The Google local pack is a group of three listings that appear at the very top of the search results for local queries. It's made up of the three businesses that Google has determined to be the most relevant to the user's query.
These businesses are chosen based on a number of factors, including their proximity, relevance, and prominence to the user. Being featured in this pack is vital for local businesses because it significantly increases their visibility and click-through rate.
However, the problem now is with many competitions online and the increased number of businesses, it's become more difficult to be featured in the pack. Fortunately, you can take steps to boost the chances that your business will be featured.
Read on below to know more!
Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
If you want a chance of being featured in Google's Local Pack, your presence on Google My Business (GMB) is a must. GMB is a free platform that allows businesses to manage their online information and be found by potential customers on Google Search and Maps.
To get started, create or claim your business listing on GMB. Once you've verified your listing, you can begin optimizing your profile by including the following information:
- NAP (name, address, and phone number)
- Detailed description
- Categories
- Services
- Deals
- Opening hours
- Images
- Posts
- Reviews & ratings
Enter as much information as possible to help Google understand your business and match it with relevant searches. The more complete your GMB profile is, the more Google will trust your business and show it as a relevant result to searchers.
Also, don't forget to verify your business location information on GMB. This sends a signal to Google that your business is legitimate, and it can help you rank higher in local search results.
We can help you create a strong GMB listing that will improve your chances of being featured in Google's Local Pack. We're an SEO marketing Agency, and our team can help you optimize your Google My Business Listing.
Ensure Your Website is Optimized for Local SEO (Search engine optimization)
According to a study, 46% of all searches in Google are local. That means if your business isn't optimized for local SEO, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of potential customers.
But by optimizing your business for local SEO, you can connect with customers looking to buy what you're selling in your area.
Why is local search important for businesses? Well, local search intent is specific. For example, someone in Los Angeles might be searching for a "vegan restaurant," while someone in New York might be searching for a "pizza place."
Also, local SEO can lead to more customer visits. In fact, 76% of people conduct a local search on their smartphone before visiting a business. What's more, local searches have extremely high buying intent because people are typically searching for a business when they're already planning to buy something.
If you want to ensure your website is optimized for local SEO, there are a few things you can do:
Mobile-friendliness
A responsive site will load properly on any device, which is important because people are increasingly using their smartphones to search for businesses. Additionally, mobile-friendly websites are much easier to navigate, leading to longer site visits, lower bounce rates, and higher conversions.
Run a Mobile-Friendly Test or a technical SEO audit to see if your website is mobile-friendly. If not, we can help!
Add Your Business Address to Your Site
When you feature your physical address on your website, Google will easily understand where your business is located, which will help you rank in local search results.
For businesses with a single location, add your address to the contact page or website's footer. For multiple locations, it's a good idea to create a locations page that lists all the correct addresses of each location and then devise a unique page for each location.
Also, you can embed a Google map on your website to show visitors where your business is located. Or you can add location-based structured data. All these will help your website rank higher in local search.
Build Business Citations
GMB is the most crucial business citation for local search. However, it's not the only one. Business citations are online mentions of your company that includes your address, phone number, and name.
Please note that citations are vital because they tell Google that your business is trustworthy and authentic. They show up on national and local directory sites like Yelp, Facebook, Angie's List, and TripAdvisor.
Be Mindful to NAP Consistency
Every time you build a business citation, it tells search engines that your company is established. However, all of that work will be for nothing if they aren't consistent.
NAP consistency makes it simpler for search engines to identify and rank your website. An inconsistent one can result in a lower ranking or, even worse, no ranking at all.
To ensure NAP consistency, do a quick Google search of your business. Look through the top three pages of results and take note of how your name, address, and phone number are listed. If they're different on any website, update them, so they match across the board. You can also use a tool like Moz Local to track your NAP consistency.
Optimize Meta Descriptions and Title Tags for your Category and Location
Meta descriptions and title tags are pieces of code added to the back end of your website. They tell search engines what your website is about, which helps them determine whether to rank your site for certain keywords.
For example, let's say you own a search engine optimization company in Los Angeles, CA. You would want to include relevant keywords like "SEO agency," "digital marketing," and "Los Angeles" in your meta descriptions and title tags. That way, when people in LA search for "SEO companies," your website will come up.
Limit meta descriptions to 320 characters and title tags to 60 characters.
Target Local Keywords
It's essential to optimize your website for locally-focused, popular keywords. That way, when people in your area search for those keywords, your website will come up.
Such keywords often use long-tail phrases and keywords such as Best SEO Services in Los Angeles or LA's Best Pizza Place.
To find the right keywords, start by brainstorming a list of relevant terms related to your business. Then, use a keyword research tool like Google Keyword Planner or Moz Keyword Explorer to determine how popular those keywords are and whether people in your area are searching for them.
Once you have a list of local keywords, incorporate them into your website's content, title tags, and meta descriptions.
Respond to Online Reviews
Online reviews are a powerful tool to build or destroy your business. In the past, businesses didn't have to worry about responding to reviews because they were only shared by word of mouth. But now, with sites like Yelp and Google, everyone has a platform to voice their opinion about your business.
As a business owner, you should be monitoring your online reviews and responding to both the positive and negative ones. A study by Harvard Business School found that businesses that responded to their reviews saw a significant increase in revenue.
Also, Google's algorithm loves businesses that interact with their customers. So by responding to reviews, you're not only helping your customers, but you're also giving your business a boost in search engine rankings.
When you get a positive review, thank the customer for their business and let them know you're happy to have them as a customer. For negative reviews, try to stay calm and avoid getting defensive. Thank the customer for their feedback and see if there's anything you can do to make the situation right.
Boost Your Web Visibility
You'll not be featured in Google's Local Pack if you're not visible on the web. It's that simple. If you're not doing everything you can to make sure people can find your business online, you're missing out on a massive opportunity for growth.
Aside from claiming your GMB listing and optimizing it for local SEO, you can do a few other things to keep your site visible. For example, you can
- Add Schema markup to your website
- Get listed in online directories
- Make your content shareable
- Social media marketing
- Get quality backlinks
- Improve website navigation
- Speed up your site
- Maintain website security
By taking these simple steps, you'll be well on your way to boosting your web visibility and driving more traffic to your site.
But don't stop there! There's always room for improvement when it comes to your online presence. So keep looking for new ways to get your business in front of potential customers, and you'll be sure to see the results you're after.
Create Content that Answers to Local Search Queries
When you create content, always keep in mind what your target audience might be searching for online. For example, if you're a local business, that means creating content that answers local search queries.
For example, if you're a plumber in Seattle, you want to create content that answers common local search queries, such as "plumbers in Seattle" or "best plumbing services in Seattle."
Of course, you can't just stuff these keywords into your content and call it a day – that would be keyword stuffing, and it would hurt your SEO.
Instead, you need to create quality content that happens to mention these keywords naturally. If you can do that, you'll be well on your way to ranking higher in local search results.
One easy way to come up with ideas for this type of content is to think about the questions your potential customers might be asking.
For example, a customer might search for "plumbers in Seattle" if they need plumbing service and live in Seattle. But they might also search for "best plumbing services in Seattle" if they're looking for a recommendation.
Or, they might search for "plumbing tips for homeowners" if they're trying to do some simple repairs themselves. As you can see, there are all sorts of different local search queries out there. And as a business owner, it's your job to create content that answers them.
Use tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner and Google Trends to develop ideas for local search queries. And if you need help coming up with content ideas, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We specialize in this sort of thing, and they can help you get the results you're looking for.
Google Local Service Paid Ads
If you want to get featured right away, you can always go for the Google Local Service paid ads. It's a great way to get in front of potential customers actively searching for your services.
The only downside is that it can be pretty expensive, so you need to ensure that you're getting a good ROI before investing too much money into this method. Another thing to remember is that Google Local Service ads are only available in specific markets, so you need to make sure that your business is located in one of those markets before using this method.
Overall, Google Local Service paid ads are a great way to get your business featured in Google's Local Pack. Just make sure that you're getting a good ROI before investing too much money into this method and that your business is located in one of the markets where Local Service ads are available.
Conclusion
If you want your website to be featured in the Google Local Pack, you can do a few things to increase your chances. First and foremost, make sure that your website is accurately listed in Google My Business. You should also ensure that all of your contact information is correct and up-to-date.
Finally, optimize your website for local SEO to appear as high as possible in search engine results pages. These are just a few tips to get you started. For more detailed instructions, contact our SEO company today. We'd be happy to help.