you can drop a comment right here, and I will do my best to help you out.

Next, you can hop on over to the Google help community, where other Google pros can offer up some advice.

Or if you’d prefer, you can contact Google Support or set up an appointment with a Google Advisor. I will put all those links in the description for you.

After reviewing all of these ways to rank better, aside from updating your profile, the biggie is REVIEWS! So, how about we get you more reviews on Google and all across the web?

I have a FREE review boosting bootcamp happening right now. You can join for free and get step by step easy peasy instructions on how to get your business set up for reviews, how to get more reviews, and even how to deal with negative reviews.

You also get a ton of DFY templates and scripts, tools to automate your review process, and I’m giving you a professionally designed review landing page that will get you more reviews today!