How to Rank Higher on Google Local Searches: The Smart Way for Local Businesses

Are you frustrated because your business isn’t ranking well on Google?

You search for your company and see your Google Business Profile buried several spots down, or worse, on page three. If so, you’re not alone! Competing for that coveted top spot in local search is a constant challenge for business owners everywhere.

In this post, I’ll break down the strategies covered in our recent video, “GBP Google Rank Higher,” including the six profile areas Google says you must focus on, the three keys to local ranking, and some smart tips to fast-track your results without throwing your laptop out the window.

Why Google Business Profile Matters for Local Rankings

When people search for businesses nearby (think “Italian restaurant near me” on their mobile device), local results pop up across Google Search and Maps. But unless your Google Business Profile is optimized, your business might not even show for relevant searches, even if you’re exactly what people want.

According to Torie Mathis, making sure your Profile is complete, accurate, and engaging is key to Google recognizing and ranking your business (and making sure potential customers find you when it matters most).

Six Essential Areas to Update on Your Google Business Profile

1. Enter Complete Data
   • Add your full business info so shoppers know what you do, where you are, and when they can visit. This includes physical address, phone number, category, and attributes.
2. Verify Your Location
   • Verified locations rank higher and show up more often in local searches across Google products, including Maps.
3. Keep Your Hours Accurate
   • Update business hours, all open and closed times, plus special events and holidays. Accurate hours boost shopper confidence!
4. Manage and Respond to Reviews
   • Replying to customer reviews shows you value feedback and builds trust. Positive, high-quality reviews can improve your visibility and help attract new customers.
5. Add Photos
   • Showcase your offerings and tell your business’s story visually. Appealing, accurate photos catch shoppers’ eyes and demonstrate what you offer.
6. Add In-store Products
   • Retailers can set up their POS system to automatically list in-store products, converting online searchers to engaged in-store shoppers.

Advanced Strategies to Boost Profile Visibility

• Publish Posts Regularly: Share events, offers, or news through Google Posts for active engagement and improved search visibility.
• Consistency in NAP (Name, Address, Phone): Align your details across your Google Profile and other listings. Inconsistencies affect both Google and customers.
• Optimize for Keywords: Use relevant keywords in your profile description and posts, think like your customer, and weave in search terms naturally.
• Utilize Q&A Feature: Answer questions promptly and thoroughly for added keywords and positive engagement signals.
• Build Local Backlinks: Get links from local chambers or business associations; these count like “votes” to boost your prominence in local searches.
• Engage Locally: Participate in and share community events on your profile. Local relevance matters!
• Enable Messaging: Activate messaging on your profile for quick customer responses, enhancing engagement and ranking.

Three Keys to Google’s Local Ranking System

Google ranks local businesses using a mix of:

• Relevance: How closely your profile matches what people are searching for. Complete and detailed info helps Google connect your business to relevant searches.
• Distance: How close you are to the searcher’s location, or what Google knows about your site.
• Prominence: A measure of how well-known your business is online and offline, factored through reviews, ratings, links, and mentions.

Bonus tip: More positive reviews and higher web rankings also help your Google Business Profile soar to the top!

What to Do When You Hit Snags

If you’re struggling to get noticed or want to turbocharge your reviews, you’re in luck: Torie Mathis offers a free Review Boosting Bootcamp with step-by-step instructions, automation tools, and review landing pages! Grab your spot at torimathis.com. Plus, you can drop questions in the comments or check out the Google Help Community and support links found in the video description.

Local Ranking Is Just One Piece of Your Smart Marketing Strategy

But optimizing your Google Business Profile is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to a smart marketing strategy. Let me ask you a question: Do you know how your marketing stacks up?

Find out by taking the SMART Marketing quiz. Get customized results on how to get smarter with your marketing, you’ll learn exactly what YOUR business should focus on, get tailored recommendations to get the best bang for your buck, and unleash your true potential. It’s like having a personal marketing coach right at your fingertips!

And remember, you don’t need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or a dedicated staff to market your business. You don’t even need a lot of time.

What you need is to be smart, and ranking higher on Google is smart for your business.

If you're ready to grow your business with smart marketing you can:

1. Sign up for weekly FREE Business Bytes with CEO, Torie Mathis

2. Get a SMART Funnel and begin to automate your marketing

3. Learn Digital Marketing with a Smart Marketing Course

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TORIE MATHIS

Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs grow their business with Smart Marketing.  She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, international speaker + trainer, and the CEO + Creative Director at Lake Shark Media. She also teaches entrepreneurs how to get smart with digital marketing at toriemathis.com