Making It In The 3-Pack
What is the Google Map Pack and why is it so important? As a business owner, this should be one of your main goals. The Map Pack is a valuable real estate on Google, and if you can get your website to show up there, you’ll see a significant boost in traffic and organic search results. In this blog post, we will discuss what the Google Map Pack is and how you can use SEO to get your website featured. Let’s get started!
What is the Google Map Pack?
If you use Google you probably noticed on some searches for a service or product, a local map with three relevant businesses are listed. For example, if someone searches for “plumbers in Seattle”, they will see a map with three plumbers listed. In digital marketing, we call this the Map Pack or 3-Pack. This is considered prime digital real estate as the top three listings get at least 54% of all clicks (Source). The businesses that show up in the Map Pack are determined by Google’s algorithm, and they take into account a variety of factors including SEO.
SEO Tricks to Get Your Website to Show Up in the Map Pack
Google’s algorithm for the Map Pack is constantly changing, but there are some tried and true methods you can use to increase your chances of being featured. Here are some key SEO tricks you can use to help Google find and list your business in the Map Pack.
- Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Your Google Business Profile (GBP), formally known as Google My Business (GMB), is one of the most important ranking factors for the Map Pack. Google pulls data from your GBP to populate the information in the Map Pack listings, so it’s important that you take the time to fill out your profile and make sure all of the information is accurate. Here are a few tips:
- Use keyword-rich descriptions
- Include photos and videos
- Encourage customer reviews
- Post regular updates
2. List Your Business in Local Directories
Another important ranking factor for the Map Pack is citations. Citations are simply mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites. Google uses these citations as signals to determine the accuracy and relevancy of your business listing. The more citations you have from high-quality websites, the more likely you are to rank in the Map Pack. You can get started by creating listings on popular local directories such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Angie’s List.
3. Create Google-Friendly Content
In addition to optimizing your GBP and building citations, you also need to create content that Google will find and index. Google looks for websites that are regularly updated with fresh, relevant, and keyword-rich content. A great way to do this is by starting a blog and writing about topics related to your business. For example, if you’re a plumber, you could write blog posts about common plumbing problems and how to fix them. Not only will this help Google find and index your website, but it will also give you an opportunity to rank for long-tail keywords that you may not be able to rank for otherwise.
4. Get Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are another important ranking factor for the Map Pack. Google uses customer reviews to determine the relevancy and trustworthiness of your business. The more positive reviews you have, the higher you will rank in the Map Pack. You can encourage customers to leave reviews by sending follow-up emails after they’ve used your services or by including a link to your Google Business listing on your website. Intrycks’ Review Management Services can help you get reviews from new and former customers.
5. Increase Your Social Media Presence
Social media is another great way to improve your SEO and increase your chances of being featured in the Map Pack. Google looks at social signals as a way to determine the quality and trustworthiness of a business. The more active you are on social media, the more likely you are to rank in the Map Pack. You can increase your social media presence by posting regular updates, interacting with customers, and using hashtags.
By following these SEO tips, you can increase your chances of being featured in the Google Map Pack. While there’s no guarantee that you’ll be listed, it’s definitely worth the effort as appearing in the Map Pack can lead to a significant increase in website traffic and customers
Start Optimizing For SEO
Do you have any questions about the Google Map Pack or SEO? Reach out to an SEO professional today! And be sure to check out our other blog posts for more tips on how to improve your website’s ranking. Thank you for reading!
