To effectively conquer local SEO and rank in the Google Map Pack, it’s crucial to understand the importance of various ranking factors. I’ve categorized these factors into different tiers based on their impact and practicality:
Must Dos
These are the top-priority tasks you should focus on to improve your local SEO. They have the most significant impact on your ranking.
- Keywords in Your Landing Page Title: Including relevant keywords in the Meta title of your landing page is essential.
- Complete and Verified Google Business Profile: Ensure your profile is fully completed and verified for maximum ranking power.
- City Name in Website Content: Naturally include the city name in your website content, titles, headlines, and body text.
- Google Business Profile Categories: Choose the correct primary and additional categories in your Google Business Profile to align with what people search for.
Should Dos
These factors are also important and should be implemented, but they come after the A-tier priorities.
- Keywords in Your Business Name: If feasible, include relevant keywords in your business name, but only if it can be done legally and without sounding spammy.
- Positive Google Reviews: Strive to get as many five-star reviews as possible.
- Quantity of Reviews with Text: Aim for a high number of detailed reviews to boost your credibility.
- Dedicated Service Pages: Create dedicated pages for each service you provide to enhance both organic and map rankings.
- Keywords in Landing Page Headings: Include your keyword phrase in at least one headline, especially in the H1 header.
- Internal Links: Use internal links within your website to prioritize the landing page connected to your Google Business Profile.
Good to Haves
These factors have a moderate impact on your ranking and are less controllable. Implement them if you can, but prioritize A and B-tier tasks first.
- Proximity to City Center: Being close to the city center helps but is not easily controllable.
- Proximity to the Searcher: Google favors businesses closest to the searcher, but this is also not within your control.
Do When There’s Time
These tasks are beneficial but have a lower priority compared to the higher tiers. Focus on them when you have extra time.
- Consistent Citations: Ensure your business citations are consistent across the web.
- Backlinks from Other Websites: Aim for backlinks from relevant local and industry websites.
Wastes of Time
These factors do not significantly impact your local SEO ranking and are not worth focusing on.
- Social Signals: Engagement on social media does not affect local SEO rankings.
- Service Area Settings: Setting a service area in your Google Business Profile does not help you rank within that area.
- Keywords in Google Business Profile: Including keywords in your Google Business Profile has no impact on your rankings.
- Geotagging Images: Geotagging images is an outdated practice and does not affect rankings.
Conclusion
Understanding and prioritizing these ranking factors can help you optimize your local SEO strategy and improve your visibility in the Google Map Pack. Focus on the must-dos and should-dos, and tackle the lower-priority tasks as time allows. By strategically implementing these practices, you’ll be well on your way to dominating local search results and driving more business your way.