It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

- Theodore Roosevelt

TL;DR: Ranking in the Google Maps Top 3 (Map Pack) can make or break local businesses. This guide will walk you through five essential steps to boost your rankings and improve visibility, from optimizing your Google My Business profile to leveraging customer reviews, local content, and backlinks.

I recently visited Alaska and took some pictures of the landscapes.

For local businesses, being visible on Google Maps is a game-changer. With more consumers relying on Google to find nearby services, ranking in the top 3 positions—known as the "Map Pack"—can drastically increase foot traffic and customer acquisition. Studies show that nearly 80% of local mobile searches result in an offline purchase, meaning that getting your business into that coveted top spot can have a direct impact on your revenue.

This blog covers five actionable steps that local businesses can take to improve their Google Maps rankings and stay ahead of competitors.

Understanding How Google Maps Rankings Work
Before diving into strategies, it’s important to understand what influences Google Maps rankings. Google uses three primary factors to determine placement:

1. Proximity – How close your business is to the person searching.

2. Relevance – How well your business matches the search query.

3. Prominence – How well-known and trusted your business is, based on reviews, website authority, and other factors.

While proximity is difficult to control, businesses can improve relevance and prominence through strategic optimization.

Step 1: Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
The cornerstone of any Google Maps ranking strategy is a fully optimized Google My Business (GMB) profile. Here’s how to ensure your GMB profile works in your favor:

• Accurate Information: Ensure that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are correct and consistent across all platforms.

• Choose Relevant Categories: Selecting the right categories for your business is crucial. Be specific about what your business does, as this helps Google match your business with relevant searches.

• High-Quality Images: Visuals matter. Upload high-resolution photos of your storefront, products, and services. Businesses with photos get 42% more requests for directions.

• Complete Your Profile: A fully completed profile can boost rankings, so fill out every section—including business hours, services, and website URL.

Step 2: Encourage and Manage Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are one of the strongest factors in Google Maps rankings. Here’s how to leverage them:

• Ask for Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. You can ask via email, social media, or even in-store.

• Respond to All Reviews: Engaging with reviews (both positive and negative) shows Google that your business is active and customer-focused. Thank positive reviewers and address negative feedback with professionalism.

• Prioritize Review Quality Over Quantity: While having a high number of reviews is good, it’s important that they are genuine and detailed. Google favors authentic, detailed feedback over generic comments.

Step 3: Local Citations and Consistency Across Platforms
Local citations (mentions of your business name, address, and phone number across the web) are crucial to improving your prominence. Consistency is key:

• Ensure NAP Consistency: Your business details should be consistent across your website, social media, and directories such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and local chamber of commerce listings.

• Get Listed on Local Directories: Seek out industry-specific directories and local websites to list your business. These listings help establish your business’s credibility and prominence. (Angel City can get you listed automatically in over 90 different directories...shameless plug.)

Step 4: Create Location-Specific and Relevant Content
To improve your relevance in local searches, produce content that’s specific to your area. Here’s how to use content marketing to boost Google Maps rankings:

• Location-Based Blog Posts: Write blog posts that feature local events, partnerships, or community involvement.

• Landing Pages for Each Location: If you have multiple locations, create individual landing pages with unique content for each one.

• Use Local Keywords: Research keywords related to your business and location. Use them in your website’s metadata, blog posts, and social media content to show Google that your business is relevant to local searches.

Step 5: Build Backlinks from Local and Industry-Relevant Sites
Backlinks—links from other websites to your own—are another important factor for improving your Google Maps ranking:

• Earn Links from Local Businesses: Partner with other businesses in your area. For example, you could sponsor a local event or collaborate on a blog post. These partnerships can lead to valuable backlinks.

• Reach Out to Local Bloggers or News Outlets: Getting featured in local blogs or news articles can not only drive traffic but also improve your prominence.

• Focus on Industry-Specific Backlinks: If possible, get backlinks from industry-specific websites or organizations. These carry more weight and help build your business’s authority.

Ranking in Google Maps’ Top 3 requires consistent effort, but the payoff is well worth it. By following these five steps—optimizing your Google My Business profile, encouraging customer reviews, maintaining citation consistency, creating local content, and building relevant backlinks—you can significantly improve your business’s local SEO performance.

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level and want guaranteed placement in Google Maps' Top 3 (Map Pack), visit Angel City Business to learn more about our unique marketing system. We specialize in automating customer acquisition and securing top spots on Google Maps—and if we don't, we work for free until we do.