If you ever completed a Google search and had a MAP of listings appear on the page, then you know the value of local MAPS listings ranks to businesses. These listings are analagous to standard Yellow Pages categories. Google understands, for example, that if you're looking for a dentist and live in Chicago that you probably don't care about Dentists in New York.
There are things that you can do to improve your MAPS ranks.
The top five factors affecting local search
According to the leading survey on the subject (based on responses from top SEO experts), the following factors rank as the top five influencers to your position in MAPS
- The physical location of the business (duh!)
- Proper category association
- The proximity of the address to centroid
- Local Area Code on the place page
- Claimed listings in MAPS
The top five factors that have a negative influence on your local rankings
The following factors can have a negative influence on your local rankings:
- Phone numbers that don't match across your listings (be wary of using forwarding numbers in citations and your web site unless you use the same number consistently - hence defeating the purpose).
- Multiple Google Place pages with the same phone number.
- Multiple Google Place pages with the same or similar business title and address.
- A mis-match of the address and/or the phone number on Google Places and the website.
- Including location keywords in categories.
There are several other factors that can help in your pursuit of top placement in MAPS. Your business name, address and phone number should be in readable text (not graphics) on the home page. Avoid toll-free numbers. Solicit positive reviews (don't cheat).