3 Google Map SEO Tips for Local Entrepreneurs

Google Maps SEO is now an integral component to any local business or entrepreneur embracing search engine marketing. In essence, having a listing atop Google's local search results is a powerful way to drive in-market traffic. As a result, Google Maps SEO provides valuable returns for all types of businesses operating on the local level.

Among the most popular references to Google Maps SEO is associated with the ever-present local 3 pack listings. Most often displayed just below the pay per click ads and above the organic search listings, the local 3 pack is the most prominent set of search results that are triggered for any keyword phrase with geographic relevance.

While the Google 3 pack is perhaps the most powerful traffic-driver from an SEO perspective, there is another aspect of Google Maps SEO that businesses often overlooked. This the ranked Google Maps search results which are displayed directly in the Google Maps search interface.

The ranked Google Maps search results, which are based on slightly unique (but many overlapping) variables compared to the local 3 pack listings, make up the other side to local Google Maps SEO. Together, the 3 pack and Google Maps search results provide local businesses a great opportunity to optimize search visibility and increase the amount of traffic coming to their site.

In an effort to enable your business to rank higher in both the ranked Google Maps search results and local 3 pack listings, below we share three Google Maps SEO tips that have been proven effective in many different campaigns.

1. Claim, Optimize, & Verify Google My Business Listing

One of the most influential ranking factors to both the ranked Google Maps search results and local 3 pack listings is a company's Google My Business (GMB) page. Formerly Google Places and Google+ Local pages, GMB pages are the next most important web asset for a business's SEO next to its website.

Make sure to verify your business's GMB page via phone verification or postcard submission.

Take the time to not only claim your business's GMB page, but optimize and verify the listing. This includes fully populating the page to 100% completion, uploading optimized images and videos, tagging the listing with most relevant business categories, and linking to/from your website to/from the GMB page. Good copy also goes a long way, so investing in a professional SEO copywriter is often worth it.

2. Audit Your Business's Citations

Citations (or mentions of the business name, address, and phone number) on websites like Yelp, Manta, Facebook, Yellowpages, LinkedIn, etc. are the mechanism Google uses to validate credible businesses that are worthy of ranking in the local 3 pack listings. Similar to inbound links or backlinks, the more (accurate) citations a business has, the greater potential it has for Google Maps SEO.

Volume and accuracy of citations are the pivotal variables. Any misalignment in a citation (such as a missing suite or wrong phone number) can hinder SEO. For this reason, it's important to audit your business's citations throughout the web and ensure they are 100% accurate and consiste. A couple great tools to help you do this are Yext and Whitespark.

3. Cultivate Domain Authority

As mentioned in the previous Google Maps SEO tip, backlinks are an important variable to organic search rankings and defining a website's domain authority. Earning backlinks from trusted and authoritative sources will dramatically help to increase domain authority.

But if domain authority and backlinks are focused on organic SEO, how do they influence Google Maps SEO? There's a strong relationship between organic search performance and local search rankings. In short, businesses that have strong domain authority and rank well in organic search have a higher likelihood of ranking better in the Google local listings.

While this is not 100% correlated, this relationship establishes an enough evidence to make it worthwhile to earn more quality backlinks to your site. While auditing your citations, you can build quick and easy backlinks from local listings and directories. This, however, will only get you so far.

To cultivate strong domain authority that improves both organic and Google Maps SEO, you'll need to invest time (and perhaps money) in link acquisition. Investing in a local chamber of commerce membership (and getting a link and citation from the chamber site;) blogging on other websites; creating social media profiles; and simply requesting inclusion on related "links and resources" pages on other sites associated with your business and industry; these are all just a few ways to acquire links and cultivate domain authority.

While these three Google Maps SEO and marketing tips are just the tip of the iceberg, they are some of the most momentous strategies to help your business move the needle in the search results. Post contributed by Tyler Tafelsky.

Google Local 3-Pack SEO & the Role of Citations

When it comes to local SEO, ranking in the Google 3-pack is the prized placement for local business. To underscore the value and importance of Google local 3-pack SEO, here's an example:

Let's say you are looking for a plastic surgeon in your area; a quick search turns up 23 plastic surgeons in your search radius. With 23 options, are you really going to drill down on each listing and research each individual plastic surgeon? This is the intention behind Google's new local 3-pack.

Google displaying the "top 3" companies associated with 'pins' on a map, in direct geographical proximity to the user, has really caused a stir in the cyber world. Of course the top 3 will vary depending on the user and their location, but it still puts the pinch on businesses to rethink their local SEO strategy. Below we offer insights on how to embrace Google 3-Pack SEO and how citations have a pivotal role in this area of search engine optimization for surgeons and other local businesses.

Local SEO Ranking Factors & Citations

Considering Google will decide which businesses go into the 3-pack based on many ranking factors like domain authority, reviews, and geographic proximity, there are somethings that are controllable and actionable for local 3-pack SEO. This is where citations come into play. A citation is simply a reference to your business online. It can be a full citation which lists all of your business information, or a partial citation which only lists the basics.

A full citation is desirable as it lists your company name, address, web address and phone number. This will not only make you more visible but makes you easier to find than limited information. A partial citation will only list perhaps your name and web address or name and phone number. Keep this in mind when placing citations. People do not want to do the work to look you up if another business beside you is fully listed with all the pertinent information.

Building Citations for Google Local 3-Pack SEO

Google will search for any mentions of your business name and information. If you have several mentions, such as in blogs, reviews, social media and yellow pages, Google then compares you to other like businesses in your area to find the top ranking, thereby completing the 3-pack.

If you are average with others, you will then land on the secondary, more choices page. But when it comes to local SEO, the most important thing of all to remember in your citations is consistency. In order to remain competitive, ALL your info has to be exact across the board to verify that you are even a legitimate business. This means you have to be vigilant. If, for instance, your phone number changes, visit every single place you may have a citation. Be it a partial citation or a full citation, make certain the updated information is correct in every possible area.

Citations are more important than ever before in promoting awareness of your business and improving your chances of landing in Google's "Snack Pack." Some companies hire a person just for the task of increasing their online presence. If you explore every avenue and put in the effort, you can start getting your name out there. Remember, With more citations comes more consideration from Google for the coveted local 3- pack.