Google Maps Business Listings – How To Get Your Business Showing

There are more ways than one to get your business in the limelight on Google. While normal SERP rankings are essential for reaching a large audience, a Google Maps business listing can help to get you in front of local searchers. Considering 46% of all Google searches are performed by people looking for local information, this is a valuable tactic that you can’t ignore.

What Are Google Maps Business Listings?

If you search for a service in a particular area, Google tailors the results to suit your whereabouts. For example, let’s take a look at the results that show when you look for a ‘cafe in Brixton’:

As you can see, search results show a map locating cafes in Brixton. The best part? This map sits above standard search results. Making your way onto this map increases your chances of getting found online. But, to do so, you need to create a Google Maps business listing.

How To Make Your Business Show Up On Google Maps

How To Make Your Business Show Up On Google Maps
Google can only show your business on Google Maps if you have registered for a Google My Business account. Follow the steps below to get your business in with the chance of showing up on Google Maps:

Step 1: Create Your Google My Business Account

To get started, head over to Google My Business and click ‘Sign In’. If you already have an account, enter your usual login details. If you do not have an account, click on ‘create an account’ and fill in all of the required information.

Step 2: Register Your Business

Now that you have an account, it’s time to register your business. Click the ‘manage now’ button and use the left-hand side navigation bar to find the ‘add new business’ option. From here, you can either claim or register your business.

Claiming Your Business: There’s a chance that your business might already be in Google’s directory. To see if this is the case, begin typing your business name into the search bar. If your business pops up, click on it and check that all information is correct. You will then have the option to ‘manage now’.

Register Your Business: If your business does not come up via the search bar, click the ‘add your business to Google’ button. To register, you will be asked a series of questions based on your basic business information.

Step 3: Verify & Confirm Your Business

Once you have accurately entered your business information, you will need to verify your business. This stage is extremely important as it:

1. Proves that you are a legitimate business
2. Confirms that you are supposed to be in control of this listing
3. Allows you to track progress in Google Analytics
4. Allows your business to get Google reviews

The verification process can take up to a few weeks to complete. You will usually be given a verification PIN via phone or email, followed by instruction on what to do next. Once you have received and entered your PIN, you should expect to find your business on Google listings within 24 hours.

Step 4: Customise Your Profile

Now that you have verified and confirmed your business, you can get to work on customising your profile. This helps to make your listing as valuable to visitors as possible.

The most important bits of information to show are your:

1. Business name
2. Address (if applicable)
3. Phone number
4. Website

However, you can also add:

● Images
● Services
● Operating hours
● Attributes
● And much more!

The more information you provide, the more likely you are to gain a lead or new customer. It’s all about standing out from the crowd!

Step 5: Double Check All Information

The information you add to your business listing is the exact information that searchers will see. With this in mind, it’s wise to keep your details up to date, even if your business is going through temporary changes.

Review your business information every month or so to check that it’s as accurate as possible. You can do this by visiting your Google My Business dashboard.
How To Improve Your Google Maps Business Ranking

Google determines local rankings based on the following three factors:

1. Relevance: How well does your business match what someone is searching for?
2. Distance: How far away is your business location from the person searching?
3. Prominence: Is your business well-known (even in the offline world)? Google will search for information about your business across the web to determine prominence.

While there’s no way to request for a better ranking in the maps algorithm, there are some things that you can do to boost your chances of getting seen. The best way to go about this is by keeping all information up to date. According to Google’s local ranking guidelines, this includes:

● Entering complete data
● Verifying your location
● Keeping your hours accurate
● Managing and responding to reviews

88% of searches for a local business result in a visit or call within 24 hours. Without a Google Maps listing, these local searchers won’t even know you exist!

Signing up for a Google My Business account is quick, easy – and most importantly – free. Taking five minutes out of your day to set up a listing may be all your business needs to reach new heights.

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You can check out our post on celebrating our shortlisting for the UK Growth Awards!