Local SEO: how to win the Google map pack in your town
Nearly half of all Google searches are local. The map pack is where those searches are won. Here is how to claim your spot.
When someone searches for a plumber, a solicitor or a coffee shop “near me”, Google shows a small box of three local businesses with a map above the normal results. That box is the map pack, and for local businesses it is the single most valuable piece of property in search. Nearly half of all Google searches have local intent, and most of those clicks go to the three businesses in that box.
The good news is that the map pack is winnable, even against bigger competitors, if you get the fundamentals right.
1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is the foundation. Claim it, verify it, and fill in everything: correct categories, opening hours, services, a proper description and plenty of real photos. An incomplete profile is the most common reason good businesses lose to weaker ones.
2. Keep your details consistent everywhere
Google cross-checks your name, address and phone number across the web. If your details differ between your website, your profile and the directories you are listed in, that inconsistency erodes trust. Pick one exact format and use it everywhere.
3. Earn reviews, and reply to them
Reviews are a major ranking factor and the first thing a potential customer reads. Ask happy customers for a review as a matter of routine, and reply to every one, good or bad. A steady stream of genuine reviews signals to Google, and to people, that you are active and trusted.
4. Build local relevance on your site
Your website should make it obvious where you operate. Location-aware pages, local content and the areas you serve all help Google connect your business to the places your customers search from.
5. Be the obvious choice once they click
Winning the click is only half the job. When someone lands on your site, a fast, clear page with obvious contact details turns that visit into an enquiry. Visibility gets them to the door; functionality gets them through it.
If you want to know how visible your business is in local search right now, request a free website audit and we will show you where you stand against your local competitors.