How to Outrank Local Businesses on Google

Local SEO Ranking Factors for Google Map Pack

Must Dos (A Tier)

• Complete Google Business Profile: Fill out and verify all details.
• Primary and Additional Categories: Choose relevant categories.
• Keywords in Landing Page Title: Include main keywords in the meta title.

Should Dos (B Tier)

• Keywords in Business Name: Add relevant keywords if possible.
• Positive Google Reviews: Encourage five-star reviews.
• Quality vs Quantity of Reviews: Focus on both high-quality and a good number of reviews.
• Dedicated Service Pages: Create pages for each service.
• Keywords in Landing Page Headlines: Use keywords in H1 and H2 headlines.
• Internal Links: Link to your primary landing page.

Good to Haves (C Tier)

• Location Proximity to City Center: Closer locations rank better.
• Location Proximity to Searcher: Businesses near the searcher rank higher.
• City Name in Website Content: Include city name naturally in content.

Do When There's Time (D Tier)

• Consistent Citations: Ensure NAP consistency across citations.
• Backlinks: Obtain local and industry-relevant backlinks.
• Internal Links: Enhance authority with internal links.

Wastes of Time (F Tier)

• Social Signals: No impact on rankings.
• Service Area: No influence on ranking.
• Geotagging Images: No longer affects rankings.
• Keywords in Google Business Profile: Only use if it fits naturally.