Google Maps is a tool that we easily take for granted.
Looking for a tasty new restaurant? Google Maps shows the hottest places near you.
Need a local plumber? Google Maps will show you the providers with the best customer reviews.
Google Maps offers a huge advantage to users looking for businesses and to businesses looking to attract customers.
That’s why the Google Maps package is prime real estate for businesses hoping for more online and local traffic.
What is the “Google Local Pack”, you ask?
In this guide, we’ll tell you all about it, the features that matter most, and how to use it to generate leads for your business.
What is the Google Map Pack?
The “Google Maps Pack” (or Google Local Maps Pack) is a prominent section in Google’s local search results that displays top-level local listings for your location or search location.
In the Google Maps package, businesses are listed along with their geographic location, contact information, hours, and other useful information.
Users can click on a listing to learn more about the business, call the contact number, or open Google Maps navigation to the physical location of the business.
Screenshot from Google, September 2022
How it works
The Google Maps Pack is displayed as a set of three or more Google Maps results when a user searches for a local business. Google calls the search result that its algorithm interprets as most relevant to your search.
These Google Maps results will typically appear above traditional organic search results, as the algorithm understands that the user’s search intent is to find a physical location.
The Google Maps package makes it easy for users to find the specific business they’re looking for or browse businesses in a certain category (eg restaurants, retail stores, etc.).
The map pack provides business contact information, address, website link, hours of operation, prices, photos, customer reviews, and more.
Local map pack stats to know
almost 1 in 3 of all mobile searches are location-specific, and Google is the number one search engine that users use to find local businesses.
In fact, 99% of consumers surveyed by Brightlocal used the Internet to find local businesses in the past year.
With that in mind, optimizing for the Google Maps package is one of the best local SEO strategies that businesses can use to drive local traffic.
This starts with creating an online listing and website, then optimizing for the search terms your target audience uses to find businesses like yours.
As mentioned, the Google Maps package also offers the benefit of displaying customer reviews.
And with 94% of consumers saying that positive reviews make them more likely to use a business, this is a feature that businesses should consider.
Want to know why the Google Map Pack is important for SEO? Read on for more local SEO statistics at Search Engine Journal.
Why Google Map Pack is important for SEO
The Google Maps Pack occupies prime real estate in Google’s local search results. This is an important location for businesses as the #1 site gets the higher click-through rate of all the listings.
To rank high in the map pack, businesses often need to use local SEO strategies.
The map package is important for SEO because it can be a significant driver of organic traffic if optimized correctly.
Optimizing for the Google Maps package brings many benefits, including:
More organic traffic – A higher placement in the Google map pack often means a higher click-through rate, driving more traffic to your business website.
More local traffic – Ranking high on the map pack means your business is one of the first listings people see when searching for a business, meaning they’re more likely to navigate to your physical location via Google Maps.
More phone calls – Getting to the top of the Google Maps pack could attract more users and lead them to call your business directly. This can lead to more leads for your business.
Competitive advantage – Ranking higher than your competitors in the map package could lead to more customers, which will lead to more customer reviews and generally more visibility for your business. In a competitive market, this can make all the difference.
More mobile traffic – The map pack takes up most of the visual space on a mobile phone screen, so users respond faster and are more likely to see your listing while scrolling.
Business SEO – Users often skip businesses that don’t meet the parameters of a specific location, which can be a big problem if you have a large business. Geo-specific listings for your physical locations can be a significant traffic driver for your business.
Google Maps Pack Fields and Functions
Google Maps offers a variety of characteristics for businesses and consumers, most of which serve to provide a better user experience.
The goal of Google Maps is to make it easier for users to find and interact with the business they’re looking for in local search.
As a marketer or business owner, there are some important features of Google Map Pack that you should know about:
Business Name – The name of the company; when clicked, the hyperlinked company name directs users to the full Google Business Profile listed
Evaluation – Number and quality of reviews; usually shown as a number (of 5) and as stars
price – The assumed cost of a company’s services or products; usually shown as a series of dollar signs (eg, $$$)
Address – The physical address of the company
Open/Closed – Specifies whether a business is currently open or closed, based on its business hours
Hours – The opening or closing hours of a business; includes day and hours (open to close)
Description – A concise description of the business (eg “Seasonal Italian cuisine and wine pairing”)
Service options – Specifies whether a business offers in-store pickup, online ordering, dine-in, delivery, etc.
Tag – A characteristic that designates the type of business (for example, “Italian” or “Men’s Clothing Store”)
There are many more features included in the full Google Business Profile listing, including website link, phone number, photos, popular hours, directions, customer reviews, and far more.
In addition, users can contribute to Google Maps to update lists and add additional information.
How do I rank in the Google Maps package?
There is no single, guaranteed way to rank in the Google Maps package.
Rather, ranking on the map pack requires a combination of local SEO strategies to improve local rankings.
Here are some basics for ranking on Google Maps:
Create a Google Business Profile listing
The first step is creating or claim your Google Business Profile listing.
This can involve searching and “claiming” an existing business listing or creating an entirely new listing for your business.
Google Business Profile is a free platform that allows you to display your business information and basically rank yourself on the map pack.
However, your ranking position will depend on how well your listing is optimized, how many positive customer reviews you have, how well your website is optimized, and a number of other factors.
Once you’ve created or claimed your listing, you can start optimizing Google Maps by following local SEO best practices.
Optimize your listing and get reviews
To optimize your listing, you’ll want to fill out as much information about your business as possible (accurately!).
This means adding your address, phone number, hours of operation, website link, business description, tags, photos, and all the “features” mentioned above.
Additionally, there are some features that are important ranking factors for your business, such as the number and quality of reviews and keyword usage.
Google itself offers a large number of resources to help you fill out your form.
Follow the Google Business Profile SEO Guide for more tips on how to optimize your GBP.
Embed Google Maps on your website
Once you’ve created your Google Maps listing, you can embed map on the contact page (or similar page) on your website.
Having a map for your business can make it easier for users to find and navigate your physical location.
Also, optimizing your website for local SEO can help you rank in local organic search results.
Local SEO can help increase your local Map Pack listings and organic rankings. This gives users multiple opportunities to find your business ahead of your competition.
Optimize Google Local Pack to get more traffic
The Google Maps package helps users find relevant businesses and easily find contact information for their favorite local outlets.
If you’re a business owner, optimizing for the Google Maps package is a key way to get more local and online traffic.
Local SEO is the main method used to optimize the map pack, but it involves a variety of strategies.
The first is Google Business Profile Optimization, which is the primary way to host your listing.
Other strategies are used to optimize your listing for keywords, get more reviews, and ultimately rank above your local competitors.
Want to rank higher in the map pack?
Check out the latest local SEO strategies and tips.
More resources:
Featured Image: BestForBest/Shutterstock
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