Tens of billions of searches on Google Maps happen every month and the number is only increasing year over year. If you’re not showing up in the first few results, you’re missing out on potential customers! In today’s competitive world, achieving a top ranking in Google Maps or any of the other search engines for that matter can an uphill battle to attempt on your own.
Here’s a list of reasons you want your business in the coveted “3 Pack” when your customers search for your company on Google.
1. Higher rankings can improve customer conversion rates.
Being in the top three of Google Maps rankings can help you get more customers! According to experts, listings in the top three spots of Google Maps have a 44% higher click-through rate and conversion rate than those outside of the top three.
Being in the top three increases your likelihood to appear on local searches, which means more customers will be able to find you easily. When people can find you easily, they are more likely to convert into sales, which means an increase in revenue.
2. Ranking higher in maps can mean more traffic to your website.
As I’m sure you know, people like to click on something they see at the top of a list. They’re less likely to scroll down to find something. This means that if you rank higher in Google Maps, you’ll be the first thing a user sees when they search for your business. And, because you’re on the first page of results (versus being on the second or third page), more people will visit your site.
The added benefit of all this is that more organic, free traffic will be driving to your website. That means more potential customers and higher conversion rates for your business.
3. Higher Prominence in Local Searches
When you’re at the top of Google Maps rankings for your relevant keywords, your business listing will rank higher on local searches like “Best restaurants in Atlanta” or “Plumber nearby.” You’ll be one of the first businesses that pops up when someone is looking for a service near them.
4. Ranking higher in search engines means you’re easily found by people who are not on your mailing list or social media accounts.
If you’re in first place in Google Maps, that means people can find you without any additional marketing or advertising. This can help you expand your customer base even if you don’t have a lot of money to invest in your business. It’s hard to say no to free customers!
If you don’t appear on the top of Google Maps, you are missing out on potentially thousands of new customers who aren’t even considering your business.
5. Your competitors could be ranking higher than you, possibly taking away potential customers from you!
A study by Bright Local found that 93% of consumers used the internet to find a local business in the last year, with 34% searching every day. That means if your business isn’t ranking at the top of Google Maps, your competitors could be taking away potential customers from you.
Being ranked in the top 3 of Google Maps can be a huge advantage for your business. Having your company name/logo displayed at the top of the search results gives you an edge over your competitors who are not ranked highly.
This is why having your website rank highly for local keywords is so important. If you want to be seen in the “map pack”, then you need to be ranking for local keywords. This means that when someone searches for “coffee shop” or “pizza delivery” you should show up and get your business noticed.
There are a lot of myths about how to achieve higher rankings on Google Maps, but the truth is that getting listed is just the first step towards having more customers show up at your door. Getting off to a strong start with Local SEO requires doing multiple things right and taking advantage of everything that Google offers. The sooner you start, the better chance you have at ranking higher in searches and bringing in new customers.
