How To Obtain Your Local Company On Google Maps

Starting a business is certainly one of the most satisfying things you can do, but nothing compares to the joy of seeing it grow.

In fact, statistics show that 20% of new businesses fail within the first 2 years, while that number closes within the first 5 years more than double. In a word, only one startup has done so in 15 years, and these ratings are not very favourable. 

But then, starting and growing a local business to its fullest potential is impossible, especially in a modern day when there are so many tools at your disposal. Indeed, online marketing is one of the modern business development techniques that can help improve your chances of running a successful business. But the level of success you can achieve depends on how well you apply the knowledge you have about different concepts. An important online marketing skill to learn as a local business owner is marketing on Google, and this article will tell you everything you need to know about the concept. 

How Does Google Map Marketing Work?

As the name suggests, Google Map Marketing is all about using the various features of Google Map to increase the visibility of your business on the app. We all know that Google Maps is often used to find nearby businesses that offer specific services. But what many business owners may not know is that the platform is a great way to drive online traffic and increase brand awareness. 

This platform not only tells people about your business but also directs them to you. Cool? You must have imagined how your local business can benefit from this unique online marketing technique. Well, the way to do that is to fill in the relevant information in your Google My Business profile. 

What Exactly Is "Google My Business"?

"Google My Business" is a marketing tool from Google that allows business owners to optimise their business listing on Google Maps. Your Google My Business profile must include important information such as your business name, address, hours, and operating conditions. Optimising your business listing means including the key details needed to get recognized on a Google Maps listing. Here are some key locations where your business can be listed. 

Google sites and apps: This is a general listing that appears on Google Maps when a relevant search is performed on a device without location features. It generates a list of all the specific businesses based on their rankings on the Google search engine. In short, this list is based on a specific query, regardless of location. 

Local Packs: Also known as Google Maps Packs and this listing is based on distance. This list is displayed when a user with their location searches for a particular service nearby. Information from your Google My Business profile is used to determine how close you are to users. This list is important because it often appears on the first pages of Google search results. 

Google Listing Requirements

Most people have used the Google search engine a few times, but few know how the results listings work. Have you ever wondered how publicly traded companies manage to occupy such sacred positions? Well, for a business to rank high in Google search results, it must meet at least two of the following criteria. 

Relevance: In order for a website, blog, or service to be listed in Google results, that site, blog, or service must first be relevant to the search performed on the search engine. This means your business must match what searchers are looking for before it can be listed. For example, if you own a bookstore, it might only appear when a user searches for a bookstore or a closely related topic. 

Distance: When your business is relevant to search, the next criterion is distance. Depending on the searcher's location, your business may be preferred if deemed nearby. This criterion usually occurs when a user performs a search with his or her location. 

Stand out: This is the last criterion and it allows your business to rank higher among similar businesses in the same location. The popularity metric ranks companies based on how popular they are online and in the real world. This means that the larger your customer base, the higher you will rank in relevant search results. 

Marketing Techniques for Google Maps

Google Map marketing is definitely a very effective online marketing strategy, and it's one you can use to take your local business to the next level. However, you can only make the most of this opportunity if you know exactly how to do it. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of Google Maps marketing. 

Update your profile: To properly use Google Map marketing, you must have a registered Google My Business profile. This will require you to provide relevant information about your business and you will do well to provide accurate and up-to-date data. A complete profile with detailed information will automatically rank higher in Google map results. 

Attract Locals: Since brand awareness is a criterion for Google listings, you may want to work on your business to make it more popular. You can do this by engaging locals with posts that will encourage them to check you out. 

Get improved reviews: When websites are ranked in search engine results, Google reviews are reviewed. The higher your rating, the more Google trusts you to make higher search ranking choices for you. So you want to encourage users to leave positive reviews by providing premium services. 

Optimise Your Website: This is understandable and something every online marketer should know. If you want your business website to rank well on search engines, you need to make sure it's SEO friendly. You can do this by optimising your website to meet different SEO standards. 

Track Your Progress: After using all of the above strategies, the final step is to track your performance. This step tracks your progress to help you see if your Google Map marketing is yielding positive results. You can do this by entering relevant Google searches to see if your business shows up. If you don't appear in search results after about a month, you may need to change your strategy. 

Conclusion 

Google Map marketing is an online marketing strategy that can take your local business to the next level in no time. However, you must first understand how it works to get the most out of this strategy. Luckily, this article has explained everything you need to know about Google Maps marketing and how it can make a difference for your business.