How to Rank in the 3-Pack in Google Maps for Improved Local SEO [updated]
Local SEO and optimizing your digital presence are crucial for any modern-day business. As a business, you want to be able to effectively reach your audience. You want them to find you instead of you having to find them.
This article will talk about the Google 3-pack and why you want your business to be in it. We will also cover a bit about search engine optimization along with how to rank your business’s website higher on Google.
What is the Google Maps 3-Pack?
When someone searches a specific keyword on google suggesting they are looking to buy something, Google does its best to find that product locally for them. Once the user hits search, not only will websites appear but also a google map section. This section will continue three businesses that offer or are closely related to the product or service that is being searched. This is the “Google Maps 3-Pack”, the section where all business owners want their company to appear.
The 3-Pack is great for several reasons. When shoppers search online, ideally you always want to find that product or service as close to where you live as possible. The 3-Pack is great because it takes away the work of looking for a local business and instead provides you with the closest ones to you. Other important information is included as well such as the company’s contact information and more about the brand.
Why is it important to rank in the Google 3-Pack?
Local businesses are always being developed, and you want to stand out from the rest. In fact, the amount of people who have searched “near me” when referring to services or products has skyrocketed over the last few years. People don’t want to go far to get what they want, but they have to know where to find you. This is where the Google 3-Pack comes into play.
As a business owner, you want your company to be the first one that pops up on Google when people search your niche. The 3-Pack actually takes up a majority of the first page of google following a search. Users have to make an effort to scroll down to even see the first organic ranking business. Making the Google 3-Pack list ensures more screen time and the highest chance of being seen by interested buyers.
Why every small business needs SEO
First, it’s important to understand what SEO is. SEO stands for “search engine optimization”. Essentially this is how you will increase the visibility of your site or business on Google when people search for your services or products. The easier your site is to find, the more business and traffic you will get.
SEO is an important part of marketing because the majority of consumers will discover your brand through searching. This is why you want to have your business rank as high as possible on Google. Consumers are more likely to click the links on the first page of search results and even more likely to click on the top five.
How to get your website into the Google local 3-pack
Now that we discussed what the Google 3-pack is along with the importance of using SEO, here are some ways to help get your website into the Google local 3-pack.
Information Consistency
The information we are referring to is your company’s name, address, and phone number. As a business owner, you want to make sure that across all of your platforms your information is the same and accurate.
Google recognizes inconsistencies in information and that is a red flag. Having incorrect information such as an old address or old phone number can affect your ranking on Google. Google favors websites and businesses that keep a consistent presence online with their information. It can really be the little things that make the difference in how Google recognizes a brand.
Google My Business (aka GMB or Google Business)
Google Business is something a lot of people see, but don’t necessarily know what it is or why it is important for a company. When you look up a specific company on Google, you will see a bunch of information about that company on the right side of your screen. This information can include hours of operation, contact options, photos, and even company updates.
Google my business is something that all businesses should be using as it essentially is a way to feed Google accurate information about your specific company. It is important to optimize your Google my business page so that potential customers can learn about your company quickly. Signing up for Google my business is free and can be a great way to make your company a choice for the Google 3-pack. In fact, it is estimated that about 25% of being a part of the 3-pack depends on Google my business.
When a company makes a Google my business profile they get the option of selecting the main category that their business falls under as well as additional categories. It is highly recommended that you do both of these things. The more relevant categories you can include, the more likely and easier it is for your company to rank higher on Google.
Reviews
Every business owner wants great reviews about their company because it makes it look better and appear more trustworthy. Having good reviews is more important now than ever as it can actually boost your rankings on Google. The more good reviews you accumulate, the more Google will recognize you as a quality business. This will allow them to recommend you more to people searching in your area. Reviews are a great way to help make it to the local 3-pack.
Make your website mobile-friendly
The majority of website traffic these days come from mobile searches, which makes sense if you think about it. Google is at everyone’s fingertips thanks to smartphones, making it easier to search for what you need. Websites that are designed with only desktop users in mind rank significantly lower than websites that are both desktop and mobile-friendly. If your website is not already mobile-friendly, that should be a priority.
Keywords
This is where SEO plays a big part in how your company will rank and get to the 3-pack. You will want to do your very best to be sure that everything that can be optimized on your website is fully optimized. This includes everything from your individual pages all the way to how fast your website loads. Using SEO you want to mention your town as well as what your brand does. SEO has a lot to do with keywords and with the right SEO professional you can get your website ranking high.
Content
Finally, we have to talk about content. All websites need some form of content because that is what gets you noticed by Google and how others will find you. A blog is a great way to get consistent content out that is relevant to your industry and will keep your website traffic up. A blog is another great way to gain trust and credibility as well as inform others about your services and what you can do to help them. High-quality and consistent content will help your blog rank higher.
Aside from having a blog, you can also add additional sections to your websites such as an “about us” page, a FAQ or frequently asked questions page, or even an “our story” page that gives more in-depth background on your brand. All of these pages give you more opportunities to include keywords specific to your location making it even easier to be found on Google.
Conclusion
Getting listed in the Google 3-Pack is not easy, but it is 100% worth the effort. Businesses that appear in the 3-pack will receive a huge increase in website traffic and in turn more business. If you don’t put in the effort to boost the visibility of your website on Google, then your competitor will.
Our whole world is connected to the internet now and with cell phones being what they are, the amount of Google searches each year is astronomical. Business owners have to adapt to the times and go to what is working and right now it’s SEO and making the Google 3-pack. We hope this information was useful and encouraged you to keep putting in the work to boost your website and grow your business.
Frequently asked questions about ranking in Google Maps
Why is it called a “3 pack”?
The term “3 pack” refers to a feature in Google’s search results where the top three local businesses are highlighted. This grouping is based on Google’s algorithm which selects the three most pertinent enterprises to display in response to a local search query. These highlighted results are separated from other regular search listings, providing distinct visibility for those businesses prominently featured in the set. This is particularly beneficial for physical store owners aiming to increase local visibility and attract more customers.
What is the history of the Google Local Pack?
The Google Local Pack, which currently displays three results alongside a map, emerged as a pivotal feature in local search engine results pages (SERPs) in 2015. Before its introduction, Google typically presented a list of seven local results without incorporating a map. This transition to showing fewer results, from seven to three, significantly enhanced the clarity and usability of the local pack on mobile devices. The integration of a map with these results has further allowed users to quickly visualize the geographic location of the businesses listed, improving user experience in local searches.
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