Local maps marketing is a critical component of any successful local marketing strategy. Maps and navigation tools are used by almost anyone looking for a specific destination or address. What’s more, online maps are ubiquitous tools in virtually every mobile device. People use local maps to find businesses, buy products or use services, find specific attractions and explore a geographical area.
In other words, we are constantly connected to our maps and navigation tools, making it a very important marketing tool for every business. Let’s delve deeper into the details of local online marketing and see how you can implement it into your campaigns.
Also, if you truly want to understand Local Marketing in depth we have prepared this useful information on Local SEO.
In this article, we will discuss the following:
- How to do Local Maps Optimization?
- How to Get Listed on Google Maps?
- How to rank in Google Maps?
- How to mark your Business on Google Maps?
How to do Local Maps Optimization?
What is Local Maps Marketing
Google consistently ranks local businesses higher in its SERPs. Whenever you search for something, Google will firstly display local results. This is obviously very important for anyone looking for a plumber in Florida, for instance, and Google knows it. In order to be visible in the search results, businesses have to work on their local maps SEO. Here’s how to do it:
- Keeping your NAP consistent – your Name, Address, and Phone number, abbreviated as NAP, is one of the most important factors in your Google Maps optimization strategy. It’s the first thing the search engine and your customers come across when searching for a local service. Accuracy is very important: try to pay attention to your NAP across all platforms – your website, Google My Business, and Google Maps. According to Google, mismatched NAP details have been one of the major causes for low rankings.
- Collecting reviews – every business should focus on collecting reviews on multiple platforms. Each platform has different restrictions and requirements, so pay attention to your profile settings and information. Rest assured, Google will pick up most reviews and your local visibility will grow.
- Creating local content – local rankings are influenced by locally specific content, so try to create include geo-tagged photos, locally relevant videos and blog posts for your Posts on Google and Google My Business profiles. Similarly, include your locally specific content in your social media profiles. Make sure all your online profiles are optimized for local search and are relevant for a specific geographic location.
How to Get Listed on Google Maps?
Getting listed on Google Maps is the first thing you need to do for your local advertising strategy. The whole process is simple and you can get it done in just under an hour. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:
- Start Google My Business – go to www.google.com/business to get started. Here, hit the Start button and log in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, hit the Create account button.
- Add and claim your business – after you sign in, you are taken to the main Google My Business page where you can edit your Google Local Map listing and claim your business (if it already exists in the directory) or add it. Check if your business is already in the directory by searching for it in the search box. If you find it, check if the information is accurate and claim it. If you don’t find it, you’ll have to manually add it in a separate form.
- Filling out your information – pay close attention to this step; include your NAP as it appears on your other online profiles (website and social media platforms). For instance, if you use “blvd” instead of “boulevard”, use the same version everywhere. Next, choose a category that best describes your business.
- Verifying your business – as soon as you’re done, Google will send a postcard with a verification PIN to your email inbox.
- Confirming your business – confirm the email from Google and include any additional details in your profile, like photos, opening hours and your logo. This will encourage people to leave reviews and rate your business.
- Check and update your information – review the information you provided and make sure every detail is accurate. You are good to go!
How to rank in Google Maps?
How to Rank On Google Maps
Getting in the top positions, also known as the 3-pack, on Google Maps can immensely boost your traffic and visibility. Let’s see how you can rank higher in Google Maps and blow your competition out of the water:
- Make sure you pick the right categories – sometimes, the categories listed may not be right for your business. Try to match your main keyword with your primary category. Search for your main keyword together with a major city on Google and copy the most common ones. Also, make sure to use the secondary category feature in order to increase your reach.
- Build local citations and get reviews – use SEO services from your Agency to help you get citations back to your business. Directories, review platforms, associations, and other aggregators are your best friends when it comes to citations.
- Get local social signals – social media is becoming increasingly important for ranking on Google local search. Make sure you use the major social media platforms to your advantage and get shares, likes, and comments from local people and businesses. This will make you an instantly recognizable player in the community
- Create press releases – having a press release focused on your business shows you are a professional and an authority in your industry. There are multiple press release services online and they are quite affordable. Ideally, you should launch a press release whenever you implement new features or launch special offers.
How to mark your Business on Google Maps?
How to Mark your Business on Google Maps
Pinpointing your exact address on Google Maps will help your customers find your store more easily. Here’s how to do it:
- Sign into your Google My Business profile
- Open the location you want to mark
- Hit the Address button and check if it’s correct
- On the map, you’ll see a red pin; drag it to the precise location of your business;
- Once you are sure of the location, click Apply
Note: your location may be reviewed by Google. Wait for 2 to 3 days to see the changes in Google Maps.
